Prime Mike Tyson (88) vs Prime Muhammad Ali (66)

This says it all on my behalf too.

 

Ali via UD or late stoppage.

When I picture the fight in my mind, Ali's footwork is what wins the fight for him. I see Ali sticking & moving, working behind the jab early then later landing combos, beating Tyson up badly.

To me, there's never been a style that was all wrong for Ali, he could handle any type of fighter (including the Norton style, whom I believe Muhammad would've beaten without too much trouble in his dancing days).

 

A 1966 Mr Ali exposes Mr Tysons lack of testicular fortitude when the going got tough, there would be no Cus in the corner of a 88 Tyson to help him deal with the mental demons, that on top of Ali having been in his face at every opportunity prefight.

 

So many Ali worshipers are under the impression that Ali was "unhittable" in his prime. And yet, a limited boxer like George Chuvalo had success at times against a prime Ali with a body attack. Chuvalo, who lacked both speed and hitting accuracy, managed to catch Ali flush on the chin with a solid right cross in the 13th round. In both fights with Henry Cooper, Ali was hit cleanly by a very average fighter. Even in their second fight Cooper managed to land a fair number of left jabs and hooks as Ali leaned away from punches before Cooper was badly cut.

 

Ali via UD. He survives the early onslaught of Tyson to win a competitive decision. However, this isn't a one-sided or dominant victory for Ali like so many are suggesting.

 

Against Ali Tyson is a mental midget, when rounds go by and Ali is still there he'll begin talking to Mike and soon Tyson's head starts swelling like he's been in a hornets nest , as an eye is busted up and then the desperation will begin bending arms, biting, fouls, and then the end comes as the ref rescues Mike in the 12th. It could have ended earlier But Ali toyed with him like a mouse.

 

This only happens in your dreams.

 

Ali of ‘66 wins but not by a KO and it will not be easy and he takes some shots.

Tyson was a thug and a bully but at his peak he was a tremendously skilled and schooled thug and bully, and I think at that point he wouldn’t have been as frustrated by Ali’s mouth as he would’ve been later on.

 

It took Chuvalo 13 rounds to land a clean shot to Ali's jaw, and you're using THAT as evidence that the young Ali was more hittable than generally perceived?

Statements like this sound really desperate.

 

Try not fighting for 43 months after you are at peak physical condition and see if you have lost a step or two. rinsi, I totally agree with you, I wonder why Yank Durham did not want his charge Joe Frazier fighting champion Muhammad Ali in 1967 after Ali disposed of Zora Folley in March 1967. Yank stated that Joe Was Too Green For A Fighter Like Professor Clay (Ali). Ali did not spar or fight from March 22 1967 until Oct 1970, Ali was 25 when he was banished from boxing due to his conviction of Draft Evasion for refusing to submit to the military draft. Also Ali was stripped of his boxing license and title. Are we going to have another Conspiracy Theory that Ali fought on Mars behind the backs of the U.S Government? Ali was too busy fighting his case in Federal Court, Draft Evasion was a Federal Crime in 1967, it carried a mandatory 5 year prison sentence and a $10,000.00 fine, Ali was out on bond. Ali was also 28 years old when he returned on Oct 26 1970 against Jerry Quarry. I saw many of Ali's title defenses from 1965-1967 on regular television on ABC's Wide World Of Sports live. I do not need You Tube like those youngsters, Ali did not look or fight the same on March 8 1971 against champion Joe Frazier. Ali lacked timing, stamina, his footwork was missing, so were his reflexes. Sure Ali could hit harder, but that is all, Ali would have needed 1967 gifts to beat Frazier that night as Frazier only had one gear and that is forward, against Frazier, he began to lay on the ropes. The 1967 Ali could Float Like A Butterfly and Sting Like A Bee for 15 rounds if necessary without skipping a beat. Sometimes fans like for fighters to be vulnerable, it creates Drama. If I wanted to see Drama, I could watch those corny Soap Operas or those sickening Hallmark Christmas Movies.

 

Tillis did not have the Muhammad Ali speed, reflexes, footwork, stamina, or confidence. I know we are always going to hear that tiresome Ali was decked by Sonny Banks in Feb 1962 and Henry Cooper in June 1963, all legitimate but they were all learning experiences. Ali destroyed Henry Cooper in May 1966, 14 sutures later, no knockdown, TKO 6.

 

Ali in 8,

Ali: “IF Kong isn’t driven to masticate, I will take him in 8.

BUT if Mike decides to gnaw, I will have to cut it to 4.

Depending on the amount of chew, I might even cut it to 2.

If you want to make losing your money more than likely, then, by all means, bet on Mikey!”

Mikey’s reply: “If you try to run from me, I will eat your progeny

I might be suffering something spinal but this fight will be your final

Next to mine your skills are primitive, in the world of fantasy (only), I’m the greatest that ever lived!”

Excuse my self indulgence.

 

Careful Buddy, You might get attacked by the Muhammad Ali haters that just like to be keyboard warriors. Ali must have done something to them or their families to have such hatred. Resentment can be such a grueling thing in life. I wish that this type of thread could die a quick death and never return, only children like to see adult posters fight each other. In my day if a child would make two adults fight, the adults would both stop, then your Papa would make you apologize to the other man, then you got Tool Shed Therapy when you got home, it seemed to work. The next time this thread appears, let's all ignore it. Then turn the table on the author.

 

I always pictured Ali doing that thing where he circles just out of range and throws jabs and feints for a few rounds to take inventory of your offense and reactions - and then starts picking you apart. I don't know how the fight plays out, but I can see Mike becoming frustrated and emotional which would play into Ali's hands.

 

Muhammad Ali always lived in the heads of bullies Rent Free, especially the ones that were Mentally Fragile. If we are all Muhammad Ali fanboys then the ones polling for Tyson to destroy Ali, and saying hateful things against Ali must be Tyson Poster girls. It works both ways. We all need to be respectful to each other on this site, don't fall for what the author of this thread wants. Let this post fade away in the darkness, never to return. Lets respect each others likes, both Tyson and Ali were great in their respective eras. Besides realistically, Ali and Tyson are never going to fight each other.