My answer is no. I don't think that Ron Lyle beats Mike Tyson or Riddick Bowe. On the right night and with the right angles, Lyle might have given either or both of those men a good run for their money, but at the end of the day comes up with a loss.
Prime for prime they should both takes him without that much fuss. Maybe he could land early on Bowe, like he did on Foreman, and give him some trouble, but Bowe would come back. He was a hard ******* to get out of there, to say the least. A points win is not impossible for Lyle, who had a pretty good jab, but not likely. With his upright and kind of stationary style he's perfect for prime Tyson. A short nights work. I would give a him a decent chance against the older Tyson that often looked to slug his opponents out of there, though. Lyle would be unfazed and look for an opening to land his own bombs, which he possibly could do. He didn't hit quite as hard as Ruddock, but was just as tough and more well-rounded.
I agree with the consensus so far, no and no. Bowe and Tyson in their prime were just better and I don't see any significant style advantages for Lyle that would overcome that.
Probably would lose hard fought fights to both. The Tyson fight could be really interesting, as Lyle would have no fear of Tyson, at any stage of Tyson's career.
I think Bowe beats him easily...though Ron certainly deserves some credit, Im not trying to write him off..I just think Bowe's physical and technical advantages would be to much..he wont give Ron his chin on a platter like George did..Man Lyle couldnt have timed those shots any better if he tried, Foreman was just walking into those shots for the whole fight. With these matchups you have to base it on their best performances...of course Bowe had some shockers and pissed away his talent somewhat but at his best he was a very good fighter. Prime Tyson is no contest at all really...but who is against a prime Tyson?
