Muhammad Ali 1974 v Mike Tyson 1988

Tyson was taunted often by Tucker and Smith in their championship fights, and it didn't rattle him at all. This Tyson was a very focused fighter who stuck to his fight plans. He wasn't a ticking time-bomb in the 80's.

I agree Ali was highly adaptive, and it is probably his greatest strength. How exactly he would adapt to Tyson we will never know, and that is what makes this matchup so hard to call.

 

Where's this "mentally weak" stuff coming from? He never had mental problems in the 80's and never was discouraged.

 

67 Ali's really the only fighter I pick to beat Tyson. Getting a KO against a 67 Ali is near impossible and Ali has the brain, speed, stamina to take advantage of Tyson's weaknesses. I see Mike doing well early for the first 6 or 7 rounds, and would probably be leading but all the while Ali would be pushing his head down, tying him up, plain tiring him up. Tyson at his best had good stamina for a puncher, but it wasn't his strong point and we'd see Ali's punches landing more and more as the fight went on and force the late stoppage or the close decision.

However, 74 Ali is NOT the 67 Ali. He lacked the speed, reflexes to beat Tyson here. Ali's rope a dope wouldn't be able to work here against a great and accurate puncher like Tyson unlike Foreman, Tyson is one of the worst fighters for a 74 Ali to fight imo, too many punches in bunches. Tyson by mid round KO.

 

What a surprise :roll:atsch

 

At this point in Ali's career, I see Mike taking an early lead, close middle rounds, and Muhammad dominating late to get the close decison win.

 

I think Prime (1988) Tyson beats Prime Ali (1967). I think Ali of 1974 has a much beter chance against Tyson than he did in 1967. It is a matter of styles. In 1967 Ali would have given Tyson the space he needs to be efficitive. Watch the first Ali/Patterson fight. Patterson who at this time is not as fast as Tyson was in 1988 is able to make Ali miss and even though he lacks Tyson's killer instinct he as able to land on Ali. Tyson of 1988 would have very likely knocked Ali of 1967 out. The Ali of 1974 was was one of the most savy ring intelgent boxers of all time. He knew when to fight he knew when to hold. I think the biggest thing against Ali 1974 is that he lacks power.
Tyson like Patterson and Frazier boxers who will come forward and have decent skills are the worst for Ali. Ali has showen he can overcome this disadvange in his two wins over Frazier. He also has a loss to him.
The best way to beat Tyson 1988 is to hit and hold. I expect Ali 1974 to do this and be effective. I also expect tyson to be able to bob and weave his way past Ali's punches. I said Ali's lack of power would hurt him in this fight hear is why the hit and hold or jab nd grab stragity against Tyson 1988 is desigend to score a late round stopage rather than win a decision. The two boxers who most effectivly used Jab and Grab on Tyson in his prime were Smith and Douglas. Against Smth he won a easy points decision on the cards and against Douglas who knocked him out it was still a close fight on the cards.
I think this would be a more compitive bout than Tyson 1988 vs Ali 1967 but I still think Tyson would win. The need to hold at times to smother Tyson's atack and power will not look good to the judges. Tyson being able to bob and weave his way past Ali's punches and score shots of his own will look good to the judges. Ali will have his moments and even win rounds. Due to their chins perhaps two of the best I don't think there will be any knockdowns let alone knockouts. Allthough if Frazier could knock Ali down than so could Tyson. If there was a knockown Ali would get right back up like he did aginst Frazier. In a 12 round bout I see Tyson winning 7-5 or 8-4 in a 15 round bout I like Tyson 9-6.

 

Tough one. I like Tyson by knockout against a '74 Ali but Ali's too quick in '67 and gets a big decision.

 

That's interesting. So you pick both versions of Ali to lose to Tyson.

Douglas vs Tyson being close on the cards is arguably one of the worst scoring for a champion I've ever seen. I think he was actually up at the time of the KO. Tyson was getting spanked throughout the whole fight. He very arguably won 1 or 2 rounds.

 

Ali by UD or late round stoppage. Ali was able to beat Foreman during this time and looking at that fight one can see that his combinations were still exceptionally fast. Ali was very ring savvy as well. The next year Ali was able to withstand Joe Frazier's onslaught in a brutal fight so I don't believe Ali had declined enough to lose to Mike.

 

Foreman and Frazier are nothing like Tyson. Frazier was past his best and Foreman's style and strategy are totally different from Tyson. Ali will play right into Tyson's hands as he lays on the ropes there to be hit by Tyson.

 

some clown claims tyson can't stop terrell but will stop 74 ali in the mid rounds. thanks for the laugh u ***

 

I brought up the scoring for that fight to show that Tyson makes a good impresion on the Judges. Of course Ali dose as well. I was not trying to argue that it was a close fight.

 

You're a ****ing joke, you realize that right? Why don't you go post on an Ali fan site, you bring absolutely nothing to this site except an unusual and strange obsession with Ali.

 

Too close to call......

**** it, Tyson by 12 rd SD.

 

Agree 100% with this.