Wills never got his much deserved shot at the title because of racial prejudice while, on the other hand, Lyle did and was furious when his fight with Ali was stopped prematurely in Lyle and Chickie Ferrara's opinion. Who wins this matchup?
The Lyle fight wasn't stopped prematurely. He was getting hit with every punch and never defended himself once. Any more punches he could be seriously hurt. He had no reason to complain.
Can't say much based on styles, but Wills is a million times more proven as a fighter and he beat a similar, though inferior, fighter in Lyle. I'd go with Wills by late TKO.
I go with neither, Lyle could potentially give anyone a decent scrap. But Wills on paper is the more proven fighter. Without film I'm basing my opinion on something I'm not 100% about.
Lyle was not on his way down or anything, nor was he stunned. He was just rocked from a big right hand and covering up without throwing much back. I thought the stoppage was a tad premature, and the fight could have gone on few more seconds until calling it off. Lyle was up on my card in round 11 on the time of stoppage. His trainer was going nuts.
Groove, its been a long time since I saw the fight live, but I don't recall Lyle falling back like that or the ropes holding him up. He appeared stunned by an Ali right to the jaw and I certainly thought the stoppage was hurried. I can't recall the math but I had Lyle clearly ahead in a slow moving bout.
BIG DEE HERE= Lyle was running on empty when Ali struck and stunned him. The stoppage was an Ali special where he hurts Lyle and they stopped it way,way, way,to fast. As far as Wills KOs the out classed Lyle in 6 rds as Wills forgot more about fighting than Lyle ever knew. Harry Wills had probably 50 unrecorded fights starting back around 1911 and before. He was born in 1889 so I don`t think he started at 21 years old I think he would have started earlier than that to make money in the smokers around New Orleans, La. at the time.
Mendoza, I haven't seen that fight. Was Lyle ahead by alot after 10 rounds? Grebfan9 www.firstroundboxing.com
