Ron Lyle vs the best of the 80's

I've thought about this a number of times. Its really hard to say in most of the match ups, I'd strongly favor Tyson and Holmes over him, I'd also favor Tony Tucker in a match up vs Lyle. I think him and Tyson would either slug it out which would result in Tyson getting to Lyle around the 4th or 5th round and finishing him off I picture in similar fashion to what he did to Frank Bruno where Lyle's back would be against the ropes and Tyson would render him helpless with his power punches to the body and head. If Lyle tried to box Tyson I think the fight would go a few more rounds but with the same result. I think Lyle would give Holmes a good go possibly taking him the full 15 or being stopped late by Holmes, I could see Lyle possibly staggering or dropping Holmes at some point in the bout but like usual Holmes would be able to rally back and win the fight. Tony Tucker I think with his boxing skills is able to win a hard fought decision vs Lyle.

I think him vs ****ey, Dokes, Thomas, and Witherspoon are all toss ups and it would be competitive fights either way a lot depending on what forum those four mentioned display on the given night that they face Lyle. I'd favor him to beat Page because it seemed like Page though picking up a few good wins and looking great on a number of occasions often came up short against top opposition including losses to some journey men. I favor Lyle against Mike Weaver I feel if they fought it would be a good fight Lyle would win more rounds in a decision, I think either man could knock the other out I feel Weaver's chance for a knockout are more likely later in the fight while I could see Lyle getting to Weaver at any point in the bout. I gotta favor Lyle over Buster Douglas as well just based on how inconsistent Douglas was. If Douglas showed up motivated and at his best I'd probably favor him but the chances of him showing up at his best are unlikely.

I'd also like to see Lyle vs Tony Tubbs, Trevor Berbick, Frank Bruno, Carl Williams and Gerrie Coetzee

 

A comment on the on going conversation about Lyle not beating any or many top ten ranked heavyweights this may be true I've never been a big follower of the rankings but Lyle beat a lot of stiff competition while on the come up and throughout his career. In fact he didn't only beat a number of good fighters but knocked a lot of them out. Vincente Rondon, Buster Mathis, Luis Pires, Larry Middelton 2X, Gregoria Peralta, Jose Luis Garcia, Jurgen Blin, Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, Boone Kirkman, Earnie Shavers, Joe Bugner, Stan Ward and Scott Ledoux were all solid wins. None of these names stand out too much on there own but all together its an impressive list. Not to mention he gave Foreman the fight of his life and gave Ali a solid challenge as well. Lyle was the real deal I give him a good chance against practically any heavyweight outside of the greats.

 

True. There were times such as in the Bugner fight where he looked unimpressive and might even have lost that bout despite getting the decision. The win he received in the Scott Ledoux fight was razor thin as well, though he was past his best.. But over all, his win list is reasonably good and he does have some gallant losing efforts to the elite as well. Of the 80's crowd, I'd pick Tyson, Holmes, Holyfield and probably Witherspoon to beat him. I'd likely favor Lyle to beat the rest with a few of them being tossups.

 

Not to mention , Lyle was clearly beating Ali and was ahead on the scorecards when that controversial stoppage was made .

Some say he actually was outboxing Ali .

 

Just a comment reagarding "Lyle outboxing Ali" The way it's put over nowadays makes it look like Ali was being outclassed. It was n't that way at all ! Ron was building up points due to WORKRATE because Muhammad was n't doing that much until the eighth round or so.

Nothing more than that. Nonetheless this is not disrespecting Lyle who put on a solid workmanlike performance.

 

I agree. Michael Nunn KO'd the durable Sumbu Kalambay with a single shot, giving him the only stoppage loss of his career, and I STILL don't rank Nunn as a big puncher, let alone Lyle. Ron was a guy who could certainly "crack." He had enough power to hurt other heavy's. But true world class power comes from the ability to break down guys and score stoppages over men with proven durability. I'll also ad that the Shavers KO had just as much to do with Earnie gassing as it did anything that Ron landed on him.

 

I agree with this completely :good

 

I have Ron beating 5 of them. Page, Dokes, ****ey, Tucker and Douglas. I think Holmes and Tyson beat him. The others are toss ups.

 

No , because as has been stated time and again but you choose to deny for your own argument, George said he is the hardest puncher he ever fought and the fact that in 76 fights he was the only guy to badly hurt George, it might have some validity .. (Ali and Young were exhaustion ) ..

So I guess you think Primo Carnera was a bigger puncher tan Lyle since he did have the KO's , right ?

 

Sure, Lyle had Foreman in great trouble and downed him twice, but brush away a few key factors and suddenly there's a little more to it.

First, George was coming off not only a marked period of inactivity, he was coming off a stoppage loss and to be sure, there had to be a bit of residue from that lingering in his psych. Second, he fought like the robot Ali typically accused him of being. How could a good boxer-puncher not catch him clean, time and again? Foreman mostly forgot his left jab for Lyle and when he didn't, Lyle was more prepared to box his way in.

Having said that, Ron Lyle was indeed a special type of skilled big man who showed moments of in fact being a monster himself.

Though I'd make him a favorite, I wouldn't dismiss the chances of a focused Tony Tubbs, Tim Witherspoon, Greg Page, Pinklon Thomas and maybe even Carl Williams.

I'm not making any of them the favorite, but anything less than clear on just who he was facing, and the need for strategy and defense, a sharp variant of Spoon could quite conceivably whack him or sneak past him. I'd make Lyle a big favorite over Mike Weaver, but put him in with the Weaver that nearly upset Holmes, even at 202lbs (or whatever he was)....combine that with the reckless confidence he had for Foreman.....and BANG! Upsets can happen.

There's a reason guys like Lyle accrue losses, and mostly it has nothing to do with talent or being a feared monster.

BTW - Holmes via late stoppage, Tyson by early KO