....a world champ in any other era? He was big, powerful, plenty of skill (much underrated IMO) and a heart the size of a lion. Too bad he spent his best years in the slammer...
I think that in ANY ERA Ronnie Lyle would've given most heavyweights a good argument. However, spending your best years incarcerated probably doesn't help to hone your talents...!
I ws aways very disappointed in his effort v.s. Ali for the title ... I understand he was pacing himself but he showed Ali so much respect it was a bit over the top ... then he basically folded the first time he was hit solid ... how he survives a murderous shot by Shavers but cannot recover from one Ali right hand is a mystery to me .... Lyle would always be dangerous as a big man and a big puncher and on his good nights could have beaten some champs from earlier eras ...
I like Lyle a lot. A big strong guy, carried very good power, had very underrated boxing skills in my opinion. The big pity is the late start he had to boxing, what should have been his prime years were in fact spent learning his trade against some of the best contenders. He packed around 40 fights into a 6 year period between the ages of 30-36 against the likes of Quarry, Young (2), Bugner, Shavers, Foreman, Bonavena, Peralta (2), Stan Ward and Ellis, thats not a bad list of opponents and in fact i think compares favourably with George Foremans first career list of opponents
Like with a lot of top contenders who never quite got the championship, he could have had it if he got the right champion at the right time. Most such fighters dont however.
Thanks you guys,I liked Ronnie a lot!!!:happyHe could hit, Remember him versus Foreman!!!!atschatschMan ..WHO...DOESNT!!Guys dont like boxin remember that ONE!!! Who could FORGET it!! ....Whatever happened to big Ron ,something GOOD I hope.:hi:
I was excited to see him in the garden vs Quarry...Lyle had the look, the built and the prison sentence to be another Sonny Liston, another Rubin Carter...the darkness...but Quarry pretty much outworked him and hurt in bad at one point in the fight. Still he had some good wins Shavers....a brawl with Foreman...but I still do not see him being a champ in any era up untill the 80's with all those split titles he may have a chance(Berbick or Seldon)...one thing about Lyle he was always in condition but I dont really think he would holdi t long
