More stamina, and better defense as well. Not to mention reach, body attack, recuperatice abilities etc
Prime Muhammad Ali, 1964-1967, easily defeats a flat footed power punching Prime Iron Mike Tyson, easily by TKO 13. Muhammad Ali would easily get into Mike's head, well documented Tyson was taking prescribed psych meds, which is nothing to make fun of, it can happen to anyone. Mike would enter the fight very angered, much like Sonny Liston was in their first fight in 1964, after constantly being berated by Ali. Tyson would lose his cool, swinging at the air, as you cannot hit what you can't see. Ali would dance non stop for the duration of the bout, flicking out his left jab, and firing his very quick combinations. He would not fight Tyson flat footed and tell Tyson, Hit Me Because I am Scared Of You, he was not scared of the Big Ugly Bear. Tyson quits on his stool, completely exhausted, because he has not met a super fast fighter like Ali before, that would not stand still for him for 3 minutes a round. Tyson was very talented in his respected era, but not against a prime Ali, no knockdowns in this fight.
Nearly twice as many people voted for a Ali stoppage rather than a decision. Does that make sense? Ali in rounds: 12 for Patterson 12 for Mildenberger 15 for Terell 10 for Jones 15 for Bonavena (after layoff, under 30) 12 for Ellis and Mathis, 15 for Foster (after layoff, but under 31) If this is a 12 rounder, there would be a pretty slim chance for Tyson getting anywhere. For 15 rounds, we don´t know about Tyson. He stopped Biggs in 7 of the last 15 round affair. Tranced Tyson took a barrage of punches for 10 against a bigger heavier puncher in Douglas. Don´t believe in the power comp? Watch R1 Douglas Ferguson and tell me the guy couldn´t bang more than Ali. What we also know is Clay fighting a little past prime ATG in Liston is: He gave away rounds, but nevertheless dominated a fighter without danger of beeing hurt (even blind!) But he did this other times too, for example against Chuvalo. I´m pretty sure for the first 6-8 rounds Ali would not be ahead on the score cards by running, he takes too much to the body. This is a question of how many rounds Ali would win afterwards and if its a 15 or a 12 rounder. Thats ony a legit evaluation if you believe in golden boy Ali beeing indestructible, exept for the guys Jones, Cooper and Frazier of course...
This is one of those fights where myth is in the way of an honest evaluation. Could 1-punch-causes-death Tyson beat "he was never hit, he was a ghost" Ali? Yeah, don't think I'll get into this too much except for noting a few things. 1) The fastest version of Ali might do the worst. While I have no doubt that Ali was capable of outboxing Tyson, I likewise have no doubt that a guy as explosive as Tyson would land sooner or later, and frankly it might be nasty. Shades of Cooper. 2) Tyson was bothered by guys that hit and held. Older clinching version of Ali might give Tyson all sorts of hassles if he played a slower fight, potshotted and held. Shades of Thomas and Botha.
This is exactly what I was thinking. It's asinine to think that Patterson lasts 12 rounds with Ali but somehow prime Tyson gets stopped before then.
Even though Ali decisively beat Chuvalo, Ali still had some trouble with him. I hope we can all agree that number one, prine Tyson >>>> any version of Chuvalo and that two, Tyson would do at least as well as Chuvalo did?
Ali fought Doug Jones, on March 13 1963, he won a close 10 round decision, the 1st Henry Cooper fight, June 18 1963, TKO 5, Joe Frazier, March 8 1971, he lost to Frazier, Ali had only two fights since his banishment in 1967, for draft evasion. On May 21 1966, he cut Henry Cooper to ribbons, no knockdown here, Ali won by TKO 6, to retain his belt. I respect all opinions, maybe Ali does not stop Tyson, but easily defeats him, I did not mean to offend you in any way.
I'm surprised this is even considered a debatable question anymore, Mike stays on his stool after the 11th round.
I do not think prime Tyson can beat prime Ali, but rethinking this fight< Ali decisions Tyson in 15 rounds, no knockdowns for either man. Ali would not fight a Chuvalo type of fight as he did in 1966.
The older version of Ali was too vulnerable, look at the decline of his health afterwards, neurological issues. The prime Ali, 1964-1967, would not hold or Rope A Dope, but move non stop for 15 rounds, had better stamina, no one ever got into Tyson's head, but Ali would, and non stop. Based on my rethinking of such a bout that has been repeated over and over, Ali wins on points, no knockdowns by either man.
Ali let Chuvalo (a well noted body puncher mind you) wail at him to prove his doubters a point, that he can take a punch. Round 5 Liston punched the partially blind Clay many times at his body too, but regarding headshots, he was too slick/evasive with his footwork/lean back style. Prime Tyson struggled with those who jabbed from the outside and tall boxers. He went the distance with Ribalta, Mitch Blood Green, Washed Tillis and one handed Tony Tucker. Ali has the better chin, stamina, heart, will to win and mental state. Tyson would be tormented by Ali and we know Tyson's fragile state of mind. Would he feel intimidated by the aura of Ali>? Ali takes him deep and drowns in the later rounds.
Ali was not in his prime when he first fought Frazier in 1971, he was rusty, he had two fights since his banishment from boxing in 1967, for draft evasion. The first Cooper fight. he was decked, in 1963, but in the rematch, on May 21 1966, he tore up poor Cooper for a TKO 6, to retain his title. In Ali's prime years, 1964-1967, neither Frazier or Tyson would be able to catch a fleet footed Ali. But I do respect your opinion, I saw the second Cooper fight live on Wide World Of Sports.
For some reason there are those that think Ali is feather fisted. He has no problem knocking out a prime Tyson as Tyson’s cardio was never stellar. Similar to Foreman’s KO. Two completely different fighters but the outcome would be the same. Ali by exhaustion can’t tell me he doesn’t hit harder then Holyfield or Douglas.
