Would Rope-a-dope work on Tyson?

One difficulty I haven't seen mentiond against Tyson is how much he loved to get a side-angle on opponents he had pinned on the ropes. Foreman was always straight on, right in front. Tyson took notes from Duran and switched the angle during combinations.

 

Wow, revisiting a thread from 2010...that's 10 years ago guys! Good to see some of the old prophets of doom from way back.

Prime for prime: Tyson beats Ali. Cus knew how to beat Ali, he'd drill that wisdom into Tyson's psyche.

 

Tyson by KO

 

But could Tyson beat Ross Purrity? That's the question?

 

Rope a Dope would absolutely not work on Tyson. Mike was an explosive, but calculating puncher. He wouldn't wear himself out trying to steamroll Ali. Ali would have been far better off using movement and reach, sticking and moving and tying up in close. Go for the points win. Tyson didn't do well when he got tied up inside.

 

Tyson didn’t throw a lot of punches per round. He usually got tired come round 6 anyway so no need to implement it. Would either have to keep him at a distance or tie him up when close.

 

Poor Wlad. I wonder if Ali pulls a rope-a-dope on him...

 

That's what I think. Holmes was too old to begin with to deal with such a young and inspired Mike, but he went into the fight with the right idea: basically survive for five rounds, and hope that Mike would stop throwing combinations. Because Mike WAS guilty of that before then. His punch volume would lower (understandable, given the energy needed to sustain such an incredibly effective assault). But I think Holmes got a little indignant/pride-filled after the third round (watch him tell of Mike right after the bell sounded), and started thinking he was Superman. He took chances he shouldn't have, especially given his age and the kind of ring experience he later put to terrific use in the 90s. Do I think 90s Larry could have beaten a prime Mike? Hell no, but I think he could have pulled off a UD loss. He used his brains in the 90s...those were apparently off the hook in the mid to late 80s.

I realize Mike was really young in the Tillis fight, but Quick really did lay the blueprint. I still wonder what inspired Tillis to do as well as he did...I'm not sure he EVER looked that good before or after. Had he just a tiny bit more firepower, he might have at least got a draw.

I also don't believe Mike would have beat the same Tillis at a later date. I think Tillis figured him out, just like Douglas did. Douglas just had more motivation and youth.

 

It was only improvised in the sense that Ali had it as an option when needed, but watch "When We Were Kings".
Sportswriter George Plimpton spoke of Ali's camp objecting to his leaning & fighting off of the ropes, & likened Ali to a man leaning out of a window to try & see something on an fllor above him.

Ali deployed it because the ring was small, soft & slow, + Foreman was much faster than he thought.
He said he knew he would tire out trying to move so much under these conditions. Taking 2 steps to every one of Foreman's when he cut off the ring.
Conditions aside from the ropes (& Ali being allowed to chat with much clinching & pulling Foreman's head down...Favored a slugger.

Oh & someone referred to 1986 as Tyson's "peak" year.
That is untrue-if you are counting peak YEARS that was the first one, but almsot all know he was at his best around Spins in 1988.
It is said that a champion gets 50% better after he wins the title, & that likely is an exaggeration, but nobody can expect that Tyson or Marciano did not improve their tactics & efficiency from when they took the tiitle. You can see it on video.