In a 12 rounder i lean towards Tyson. Prime Tyson surpasses prime Ali in h2h competitiveness and is also a bad matchup stylewise for an Ali who can no longer rely on the footwork he had in the past. But it's still like a ~60-40
That is very possible. But also a Norton-like scenario. Young Tyson had a very formidable work rate and stamina. Could be enough to overwhelm Ali like Frazier and Norton did. + Imo Tyson would make Ali miss more often than Frazier did.
That's a well thought point. And I also think that Tyson had a better/more versatile defence than Frazier.
Looking through my Dusty old Rose tinted glasses, I see Ali dancing and flicking the jab and befuddling Tyson for the early part of the fight, then gradually wearing Tyson down over the next several rounds into around the 10th or 11th round in which Ali scores a standing TKO.
Ali all wrong for Mike. Tyson was all about his timing coming in. Boxers with the great jab and/or the lead right( see the Douglas fight )throws Mikes timing all off forcing him to reset. Also add in Ali tying up MIke on the inside. Fighters like Liston, Holmes, Ali all nightmare matchups for Mike.
Big fan of Tyson as a head to head fighter but I cannot see this fight any other way than you have just described...
As Emanual Steward said,"If Tyson can't get a guy outta there inside 5 he's faced with a problem. Mikey ain't Ko'ing Ali..Tyson fades like a cheap chinese shirt in hot water and is on his back around the 12th round with a mangled face.
You need to look some more. No version of Ali ever stands a chance of KO'ing Tyson, let alone FOTC Ali. Tyson destroys him, he wins by KO.