Ali vs. Tyson Who Wins This Mystical Bout?

Ali, hands out.

Prime Ali was just too good defensively, too fast of hands and feet for Mike to catch.

Furthermore, Tyson lacked the mental strenght to go head to head with Ali.

Had this fight ever happened Tyson would have bitten Ali's ears out of sheer frustration :yep

 

Even if you fancy Mike's chances as a counterpuncher in mid ring, the fact is, that in real life there are press conferences. How under Tyson's skin would Ali get? Would be unreal.

As it is i just take Ali.

 

It was on I believe Leno or Arsenio that Ali and Tyson were guests. Tyson had obvious respect, reverence for Muhammad, and Ali said when he asked how he would have done against Tyson, "If he'd hit me, he'd kill me." Therein the best clue to how the fight would have gone, at least in what Ali's gameplan would have been. Like others here, if I gotta bet I got Muhummad, but if anybody had a puncher's chance it was Mike.

 

There is only one man that (in these hypothetical fantasy matches) i could really consider picking over Ali to be honest, and believe it or not it's Marciano. The only thing that puts me off is the size factor.

 

I believe it. But you're sayin ' T, that Rocky's the only heavy you think has a good shot with Ali?

 

Maybe i shouldn't go that far, because he was beaten in reality by Joe Frazier, although there is some debate as to wether he was at his true peak there. But i just think that if you put any (as i'm scanning through a heavyweight list in my head right now), other heavyweight in with Ali in a fantasy match up then i'd likely be picking Ali ultimately.

 

Even against peak Louis and peak Holmes? :think

 

tyson had more ability than ali but styles and attributes make fights. i believe ali's height and speed would keep tyson at bay en route to a close decision win

 

In my opinion, yes. Just mine.

Lennox Lewis is terrily difficult though, Ali would simply need to outspeed him with his feet.

 

Yeah, I wasn't really disagreeing. I don't know, it's interesting. You've got a few guys in the history of the game that we all agree were as good as it gets. Guys like Ali, Robinson, Pep, Burley, and then you have interesting style match ups. Might be a thread... putting guys up against them...

 

Oh yeah Chinx i know you wasn't really disagreeing, just wanting an explanation for my post. Yeah they are really the cream of the crop aren't they?

 

There's a key difference between Tyson and Frazier, though, in that Tyson could get stopped by punches and Frazier couldn't. Tyson had a good chin, but he didn't seem to like getting hit on the way in - even his early opponents who hit him on the way in could get the better of him in spots. Frazier, on the other hand, would just walk through the storm. I think that difference means Ali would be able to box and move against Tyson where he couldn't against Smokes.