Could Ali rope a dope Tyson.

Tyson knocked out Bruno first of all.

Second, Tyson shut out Green and Smith. If you're using these fights to show how to beat Tyson it's pretty foolish.

 

Ali would have to HOLD more if he plans on rope a dope thinking about it. Lie on the ropes and evey time Tyson comes near grab him.

 

I believe Ali would beat him H2H, but don't think he would adopt a rope a dope strategy, nor should he. I know that Tyson's KO rate declines the longer a fight goes (although that could be said for many), but I have never seen him punch himself out. George certainly let Ali get into his head (with the exception of Norton most did) and did exactly that. Tyson would be throwing more punches from different angles. I don't believe he would try this strategy (again) and don't think it would be succesful.

 

It wouldn't work. No way.

 

I have my doubts.

 

IMO Ali would have found a way to beat Tyson, as he did with nearly all his opponents.

It would certainly start with getting inside Tyson's head - ala Liston. Would Ali use the rope-a-dope method? Perhaps for portions of the fight he might - particularly if he thought it was working for him.

Would Ali win? - IMO on pts only, and he'd wear plenty along the way.

 

He would be playing right into Tyson's hands. One right to the body and right uppercut later and Ali would have to move in a hurry.

As soon as Spinks stalled along the ropes, Tyson demolished him with one body blow.

As soon as Holmes chose to raise his guard and await Tyson on the ropes, it marked his end.

As soon as Bruno sought refuge on the ropes in Round 5, he was nearly decapitated for a searing stoppage.

In many ways, Tyson would have been a nightmare for Ali. Tyson hit possibly harder, certainly faster, and in much better combinations than Frazier, who gave Ali a run for his money from the opening bell at FOTC both on the ropes and in center ring. I can imagine a 1971 Ali moving, looking to plant his feet and throw the one-two, and Tyson uncoiling with a monster hook to catch him out of nowhere on an unprotected jaw. A couple of those exchanges and Ali would be in dire straits for some answers.

And the hook (a classic Ali weakness) would not come alone. Tyson was an extraordinary combination puncher coming forward on his man. And early Round 2 against Berbick proves he could move amazingly fast on his feet on the attack as well. No, Ali never met anything like Tyson as regards pure offensive wattage, neither in the jabbing Liston, the largely hooking Frazier or the swinging and missing Foreman.

The only Ali I like against Tyson is circa 1966. He was strong, brash, and, like young Tyson, a wonder, preternatural in his speed and reflexes in the ring. Ali at his peak would punish Tyson, now here, now there, and Tyson would be hard pressed to lay a glove on him before being mastered.

But the rope-a-dope was for roping dopes. Tyson was no dope.

 

Foreman was powerful, but it came at the sacrifice of speed and accuracy. This is a major reason why rope-a-dope worked against him.

Tyson was quite the opposite of Foreman in these areas---he had fantastic speed and pinpoint accuracy, and as we all know plenty of power. Rope-a-dope would be suicide against Tyson. It's actually probably the worst strategy you could pick. Bruno, Marvis Fazier, Spinks, Holmes, among others, all show what happens when cornered by Tyson...

With Tyson you have to stay in the middle of the ring, hold, and outwork him.

 

The big difference between Frazier and Tyson is that Frazier could fight on the inside, and did it better than maybe anyone in heavyweight history. Tyson was never any good on the inside.

 

Not a good idea.

Using the Bonecrusher smotehring technique is the only way for a HW to survive with Prime Tyson, and even then it isn't going to get you the win.

 

He had a much better work rate as well, better engine.

 

Doubtful, but I think he'd find another way to beat him.

 

Tyson and Foreman were two very different types of punchers. The rope-a-dope worked so well against Foreman, but would have been foolhardy vs. Tyson. Ali's best chance with Tyson would have been the classic Douglas approach, but minus the power that Douglas had. Ali would have had to trade primarily on speed, with hopefully the same results as in Frazier II or III, IMO, Ali would have perhaps come on strong at the end, dealing out punishment to force a tko, anywhere from 13 to 15. It would have been very dangerous for him in the early rounds than later on, as Tyson didn't have Frazier's late rounds perseverence and heart. Damn this modern day underrating of Joe Frazier, by the way... the man had a great heart...as in The Fight of the Century '71.