Mike Tyson Prime Vs Muhammad Ali (1971)

After watching the FOTC, you would had to have given Mike a great chance.


People love Joe, whereas a lot of people dislike Mike.

Therefore, we get lots of posts based on emotion.


I love both guys.

I grew up watching Mike, and I think that Ali is the GOAT at HW.


But stylistically?

At his best, Mike was a much better fighter than what Joe Frazier was. Much more dynamic. Two handed.

So it would have been a much tougher stylistic match up for Ali than the Frazier fight.

 

Mike has no chance. It's not even a question.

Ali was a far better all round, and more consistent fighter.

Mike never beat any prime elite fighters ever, and fought in a weak era compared to Ali's era.

And one of the main things you need to beat Mike is mental toughness, which Ali had in abundance. Ali would have trash talked him before the fight and took him to boxing school in the ring.

 

Ali was susceptible to the left hook, and Tyson loved/loves to throw that left inside hook. Tyson was also faster than guys like Cooper and Frazier.

 

Everyone always says Ali easily. Why? A prime Tyson could beat anyone.

 

very competitive fight. Ali was slightly faster than Mike but Mike was a lot quicker than anything Ali faced (except Patterson, but Floyd was nowhere near as powerful or durable as Mike)

I say Ali wins a hard fought decision or late stoppage but he would have to weather a ferocious storm to do so. Tyson had a tendency to get frustrated at times when pushed to the edge and i think Ali is just mentally tougher. Would it be easy? Hell no.

 

Prime Tyson (80s, explosive, head movements, defensive master, quick counters) by decision especially with a few KDs scored. Those jabs won't work much on Prime Tyson. Ali would receive lots of quick counters and bodyshots.

 

The Ali that lost to FOC Frazier was beaten by the one man that could have beaten him at that point. Tyson was special but Joe filled every moment with something, whereas Tyson did not, certainly after four or five rounds. Ali wins this fight, clear decision.

 

Ali couldn't take Tyson's assault to the body.
Won't be able to rope-a-dope Tyson.

 

Gonna go with prime Tyson

 

Joe suffocated Ali with his style.

Ali couldn’t keep him off.

Mike had a similar style, but was a much better overall fighter than Frazier.

Much more dynamic.

Two handed.

It would have been a very difficult match up for Ali.

 

Agreed. But I don't think Tyson could do the suffocating thing. He could in spots but he couldn't sustain it for 12, or 15 rounds. I remember in one of his biographies someone saying he sonetimes looked for unspoken truces in the clinch where he was happy to grab a few moments so long as his opponent also played the game. Frazier sucked space and oxygen out of you and would never offer the respite.

It is interesting you have Mikey as a better overall fighter because I disagree. Yes he perhaps had more tools, may have been a better boxer, maybe, but a better fighter? No, not for me. Unpopular view perhaps but if Joe gets out of first three rounds with Mike he drowns him, suffocates him, maybe even stops him late, but THAT is one of the greatest H2H matches I can think of!!

Thanks for your counterpoint, always good to hear and think about other opinions. Its how we learn, isnt it?

Peace and love always, Px