Muhammad Ali

[Lenmcharristar 9,613]

I don't share the view that Tyson was a great fighter. He was good at knocking over bums. For me, he only fought three world class fighters, Holmes, Holyfield and Lewis. Holmes was an ageing fighter and in the other two fights Tyson absolutely folded-- especially mentally.( Remember the biting of Holyfield's ear and the biting of Lewis's leg at the weigh in?) He bottled it, he knew he couldn't bully them and folded.

he also ducked George foreman although repeated attempts at a fight were also rejected by the Tyson camp for fear of losing to foreman

[*The*Field*Marshall* 674]

Take note of Tyson in the early years and up until his win over Berbick, he went downhill after that . . Like rocket firework, such an explosion . . But didn't last long . . You define the greatest fighter via a couple of different ways, usually legacy . . But for me I think one man at his best against another at his best. . Of course, we can't say for sure . . But I know who my money would have been on!

 

Iron Mike Tyson

 

[DogFox123 1,379]

A prime Mike Tyson is the top of the heavyweight tree for me . . Dare I say it!?! Yes . . I believe Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali was over rated . . Yes, he was probably the fastest and one of the most stylish of the heavyweights in history, but let's be honest, if he struggled with a Frazier and Norton . . Think of a prime Tyson! Curtains for me . . Did he get a legitimate win over Liston? Foreman beat himself that night.

To answer the initial question, yes I think he would have been far too mobile for any of today's heavyweights . . Ali will be known as 'the greatest' for as much of his activities outside the ring as inside. That's my view

You're forgetting one thing, Ali had been in exile for 3 years before he faced Frazier. When Tyson came out of prison he was battered and stopped by a pumped up Cruiserweight in Holyfield. Yeah he kicked Liston's backside in their first bout before Sonny gave best. Ali has the best resume ever and faced the biggest set of punchers the division has ever seen.

[jukel123 7,852]

 

I don't share the view that Tyson was a great fighter. He was good at knocking over bums. For me, he only fought three world class fighters, Holmes, Holyfield and Lewis. Holmes was an ageing fighter and in the other two fights Tyson absolutely folded-- especially mentally.( Remember the biting of Holyfield's ear and the biting of Lewis's leg at the weigh in?) He bottled it, he knew he couldn't bully them and folded.

he also ducked George foreman although repeated attempts at a fight were also rejected by the Tyson camp for fear of losing to foreman

 

Tyson's style and stature would have been made for Foreman. Foreman's power would have lifted Tyosn off his feet, the same way he lifted Frazier off his feet.

[dytkos 17,751]

Henry's Hammer, class.

 

Cheers, D.

[Bryan 1,362]

Tyson Foreman at their peaks would have been interesting I reckon. I think Ali beats Tyson.

[JDHUNTING 1,817]

Foreman would of smashed the crap out of tyson and pretty much any other hw, ali included if hed of gone about it different

[gnasher16 29,944]

Couldn't agree more. Ali must have been shaking his head in disbelief at the recent Fury Klitscko fight. The standard of heavyweight boxing has plummeted so much it's almost unrecognisable. It's mostly about over-sized freaks desperately keeping their head out of range of the other guy's punches.

I totally agree.....to be able to class the 2 eras as the same sport let alone the same division is almost embarrassing.......ive said for many years there has to come a time when a super heavyweight division comes into professional boxing......to think that hypothetically Tyson Fury would more than likely beat Muhammed Ali surely emphasises my point.

Edited December 2, 2015 by gnasher16

[DogFox123 1,379]

 

Couldn't agree more. Ali must have been shaking his head in disbelief at the recent Fury Klitscko fight. The standard of heavyweight boxing has plummeted so much it's almost unrecognisable. It's mostly about over-sized freaks desperately keeping their head out of range of the other guy's punches.

 

I totally agree.....to be able to class the 2 eras as the same sport let alone the same division is almost embarrassing.......ive said for many years there has to come a time when a super heavyweight division comes into professional boxing......to think that hypothetically Tyson Fury would more than likely beat Muhammed Ali surely emphasises my point.

But the thing is giants have been in the sport since the beggining, it's just got to a stage where now their skills are sufficient enough to see them beat the smaller yet more skilled opponents. It's far from exciting or action filled but that's the way it is ATM.

[blackmaggie 3,376]

how much impact do you think gus d,amato death had on tysons career and did switching to don king wreck it

[shepp 2,285]

People are getting taller in general, maybe Ali would have been a couple of inches taller if born a few decades later.

[neems 2,406]

 

 

I don't share the view that Tyson was a great fighter. He was good at knocking over bums. For me, he only fought three world class fighters, Holmes, Holyfield and Lewis. Holmes was an ageing fighter and in the other two fights Tyson absolutely folded-- especially mentally.( Remember the biting of Holyfield's ear and the biting of Lewis's leg at the weigh in?) He bottled it, he knew he couldn't bully them and folded.

he also ducked George foreman although repeated attempts at a fight were also rejected by the Tyson camp for fear of losing to foreman

 

Tyson's style and stature would have been made for Foreman. Foreman's power would have lifted Tyosn off his feet, the same way he lifted Frazier off his feet.

 

 

I don't think he'd have room to get his shots off,his slow/static footwork would make it easy for Tyson to change the angle on the inside and get his own powerful shots in.

[JDHUNTING 1,817]

 

 

Couldn't agree more. Ali must have been shaking his head in disbelief at the recent Fury Klitscko fight. The standard of heavyweight boxing has plummeted so much it's almost unrecognisable. It's mostly about over-sized freaks desperately keeping their head out of range of the other guy's punches.

 

I totally agree.....to be able to class the 2 eras as the same sport let alone the same division is almost embarrassing.......ive said for many years there has to come a time when a super heavyweight division comes into professional boxing......to think that hypothetically Tyson Fury would more than likely beat Muhammed Ali surely emphasises my point.

But the thing is giants have been in the sport since the beggining, it's just got to a stage where now their skills are sufficient enough to see them beat the smaller yet more skilled opponents. It's far from exciting or action filled but that's the way it is ATM.

im not sure I agree with any of that I just think the smaller hw drop down divisions nowadays and others just dont seem to throw caution to the wind and take the fight to the opponent. In todays game your marcianos fraziers and maybe even alis wouldnt be hws

[JDHUNTING 1,817]

Haye v klitchko is a perfect example imo, haye had the tools to beat him imo but would rather lose a decision than throw some lwather and see whos still standing afyer a few rounds

[gnasher16 29,944]

 

 

Couldn't agree more. Ali must have been shaking his head in disbelief at the recent Fury Klitscko fight. The standard of heavyweight boxing has plummeted so much it's almost unrecognisable. It's mostly about over-sized freaks desperately keeping their head out of range of the other guy's punches.

I totally agree.....to be able to class the 2 eras as the same sport let alone the same division is almost embarrassing.......ive said for many years there has to come a time when a super heavyweight division comes into professional boxing......to think that hypothetically Tyson Fury would more than likely beat Muhammed Ali surely emphasises my point.

But the thing is giants have been in the sport since the beggining, it's just got to a stage where now their skills are sufficient enough to see them beat the smaller yet more skilled opponents. It's far from exciting or action filled but that's the way it is ATM.

 

Who was the last 6 ft 9 heavyweight to fight for a world title then ?..........i remember sparring Jimmy Oyebola back in the ,s he was about 6ft 8 or 9 i was a better fighter than him,better conditioned and physically tougher yet i couldnt land a glove on him and he ended up winning a British title !.......a fighter of that size with even average boxing ability and reasonable athletic movement can go much further than normal sized fighters with the same ability.