This is a fight i would like to discuss. Imo a 1964-1967 Ali would have won via late TKO or UD, he was even too fast overall for prime Tyson. But how would a slower Ali from the Rumble in the Jungle and the Thrilla in Manila deal with Tyson at his absolute best? Lets face it: As much many ppl say Tyson is overrated, if you take a scale from 0-10, he would be compared to Frazier and Foreman like this: Speed: Tyson 9 Frazier 8 Foreman 8 (Prime Ali) 10 Power: Tyson 9 Frazier 8 Foreman 10 (Prime Ali) 7 Heart: Tyson 5 Frazier 10 Foreman 8-9 (Prime Ali) 10 Chin: Tyson 8 Frazier 9 Foreman 7 (Prime Ali) 9 Recover ability: Tyson 6 Frazier 10 Foreman 9 (all versions of Ali) 10 PS: The Ali-Frazier fights were primary so damn great since both guys have a 10 in heart and recover ability. A 10 in chin would be guys like Chuvalo and McCall, thats why i dont give any of them a 10 here. When it comes to the package of speed and power, its clear a prime Tyson would be more dangerous as Frazier or Foreman, since he was faster then both of them but almost as strong as Foreman. Some ppl believe a 20-22 years old Tyson would have beaten a 31-33 years old Ali. Because Foreman didnt have the speed and Frazier didnt have the power on both sides to hurt Ali enough. Your thoughts?
I haven’t studied Ali to any degree to be fair. He seemed to get hit, or take some punishment in the fights of his I’ve seen footage of (mid 70’s onwards). I think a prime Tyson gives Ali a lot of problems & stops the Ali of that era. Prime v Prime is hard to call, but Mike Tyson would always be danger. He was a monster. Ali at his peak, could dance, move and frustrate anyone, I’m sure. I probably sway towards Tyson overall. Just !
I've always felt that Ali from The Thrilla In Manila had the combination of handspeed/accuracy, experience, tactics, ruggedness and stamina to take Tyson into deep waters and drown him, but who knows.
It's always hard to judge these different versions of Ali vs. the different versions of Tyson. And the one unique factor that always comes into play with Ali is his psychological warfare. We all know Tyson had self esteem and self image issues, even his biggest fans will admit this. Tyson's intimidation factor likely wouldn't work on Ali. Foreman and Liston couldn't intimidate Ali so I don't see how Mike could do it. So this all spells for a recipe for disaster for Mike Tyson who should win this fight as he has the speed, power, strength, defense advantage and the style advantage which is perhaps the most important advantage. But as anyone knows, if your mind isn't into whatever task or job you're doing, you won't do well ... And Ali would capitalize on that. The best athletes at any sport are usually always mentally strong. Mentally slipping and naivety is what caused Tyson's downfall in the first place. So Tyson should win this but Ali is the man who finds ways to win when he should lose.
It would come down to intestinal fortitude. I think Tyson was the better fighter, He had inside and outside skills, and fierce power and determination, but Ali was one of those freaks who could take it and take your will to win. I think a focused Tyson at his peak could beat Ali and force him to retreat and fight from the outside all night but who knows we never saw Tyson tested at his best by a fighter of Alis caliber.
I love when you guys give #s to rate fighters skills. Like your biased opinion is word. Ali destroys Tyson psychologically before the fight even begins. Tyson can't hurt Ali. Ali KO 6. And you better believe King is on Ali's side.
No he is not. Actually he fights nothing like Frazier. Frazier was a great inside fighter. Tyson was an inside clincher. Apples & oranges.
He’s got a similar head movement that would make him a hard target for the jab. I also think 88 Tyson can slip Ali’s jab and land his own at times, he was a good jabber considering his size disadvantage
he did not have similar head movement. Frazier moved his whole body. D'Umbasso's peekaboo was a nightmare. Besides Pat and Mike and Torres who he ruined each of who used it ?. Rooney. Decapitated easily by Arguello after easily timing the pendulum back and forth movement. Pay real attention to styles.
I’d say complete opposites is Tyson’s and Ali’s style. It may look different because Tyson was a lot better
