Bad examples for comparison, nonetheless. Tyson was in his physical prime for Douglas, Ali was more than a decade past his for Holmes and Berbick. You wrote "inferior in several ways". And most notably you left out Frazier superior will and stamina. When Tyson got stopped it was because of his stamina, more than his chin.
Yes, Tyson was in his physical prime, but he wasn't properly prepared. Doing coke and playing with Japanese hookers ain't exactly proper training. Yes. Tyson was faster, stronger, could KO you with either hand and had a better defense. Tyson was properly prepared and did not have stamina issues in his prime.
Vow, He got excuses. He must be the only one with those. But, sure, I wouldn't put that version forth as the best of Tyson. But he was waaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy close to it than the Holmes and Berbick versions of Ali was. Yea, that prime that evaporated the first time he got pushed. Convenient, isn't it? Even if you think that he was past his prime at 24, the fact is that he was never pushed before that. You don't need to have any special stamina to hug with Smith for 12. He came up short against Douglas who himself was known for gassing and against old Holy, whose stamina had looked absolutely shite in prior fights. But, sure, you haven't done the whole "post Rooney" yet so go ahead. Btw, Ali hung out with hookers before FOTC, if that nullifies everything.
If Tyson lands his best left hook and Ali hits the deck it can be argued that Tyson might get a TKO because he was a great finisher of fighters who never had been down , had great chins etc etc. IMO, if Ali would have used the same tactics laying on the ropes like in the Foreman fight it would be e recipe for disaster against Tyson.
Sure anybody can be knocked out, but in a fantasy fight, I don't see anyone doing it to Ali at his best. Louis and Tyson are probably the ones I would give the best chance of, but I don't see either one of them doing it.
I agree with rez here...but if anyone could have done it, I think Joe Louis. But I just can't see even the 2nd greatest ATG beating the 1st at his best. As incredible as Joe Louis was, Ali was too much of a Boxing Miracle in the 60s (and I daresay the very earliest part of the 70s) to get beat even by him. Might have gotten knocked down, though.
Unless if he got cut early and doesn't manage to win the fight before the referee pulls him out, or if he got floored and slipped on his way to get up to beat the count. NO heavyweights would,could,should be favored to stop Muhammad Ali! Gun to my head? I still think NOBODY would be able to stop Ali!!!