What if... Ron Lyle hadn't gone to prison?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Jun 5, 2020.


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  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What if Lyle had become a boxer back in the early 60s, when he would have been a prime fighter? Of course, that may have affected his career in the 70s, but how does everybody think he would fare against the 60s heavyweights. Naturally, how I have it:

    Floyd Patterson-toss up knockout for either man; Lyle's power vs. Floyd's experience and speed
    Cleveland Williams-two really huge sluggers, but Lyle could survive better, so I'm going with Lyle by middle round TKO
    Sonny Liston-either man by knockout or decision
    Henry Cooper-Lyle by early TKO
    Eddie Machen-Lyle by decision, but Machen has a good chance
    Zora Folley-Lyle by knockout in middle rounds
    Ernie Terrell-Lyle by decision
    George Chuvalo-Lyle by decision
    Doug Jones-Lyle by mid knockout or UD
    Karl Mildenberger-Lyle early knockout
    Muhammad Ali-Ali by late TKO, just like the real fight
    Jimmy Ellis-Lyle by decision, maybe Ellis
    Leotis Martin-Lyle by early knockout
    Jerry Quarry-Lyle by decision, or TKO on cuts
    Oscar Bonavena-Lyle by close decision
    Joe Frazier-Joe by decision, 40/ 60 Lyle by TKO
    Buster Mathis-Lyle by early to mid knockout or by UD
     
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
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  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Very very interesting
     
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2020
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2020
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  3. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Didn't Lyle take up boxing in prison? If he didn't go to jail it's possible he would never have boxed at all.

    I think he wins most of these fights but it kind of depends when they take place. On his way up the ranks he might get outboxed by a more experienced Machen or Folley. A few years later, they're probably KO victims on his record.

    I don't see him KO'ing Frazier. Lyle was a solid hitter but never had Foreman-esque power.

    Not sure even a younger Lyle beats Quarry. He got out-boxed pretty handily when they fought and Quarry always had a good style to beat him.
     
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
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  4. Charlietf

    Charlietf Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He is a hard test for punchers, he losses against skilled boxers but Liston,Foreman,Frazier,Shavers all them always would have a hard Night against lyle
     
    Charlietf, Jun 5, 2020
    Charlietf, Jun 5, 2020
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  5. Charlietf

    Charlietf Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Leroy caldwell said that Foreman and lyle had similar power, simply Foreman was the better greater overall fighter
     
    Charlietf, Jun 5, 2020
    Charlietf, Jun 5, 2020
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  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Ron Lyle, is the very definition of a misspent youth!
     
    janitor, Jun 5, 2020
    janitor, Jun 5, 2020
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  7. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    His book is very good BTW
     
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2020
    robert ungurean, Jun 5, 2020
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  8. Boxing2019

    Boxing2019 If you want peace, prepare war. banned Full Member

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    What if?
    The same happened to others ( Tyson, Ike, etc.)...they would show greater things
     
    Boxing2019, Jun 5, 2020
    Boxing2019, Jun 5, 2020
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  9. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Have to give the man his due though, he turned himself around. In the mid-1960s he was doing time for second degree murder and almost died after being stabbed by another inmate. A decade later he was challenging for the world heavyweight title.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2020
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
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  10. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ya, the prison stint does put a damper on my theories, doesn't it? It's still interesting to entertain though. I don't eliminate the possibility of Lyle losing to Frazier and Quarry, but I always felt that since both were slow starters they would be vulnerable to Lyle's punching power early on, and get stopped, especially Frazier. Of course, it's always possible that Lyle could cut Quarry fast and end it.
     
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
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  11. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It'd be so cool if some of Lyle's prison fights had been filmed.
     
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
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  12. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    If anything Lyle's punching power gets a bit overblown. Pretty much every top heavyweight he faced went the distance with him. His best KO was... Shavers? And he wasn't the first or last to stop Earnie.
     
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
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  13. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No, but he, Quarry, and Holmes were the only three to stop him in his prime. Punching power doesn't necessarily win you fights, like it did Shavers, but it's easy to see in his fights with Foreman and Quarry that he could hit since he hurt guys with chins concrete.
     
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
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  14. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Even so, Earnie wasn't exactly Tex Cobb in the durability stakes. I'm not saying Lyle couldn't hit, just his lack of KOs against elite level heavies (plus his relatively cautious style) make me think it's unlikely he's going to come out and blast away the likes of Frazier and Quarry.
     
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
    Berlenbach, Jun 5, 2020
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  15. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Oh ya, I love that book. One of my favorite boxing bios.
     
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 5, 2020
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