Ali vs. Tyson
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Part of the equation would be to consider the following:
1. Tyson never beat a great heavyweight that was in his prime.
2. Ali beat many great heavyweights when they were in their prime. He beat some of them when he was not in his prime. He might have been the greatest situational thinker in the ring, ever.
They posed the same question about Rocky Marciano.
Computer analysis determined that like the first Frazier-Ali fight, Marciano would win but would lose in a re-match. Tyson vs Ali, Tyson stood no chance. Ali would have handled him like a smaller version of Sonny Liston.
Computer analysis determined that like the first Frazier-Ali fight, Marciano would win but would lose in a re-match. Tyson vs Ali, Tyson stood no chance. Ali would have handled him like a smaller version of Sonny Liston.
I have always chuckled at any notion that Marciano came close to being a great heavyweight, let alone in the same class as Ali. Consider:
1. Marciano fought at 187 lbs Ali was 30 lbs heavier and MUCH faster
2. The only heavyweight of note that was in his prime when Marciano beat him was Roland La Starza. Anyone heard of him?
3. When he beat Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott and Archie Moore, they were all well past their prime (check their ages at the time).
4. His handlers carefully managed his career to ensure that he was not exposed to any real threat on the way to his 49-0 lauded record.
5. I hear people talk about Maricano's record of 49-0 as if it means something. I'm struggling to figure why this is even considered a record at all. Jimmy Wilde was 132-3 he was was on a 100 win winstreak before he lost. Sugar Ray Robinson was 131-3 when he retired.. the first time. Willey Pep 229-11. As far as Title defenses.. he only had 6, less than Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. So why does this number even matter?
It is difficult if not impossible to compare boxers from different eras. Also, we don't see Irish and Italian boxers like in the old days.
Gene Tunney (Irish guy) was probably the smartest boxer ever both in and outside the ring. He retired soon after marrying rich.
A much more interesting match would be Ali vs Tunney in their prime.
" Nevertheless, it is incorrect to think of Tunney as a stick-and-move fighter in the Ali style. While Tunney's heavyweight fights against Gibbons, Carpentier, and Dempsey featured his fleet-footed movement and rapid-fire jabbing, his earlier bouts, especially the five against Harry Greb, demonstrated his vicious body punching and willingness to fight toe-to-toe."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Tunney
Gene Tunney (Irish guy) was probably the smartest boxer ever both in and outside the ring. He retired soon after marrying rich.
A much more interesting match would be Ali vs Tunney in their prime.
" Nevertheless, it is incorrect to think of Tunney as a stick-and-move fighter in the Ali style. While Tunney's heavyweight fights against Gibbons, Carpentier, and Dempsey featured his fleet-footed movement and rapid-fire jabbing, his earlier bouts, especially the five against Harry Greb, demonstrated his vicious body punching and willingness to fight toe-to-toe."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Tunney
When both were in their prime Tyson was a mental midget compared to Ali. Ali would have been in Mike's head so much before the first bell that the fight would've likely already been over. Look at what the Buster Douglas jab did to Tyson. Despite all of this Tyson would still have a "puncher's chance" I guess
Tell that to George Foreman. He was arguably a harder puncher than Tyson. Ali beat him when he was well past his prime
I just watched a lot of videos of both fighters. In their prime Ali would have danced and kept moving back. Tyson would chase him to close the distance enough to throw a punch and that's when Ali would punish him with superior speed and reach.
Ali talked non-stop to his opponents during fights, challenging and mocking them. Ali would have driven Tyson mad enough to bite off his own ear.SkyRider said:
The key word being IF. Ali could dance and bob like no heavyweight ever or since. 9 times out of 10 Ali wins except the one time when Tyson connects.
There was one boxer more controversial and broke more social conventions than Ali. His name is Jack Johnson.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(boxer)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_(boxer)
The problem with Boxing in Tyson Era vs Ali Era is everyone great fought each other . We never got to see Lewis vs Bowe is an example
I was watching Sportsnet's tribute to Ali last night. They said that boxing and baseball were the two most popular sports in the U.S. in the old days but has now been surpassed by several other sports like football, basketball, etc.
What caused the decline in popularity of boxing? I have my own theory.
What caused the decline in popularity of boxing? I have my own theory.
Race & social class had a lot to do with it. A poor black man who was strong and athletic..what avenues could he persue? 100 years ago a man like LeBron James, physical specimen, would have boxed. Unless your name is Floyd Mayweather, seems as if the money is in Basketball now.
