Who was the greater physical phenomen in his respective prime? Tyson or Ali?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bokaj, Jan 15, 2008.


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  1. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    You're very definitely different, i'll grant you that

    :good
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 18, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Jan 18, 2008
    #46
  2. Hank

    Hank Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He did, going from body to head, especially with that combo---right to body then up to head--that amazed those who covered boxing till they all bailed on him. He could go to body and head twice each in same punch sequence, and fast.
     
    Hank, Jan 18, 2008
    Hank, Jan 18, 2008
    #47
  3. hobgoblin

    hobgoblin Active Member Full Member

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    Hank: you ignored a keyword in my first post: CONSISTENT. What you mention was done in "flashes" but never CONSISTENTLY. Holyfield vs Tyson - round 5 Tyson unleashes that awesome combination you described. Results are excellent. Yet, he doesn't CONSISTENTLY keep up his body punching in the fight and loses. You can't beat Ali with flashes of brilliance - you need brilliance for 15 rounds to beat him - like Joe Frazier.
     
    hobgoblin, Jan 19, 2008
    hobgoblin, Jan 19, 2008
    #48
  4. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Jimmy Cannon

    Nobody ever took a punch to the body better than Ali.

    Interesting tidbit.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jan 19, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Jan 19, 2008
    #49
  5. The Whaler

    The Whaler My dog be thorough. Full Member

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    I would have to go with Ali.

    While I can envision a short, squat, muscular fighter dashing forward and smashing apart fighters. I have a much harder time envisioning a tall, lanky heavyweight who could move like Muhammad Ali.

    If I had never heard of Muhammad Ali, and you told me there was a fighter like him that had existed, I would have laughed and then I would have jumped into the sky and kicked down a helicopter.
     
    The Whaler, Jan 20, 2008
    The Whaler, Jan 20, 2008
    #50
  6. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    :lol: So you basically copied Janitor's post and then added a little "Umpff" to it.:good
     
    Sweet Pea, Jan 20, 2008
    Sweet Pea, Jan 20, 2008
    #51
  7. The Whaler

    The Whaler My dog be thorough. Full Member

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    I'm like a big pair of fake boobs. I make everything a little bit sexier.
     
    The Whaler, Jan 20, 2008
    The Whaler, Jan 20, 2008
    #52
  8. Senya13

    Senya13 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali entertain inside the ring? :lol: John Ruiz was more entertaining fighter than Ali in many of his fights.
     
    Senya13, Jan 20, 2008
    Senya13, Jan 20, 2008
    #53
  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Well, the post was just about a comparison of physical assets, not of attributes such as heart, where Ali clearly was superior.

    How do you figure Lewis' physical assets compares with Ali's, by the way? Lewis was definitely fast and agile for such a big, powerful man and he had a wonderful right hand, but I don't consider him outstanding. His chin wasn't the greatest, for one thing. The Klitschko brothers, for example, are both comparable to him as physical specimens IMO, even if I would give Lewis the edge.

    Tyson had some physical drawbacks, specifically his small stature and his not too impressive stamina. But his combination of speed and power was extraordinary and he also had a really good chin (Chuvalo and Foreman are probably the only HW:s that I would say had better chins).

    With that said I personally consider Ali in his prime to probably have been the most fantastic physical specimen ever to step into a ring. But of course, like most things this a matter of opinion and that's why I thought it would be interesting to discuss.
     
    Bokaj, Jan 20, 2008
    Bokaj, Jan 20, 2008
    #54
  10. godking

    godking Active Member Full Member

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    Tyson only physical drawback was short stature.

    The idea that Tyson had ''bad'' stamina is a myth.

    Because some taller fighters fighting defensivelly managed to go the distance with Tyson while catching a beating or clinchingdoes not mean Tyson had bad stamina.

    Tyson was a 5,10 fighter inan era of 6,4 HWS this means that he would have to work twice as hard to get into his optimum fighting range If he had bad stamina he would never have lasted .
     
    godking, Jan 20, 2008
    godking, Jan 20, 2008
    #55
  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I said Tyson's stamina wasn't too impressive, not that it was bad. It was alright, but definitely not at the same level as guys like Marciano, Frazier and Ali. As would be expected of such a dynamic fighter stamina was not his biggest asset. But it was not at all bad. In his prime he went the distance a couple of times without looking really worse for wear. He wasn't pressed in those fights, though, and the pace of them wasn't great.
     
    Bokaj, Jan 20, 2008
    Bokaj, Jan 20, 2008
    #56
  12. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think you continue confusing the issue here. It's not about achievements or head to head, just physical assets. And that you say Lewis battered V. Klitschko... Well, let's just say it marks you out as very pro-Lewis. Until Klitschko was cut the opposite was actually very true, but again that's not what this thread is about.

    Yes, Tyson was comparable with Patterson, but NOT with Frazier. I hate that people makes this mistake just because they were of similar size and stature. But Tyson's likeness with Patterson is what makes him so special physically, because his speed was comparable with Patterson's (who was really fast) even though he was 30+ pounds heavier.
     
    Bokaj, Jan 20, 2008
    Bokaj, Jan 20, 2008
    #57
  13. markedwardscott

    markedwardscott Active Member Full Member

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    Ali for his size and speed. I think he was actually one of the biggest heavyweight champs although known more for his speed
     
    markedwardscott, Jan 30, 2008
    markedwardscott, Jan 30, 2008
    #58
  14. RoccoMarciano

    RoccoMarciano Blockbuster Full Member

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    Depends on what you mean with the question. As far as boxing is concerned, Ali had better defense, had a better chin, and obviously had a much GREATER will to win, actually respected the sport... etc...

    Tyson had a couple of muscles that looked good...
     
    RoccoMarciano, Jan 30, 2008
    RoccoMarciano, Jan 30, 2008
    #59
  15. punchy

    punchy Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Especially the Tua fight
     
    punchy, Jan 30, 2008
    punchy, Jan 30, 2008
    #60
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