Tyson and Ali showing the difference between punching power and punching ability

Faulting Tyson for not finishing off Williams and McBride is like faulting Ali for not taking out Holmes and Berbick

And Ruddocks recuperative abilities and heart made him a VERY hard fighter to take out.

 

Ali didn't have Larry Holmes on the deck and ready to go. And he sure didn't have Berbick with bad cuts in there. If he did, he certainly knew what to do and how to go about getting his arm raised in victory. And those 2 young heavies in their prime as an opponent is a whole different ballgame than trying to stop a Mcbride.
What I'm saying---and you disagree with--is that great finishers get opponents out of there when that window of opportunity presents itself, regardless of the circumstances.

 

Ali was dangerous because of his pinpoint timing. A well-placed punch can always change the game in a second. He thus cut up Cooper for a TKO, though hardly actually rocking him with concussive power, and, dubious circumstances notwithstanding, clearly stopped Liston in his tracks with a single accurate shot.

Tyson was dangerous because twin, whizzing wrecking balls usually are.

So, yes, different ways to the same end.

Now, I think it's important to consider that Tyson's opponents were bigger and heavier, and at least a couple were there to survive to the final bell, while Clay/Ali's foes, in chasing him, were quite open to a swift counter or sneaky lead.

 

Ruddock II was a post-prime Tyson facing a big, durable opponent. Keep in mind the he DID stop Ruddock the first time around, albeit by TKO.

Have you even seen Tyson-Douglas? There are too many points to make here, among them that Tyson was horribly undertrained/underprepared, had a bunch of idiots in his corner, had taken a terrible beating PRIOR to knocking Douglas down, and that the KD occurred towards the end of the round anyways.

Tyson did KO Williams. In the first round. Or are you talking about Danny Williams, a fight that came fifteen years later, when Tyson was something like 38?

As an above poster said, Tyson-Williams/McBride have about as much relevance as Ali-Holmes/Berbick.

 

Just how many other top 10 heavyweights did Douglas ever knock down? Not out, just knocked down? And the guy had already been stopped late in a fight.
If the opponent is unfocused or untrained or lousy corner, etc. are examples of a weakness in his game. That's not a free pass, just a weakness in their game and always a consideration.

And Ruddock was always beatable. He's slow and wide open for counters. And throws 20 punches a round & even telegraphs those. If he has a broken jaw as well, I sure don't think a Marciano or Louis or Ali or Foreman have 1 iota of trouble getting the guy out of there. They were the finishers.