How would a match go with Tyson at 20 vs Ali at 20?

Tyson the best 20 yr old heavyweight for me, yes. And 21 and 22 as well. Age 20, Tyson way too strong and physically matured.

But I think you've opened the floodgates for a torrent of anti-Tyson abuse here, Mark

 

Tyson wins in this scenario. Muhammad was still growing and filling out at 20 years old while Mike was at his adult physical prime already.

 

Well, Ali was dropped by Sonny Banks.

The way I see it, Tyson drops Ali early, hard. But Ali gets up, recovers and dances away piling points with his jab. Tyson becomes discouraged but is still under control because Cus De Amato-or his influence at least-is on his corner. Ali eventually wins by split decision but in a very close fight.

 

Tyson by KO in 6. He was more developed at that age while, Ali was still green & undersized at HW.

 

Plus in 1962 Muhammad Ali had a huge kayo in his win over fictional character Mountain Rivera in 1962's Requiem For Heavyweight. Ha Ha.

 

Actually good to speculate on.

Clay's (as he was known at the time) best win at age 20 was over Archie Moore, whose previous stoppage defeats were against Patterson and Marciano. Young Cassius did this by staying away from Moore, not giving the Mongoose any chance to connect with Archie's reflexes and record setting dynamite power. Moore went into this one having drawn with Pastrano in a bout most observers thought Archie won, so this remained a very skilled and dangerous version of Moore (who also took out the 6'4" Lavorante via TKO 10 the same year). Clay also halted the experienced and tough veteran Besmanoff, then on the slide, but still very experienced. (Besmanoff's six rounds with Liston is on YouTube, and a peak Sonny just couldn't put him down.)

Moore left Clay at 16-0. At 7-0 and 8-0, Sabedong and Alonzo Johnson established him as a ten round fighter, something Tyson wouldn't do until Tillis and Green at age 19. Mike was 30-0 after Pinklon Thomas for his last win at age 20.

While Mike had much more experience at that age, Clay would try to stay away, using his feet to keep his head and body too far away, and he could do that with the 5'10" 71 inch reach Tyson, knowing he's getting badly hurt if Mike catches him. Tyson had 94 rounds before reaching 21, while Clay had 83 rounds after Moore. Clay had only two ten rounders though, while Tyson had 12 rounds with a spoiling Bonecrusher (Mike aftewards: "No, he shouldn't get paid!"), and a tenth round stoppage of Ribalta.

Sonny Banks caught him with Banks on the ropes. The wildly experienced Doug Jones did nail him in the opening round with a deadly right. Then, Cooper hooked him to the floor with a duck and counter of Clay's jab. I just don't see Clay attempting any liberties like that with Tyson.

If this goes the distance as I expect, I think a very wary Clay takes it by hitting without getting hit. It's a matter of height and reach with foot speed. Punching wore down Ali during his first career, so he used dancing and distance to spare his arms. (If somebody told him what his punch rate would be for Manila, he'd have laughed and told them they were nuts. First career Ali never could have done that.)

For Moore, Clay was his final height of 6'3" weighed 204 pounds (the same he'd weigh for Mildenberger in 1966, and more than the 201 he'd come in at in 1966 for Cooper II) and had a recorded reach of 78 inches, enough to keep the easily frustrated Tyson from hitting him anywhere on the head or body. At 20, Cassius had the physical attributes if not yet the chin. Mike could match him in hand speed like Patterson did, but neither had the necessary reach and stature. Again, look what happened when Clay faced somebody he knew could knock his block off in Moore. Likewise, he's taking no chances with Tyson.

 

Good Post.

 

I think Tyson wins it, both were green but Tyson was better at 20 than Ali was.

 

Ali wasn’t as far along in his career at age 20 and had very few fights with struggles ahead of him against Jones and Cooper. I don’t think he beats Tyson at that age. At 30 ? Different story

 

The most compelling matchup between the two, age wise, would probably be 22. The Tyson of 88 against the Ali of 64 would make for a very compelling fight.

 

Truthfully buddy, we have been down that road for at least 3,000 miles, time for an oil change. Ha Ha.

 

I feel like it's mostly the Ali of 66-67 being compared to the Tyson of 88 though, I don't think 64 is considered prime Ali yet.

 

You are pretty new my friend. But you do have to agree we have been down this road on Classic many times. I have a feeling that both of us have an opinion on this, possibly the same. I did watch Muhammad Ali's title defenses from 1965 to 1967 live on television.

 

Sounds reasonable