How much potential do you think Ron Lyle had?

I don’t think it would’ve made that much difference, fighters back then didn’t know how to spar, they didn’t realise that most of the damage was done in sparring, so Lyle probably just becomes shopworn by like 31 or something.

I guess it would’ve been a bit better, because instead of that portion of his career post-Foreman, but before Cooney, he did beat some decent names, and instead of being 35-38 as he was, he’d’ve been 25-28, but also, maybe he wouldn’t have have been as urgent to get his career going since he would’ve known he had more time, which may have led him to stall.

There are pros and cons.

 

No way to know. Too many ingredients go into a fighter's development.

Look at the Cooper twins. Both boxers. Same family/upbringing. Same DNA. Only one was a top 10 contender.

 

This is a great point. Sometimes tragedy, a rough life, poor decisions, etc ironically make a person into the stellar athlete they are in the first place.

Lyle developed his brawny physique doing 1000+ pushups and situps in solitary because he had made lots of poor choices running with gangs that landed him in prison. So it's anyone's guess if he'd have that same fire and dedication living a normal peaceful life or starting boxing earlier. Boxing is 80% mental as they say.

 

There were two Ali’s! - Beneitz has brothers we’d have to try a bit to find… the Galaxy twins though…

 

Fascinating question.
As many said before, we will never know per sure.

Maybe an early bird Lyle would have become a monster ATG; or maybe not.
There are lots of cases of young starts burning brigh and quick, who are already faded and gone by the time they hit their middle 20s. Maybe Lyle starting early would just translate into an early plateau and decline.

And many other things would be needed in order to make that "mythical Lyle" a reality.

I any case, what is valid for Lyle is valid for practically every other fighter.
Even the greatest champions have their records full of "shoulda, woulda, coulda" questions.

- What if Ali doesn't lose 3 years of his prime?
- What if Tyson stays out of jail?
- What if Williams doesn't get shot?
- What if Jersey gets proper nutrition and training?
- What if Buster keeps focused after Tokyo?
- What if Foreman doesn't retire prematurely?

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And so on.
Life is so full of what if?

 

ATG

 

It seems to me that Lyle, while clearly intelligent, lacked important, unconditional confidence.

When he sparred with Ali and Norton before turning pro, I think both Ali and Frazier commented that Ron could be/needed to be more assertive and less respectful.

I dunno, but in the pro ranks it seemed that Lyle might’ve subordinated himself a bit against certain opposition.

When pressed and seriously put upon, we saw how Lyle could fight when ignited (Shavers and Foreman fights).

Though acceptably skilled, maybe Ron fancied himself to be more a boxer than was actually practical given his particular, natural strengths and weaknesses.

The man could definitely punch but I don’t know that he always went out there to utilise his power to its full potential.

While Ali laid back for many rounds during their fight, I think Lyle should’ve taken the opportunity to step it up more than he did.

Tethered too closely to Ali’s own sub par performance, Ron took it too easy and then, suddenly, BOOM, Ali woke himself up and caught Ron cold.