How exactly does Tyson beat Ali...?

I never understood this argument for Ali, “hes to mentally tough to lose.” I have never been in a boxing ring, no matter how “mentally tough” I am George Foreman would one shot me.

 

Try this: Against Foreman Ali did in real life what Rocky Balboa did fictionally in his rematch against Clubber Lang, stood up to his best punches and got in his face and said, “That the best you got chump?” Stuff like that weighs mentally on bully types and those who’ve had this aura of invincibility built up around them.

 

Drink a potion that makes him 1971 Frazier.

 

Unanimous decison. Ali has to pick him self up off the canvas a time or two and takes a battering. Prime Tyson takes the fight on the inside similar to Frazier, but he is faster and stronger than Frazier with better head movement. Ali won’t be able to push Tyson’s head down without being countered and roughed up.

 

Tyson takes the fight inside? That’d be a first.

 

How is that a first? He defeated many an opponent with hooks and uppercuts. Ali would be on the back foot and circling Tyson, Mike would have to cut off the ring and get inside and underneath Ali’s jabs.

 

He doesn't. Frazier went 12 or more with Ali 3 times and beat Ali by a 15 round decision. Would have stopped Ali in Manilla after 14 if his corner had waited to quit a few moments. Tyson has no chance of outpointing Ali over 12 never mind 15 he needs to either win the fight early or build up a big lead early and against Ali neither will happen.

Fraziers a little taller and lighter and hits quite a bit harder. But most important he wasn't dependent on winning the fight right away and could contest the match a full 12 or 15. In the FOTC Frazier lost the first few rounds to Ali and Ali won the early rounds in all 3 of their fights. Tyson would not have been able to comeback from that. Thats not what Tyson did thats part of why he got frustrated against Holyfield he was down 2-0 and the fight was basically curtains already. The only time Tyson really came back from a deficit was against Buster Douglas and he got stopped right after he seemingly had put that fire out.

The only way Tyson beats Ali is how he beat Holmes. No one did that to Ali. Ever. Not even Holmes and Berbick at the very end. So no matter how highly you think of Tyson if you pick him to beat Ali you're saying he'd do what no else could. I think Ali beating Foreman was a fluke especially the way he beat him. But do I do think Foreman would have taken out Ali in a few rounds? No probably not.

 

He has to get close, yes. But close is not inside. Tyson sat idle in the clinch. He was a mid-range striker.

 

It is certainly impressive that he was never stopped early. But he never faced anyone like Tyson at all, either. Frazier is the closest, but he & Tyson differ in crucial areas - some favouring Tyson, others Frazier.

 

Only version of Ali Tyson can possibly beat starts in 76-77 otherwise No No No!

 

I simply think that Tyson doesn't have the best chances to beat Ali because he will start to lose stamina going into the later rounds of the fight, and will not be able to stay competitive throughout the whole match to beat Muhammad going into a decision- Especially in a fifteen rounder. It just isn't a good setup for Iron Mike.

 

Don't agree that Frazier hit harder than Tyson. Size wise they were very close, Frazier had maybe an inch of reach but Tyson was a ripped 218 lbs, Joe was an in shape 205 lbs but carried a higher ratio of fat to muscle than Tyson and wasn't as explosive.

 

I think Tysons best window of opportunity would be rounds 1 - 4.

I cannot see Mike seeing Ali off during those rounds or irreparably damaging Ali for later rounds clean up.

Mike’s greatest successes during the 1-4 round period were against far lesser fighters than Ali.

I think it’s a real stretch to import those successes into a fight against the likes of Ali -

Prime Mike certainly didn’t import those successes into his fight against Buster Douglas - arguably Mike’s best skilled opponent and just as important, an opponent who came to win - not just merely survive.

Ali’s mobility and chin definitely see him through the first 4 rounds after which Ali begins to truly take the fight over, ultimately for a later round stoppage.

Even during the first 1-4 rounds, Ali wouldn’t be playing total evasion - he would also begin to establish his jab and overall offence to supplement his pure, defensive measures.

 

Two inches of reach. Frazier had a 73" wingspan and Tyson only had 71".