Muhammad Ali vs Ron Lyle

Only sadists could say that Lyle could have carried on. I've seen steadier legs on drunks at closing time,than on Lyle after Ali was repeatedly hitting him.

 

Time for a standing 8-count, which should be allowed, to give the referee a
chance to check the fighters condition.

Safety first.

 

Lyle's head was starting to immitate a Speedbag, once you are being hit with that degree of speed and accuracey, i'd like to think most ref's would act promptly and accordingly.

 

Muhammad unloaded 46 unanswered punches with no sign of even an attempt to return fire by Ron. Ali literally battered a foundering, drunkenly tottering Lyle clockwise from one neutral corner, to Ron's corner, then the other neutral corner. Lyle was no longer able to compete, and there were nearly two minutes left in the round. This scenario was very different from the quick recovery he made when Jerry Quarry staggered him to the ropes with a hook. There's no way Ron was coming back from this.

 

This is where an experienced and smart fighter takes a knee, rises and continues.

Ron, not the quickest-thinker in the ring.

 

He made an effort to clinch as he staggered from his corner to the coffin corner, but Ali tucked in his elbows and kept his distance, so Lyle was neither able to bear hug him like Monzon did Briscoe, or slip his arms underneath Muhammad's to neutralize. (Shavers wasn't particularly good at preventing clinches by hurt opponents, something which cost him dearly after he dropped Mercado and others.)

We tend to lionize those who have granite chins and can stand up to a shot. Some shrewd veterans like Moore didn't care about such things in earlier eras, and would go down to buy time and an opportunity to recuperate. Archie thus was able to extend himself into round nine with Marciano, until it became clear he had no chance to prevail, even on a rounds basis.

 

When Ali unloaded in that last combo he really snapped Lyle's head back thats when any sane referee will stop the fight

 

Was Lyle ahead in the scorecards, or was it too close to call.

I do remember Ron trying to get cute in Round 11, and got caught with a
straight right, which hurt him.

 

Bill Kipps had Lyle ahead 49-43, and Art Lurie 46-45, while John Mangriciana had them deadlocked at 46-46. My subjective impression at the time was that Ron was leading in a very tensely conservative chess match. These former sparring partners were playing it close to the vest, but I had the sense that Lyle was starting to crack, and I was mindful of Ali's late surge against Wepner.

 

By rounds,
Lyle (7-1-2)
Lyle (5-4-1)
Even (4-4-2)

5 Ringside Sports Writers interviewed after the fight
Lyle (6-3-1)
Lyle (5-3-2)
Lyle (5-1-4)
Lyle (6-2-2)
Lyle (5-3-2)

 

I remember Howard cosell (entertaining but not the best reader of a fight) not being impressed with the fight until that point. Ali often took his time, gave away rounds and make the other guy work, it paid off here -as it often did.

 

Though Ali did win by a Round 11 TKO.
It was not overly impressive.

Little Jimmy Young had spanked Ron Lyle previously, and completely neutralized
Lyle by just a little movement.

Jimmy pitched a near 10-Round shut-out.

 

In this match-up I believe Lyle would win. I have learned he was the most impressive specimen to ever enter a ring. He did 100 push-ups a day and touched his toes regularly while in prison. Prime Ali would not stand a chance.