It's been done many times before, I know, but let's see what opinions are in 2021. Prime Tyson, whenever and whatever you consider that to be fights prime Muhammad Ali, whenever or whatever you consider that to be.
Ali by UD in a very tough fight. Tyson had troubles with unafraid outboxer who can outjab him. BUT, nobody should forget that ali's worst nightmare is a short explosive pressure fighter, a joe frazier type......And of course Kenny Norton. I do know the ali who shared the ring with frazier 3 time was no longer the sportscar he used to be in the 1960's, but i feel like smokin joe would have always been a tough fight for muhammad at any point in his career. Frazier imposed a formidable challenge to the 1970's ali. A prime tyson, who was better than frazier in all departments (with the exception of toughness and stamina), would do the same to a prime muhammad.
Most important factor missing: 12 or 15 rounds? Since there is no information for Tyson in a 15-rounder, I assume 12 for a FF like that.
I went with Ali by decision but it would be a very dangerous and hard fight. Yes we all know Tyson had flaws and was beaten by Buster Douglas. But there’s no denying that he had very fast hands, lethal combinations, could cut off the ring and had loads of power. His left hook was fairly deadly and this was Ali’s weakness. That said, I think Muhammad’s footwork, confidence, speed and durability sees him to a close win.
Actually haven't seen this thread in a while but I'll go with Ali late TKO, after some early trouble.
Ali was more mentally tough and knew how to win the mental battle against his opponents. He was playing 3D chess in the lead up to fights where he knew he’d be challenged and was able to get inside the heads of his opponents. All Tyson was good at/for mentally was basic bully intimidation. And no way Ali is intimidated by Tyson — he’d have enough fear/respect to be physically prepared but he wouldn’t freeze up or have the deer-in-headlights thing going on. Furthermore, Ali was able to adapt in fights far better than Tyson. He was a better tactician and problem-solver. He could adjust in ways Tyson never proved to be able to. When there’s not a tremendous gap in talent/ability/experience and two fighters are (relatively) evenly-matched, boxing is 90 percent mental. And Ali would win that 90 percent by 100 percent. Ali UD or perhaps cuts stoppage in the later rounds.
Each has the tools to exploit the other's weaknesses. Cus knew the 80's would be flooded with Ali type stylistic clones, and he knew how to beat Ali and that's why he molded Mike into the fighter he was. This Ali was mentally tougher and would make Mike quit before he got into the ring garbage is Paul Bunyon type fantasy. Ali never faced anyone like a prime Mike Tyson. I pick "Iron" Mike Tyson.
Good points but I disagree with the mental stuff Every task you perform starts in the mind ... Even if you're doing stuff that's second nature or routine, it all starts from your mind. Tyson even said that Cus told him that boxing is mostly mental and spiritual. Tyson wasn't weak mentally like some claim but he was vulnerable to a degree. He was young and needed someone to instill confidence within him while Ali always had full confidence in his abilities. Ali would taunt and talk to Tyson more so than anyone Tyson's ever fought before. We don't know how Tyson would respond to that. Ali could plant seeds of doubt in Tyson's mind and who knows how he would respond. One of the reasons why Frazier performed well against Ali is because he could take Ali's talking. Frazier was very strong mentally.
Way too much is made about Tyson's mentality. The dude was a friggin monster. If anyone would be mentally tossed between Ali and Tyson, it would've been Ali. Tyson was also a great talker and got into opponents' heads before the fight. Come on bro, Tyson was the master at **** talking. How many of Tyson's opponents were scared shitless to get into the ring with him? Mike Tyson was the blueprint for intimidation. His opponents trained like demons in fear of their health. Ali ain't getting inside Mike's head. ESPECIALLY not before a fight. That's utter BS.
