Shot Superheavy Tyson who KTFO Super Brian Nielsen in 2001 VS Shot Ali who decision Neon Leon Spinks in a 1978 rematch. BOTH were 11 years past-prime. Tyson was 35 years old, And Ali was 36 years old. 2001 Shot Superheavy Tyson, 240lbs, 5'10, 71inch reach This content is protected VS 1978 Shot Ali, 221lbs, 6'3, 80inch reach This content is protected Foreman Hoooooooooook!:smoke
The Ali of the second Spinks fight would still have enough left to beat this version of Tyson. Muhammad may have lost a lot of his reflexes and speed by this time,but was still strong enough and savvy enough to outpoint the 2001 Tyson.
Ali win, no way does he KO even that Tyson imo. He never had a ton of power in his prime though he sat on his punches more in his second career. It took Lewis 8 rounds of BOMBS to do in tyson. Ali never had anywhere close to that power...in 78 he was leagues below the level needed to take out tyson.
In 78 ali was not even a top two hw anymore imo, he'd fallen way behind holmes and norton. Tyson in 01 was actually seen as a top contender wasn't he, after lewis beat holyfield the second time holy dropped back below tyson. Byrd was next I think. I know wlad overtook tyson but you could well argue that tyson was considered the 3rd best hw at that point. I remember all the hype even then, the douglas loss didn't matter because of the longcount, the holyfield loss didn't matter because tyson didn't train, the second holy loss really should have been a dq win for tyson, lewis has to beat this man to go down as a great. It obviously gets downplayed with hindsight but at time it was a big deal. So i'd say both were equally shot actually and both held about the same respective ranking. Now tyson can't knock out ali, even shavers nor larry could knock out shot ali. So shot tyson wouldn't. It's inevitable tyson gasses after 4 rounds so the only logical conclusion is ali pot shots his way to a wide decision, 9-3 perhaps.
Tyson could not beat Lennox Lewis, Kevin McBride or Danny Williams, he is not going to beat even a 78 Ali.
This Watch the Lewis fight again.....Tyson copped load of flush bombs, check his eyelids out post-fight interview in the dressing room....Battered :!: Ali 78 isnt knocking him out...
