Good match up. Really good. I think Lyle may edge this one. Most likely KO. If it goes deep though he’s in big trouble.
Lyle may get dropped after having a points lead, from there it could turn into a slugfest which ends with either getting stopped.
That's my thought s. Zora s a nice, polished fighter, excellent one at times, but perhaps Lyle decides to go offensive fast. Before Folley has a chance to shine.
Zora folley was the better boxer but didn’t have the greatest chin. I think he’d have a chance of winning a decision here, but if he gets caught in a nasty barrage he might not make it
I'd favor Lyle to win 6/10 but it would be a very good fight either way. Lyle would be busier and landing the heavier shots, Folley controlling the pace with his more methodical boxing and counters. Both hurt each other at some point. I'd say Lyle by KO within 9-11 more often than not. Wouldn't rule Folley out at all though. It would be very competitive.
I think it could turn out to be a good match. Zora Folley defeated a young Oscar Ringo Bonavena on Feb 26 1965 in Madison Square Garden by unanimous decision. Zora dis taste the hard leather of Sonny Liston. Folley did look competitive in the early going against champion Muhammad Ali on March 22 1967, before he ran into Ali's right hand in round 7 and called it a night. Ron Lyle can be out boxed as he was twice against Jimmy Young. I look for Folley to have some desperate moments early on, then down the stretch he begins to box a tiring Lyle to capture the fight on points.
Lyle takes him out at some point, Folley often left his chin in the air, and whilst a good boxer, also didn’t have the power to deter Lyle much, and Folley wasn’t durable, Lyle is just going to keep coming since he can’t be deterred by him combined with fact Folley keeps his chin in the air, Lyle inevitably takes him out at some point.
As much as I **** on Lyle, I think he takes this. Probably takes a lot longer for Lyle to catch him as he's not Liston. But I just don't see Folley's chin holding.
If Jimmy Young beat Lyle handily, Folley who at his best was a much superior fighter than Young should have no problems with this site’s most beloved heavyweight. Ron Lyle was not a historically elite fighter. Period.
