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Mohammad Ali

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Posted: #26
Tyson and Ali were both the best of their eras... and the debate will always continue as to who would win if both were in their prime.

Tyson destroyed his prey, usually within a minute or two.  If you can last a few rounds with Tyson you have a legit shot.  Ali would be that perfect opponent for Tyson... he used his head and could use his boxing skills to wear down Tyson.

I don't think anybody can be certain who would be better - but it would have been a great matchup.  I can see it go both ways.
 
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Posted: #27

"Can I dance"

"Is the Pope Catholic"

"Am I fast"

" I'm so fast that when I turn off the lights, I'm in bed before it gets dark"

 
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Posted: #28
“I says, ‘Black people should marry their own women.’ I said, ‘Bluebirds with bluebirds. Red birds with red birds. Pigeons with pigeons. Eagles with eagles. God didn’t make no mistake!’
-Ali in his speech to the Klu Klux Klan
 
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Posted: #29
Quote Originally Posted by SportsFan9698:

Tyson and Ali were both the best of their eras... and the debate will always continue as to who would win if both were in their prime.

Tyson destroyed his prey, usually within a minute or two.  If you can last a few rounds with Tyson you have a legit shot.  Ali would be that perfect opponent for Tyson... he used his head and could use his boxing skills to wear down Tyson.



I don't think anybody can be certain who would be better - but it would have been a great matchup.  I can see it go both ways.


You're just flat out wrong here.

There is no debate. I know of no one else who has ever suggested Tyson belongs in the same conversation as Ali. Ever.

Please stop that nonsense.
 
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Posted: #30
Quote Originally Posted by 1129ken:



You're just flat out wrong here.

There is no debate. I know of no one else who has ever suggested Tyson belongs in the same conversation as Ali. Ever.

Please stop that nonsense.

Agreed - it's the silliest of all boxing debates. Tyson never fought anyone with close to the skill, foot & hand speed of Ali. He fought a bunch of mediocre (or worse) to good fighters (being kind) & was crushed by Lewis & Holyfield (the best of that time- bot who were older than Tyson) along with getting ko'd by a journeyman in Buster Douglas. M. Spinks was good, but a lightheavy & past his prime. Last decent W Tyson had was probably vs Carl (Truth) Williams, lol. The most overrated heavyweight in history imo. To say he was even close to as good as Ali in his best years (or would/could beat him other than having a freak punchers chance) is beyond ludicrous.
 
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Posted: #31
Ali had the hand speed of a lightweight and could dance like James Brown. But any time you have the power that Tyson had, you have a chance against anyone. Anyone. 


 
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Posted: #32
Sure, a very longshot chance like exists in most heavyweight fights. It wasn't just the hand/foot speed of Ali, but his mind, instincts & timing with his punches/combos. Along with the heart/will of a true champion with pride & respect for his sport/craft. Things Tyson never had. Despite losing 3 of his fights well past his prime (when most folks thought he shouldn't even be fighting, Ali was never knocked out by anyone. And he avenged the 3 of his losses that mattered to Frazier, Norton & Spinks. There is just no comparison in any way, shape or form...Tyson doesn't belong in the same conversation with Ali.
 
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Posted: #33
Quote Originally Posted by SportsFan9698:

Tyson and Ali were both the best of their eras... and the debate will always continue as to who would win if both were in their prime.

Tyson destroyed his prey, usually within a minute or two.  If you can last a few rounds with Tyson you have a legit shot.  Ali would be that perfect opponent for Tyson... he used his head and could use his boxing skills to wear down Tyson.

I don't think anybody can be certain who would be better - but it would have been a great matchup.  I can see it go both ways.

I think that Tyson was a tremendous fighter however his "boxing" skills were pretty much non existent. He entered the ring and peaked at a time when the heavy weight class was in complete disaster mode. Fighters were out of shape, lacked speed, lacked power, and basic pro caliber skill. etc etc.... 
Eventually trainers began to recognize the weakness in the sport and began training fighters to establish a jab against him. A serious jab and one that could mash his street fight approach and wild hook shots. 
Douglas did that by simply executing the fundamentals of boxing, Holyfield as well. 
Respectfully, Ali would have no difficulty whatsoever. 
 
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Posted: #34

Iron Mike couldn't carry ALI's jock strap to the gym...or the ring, or anywhere else for that matter; no comparison, no debate...get real here! or talk to George Foreman

RIP ALI 

 

 
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Posted: #35
Quote Originally Posted by SportsFan9698:

Tyson and Ali were both the best of their eras... and the debate will always continue as to who would win if both were in their prime.

Tyson destroyed his prey, usually within a minute or two.  If you can last a few rounds with Tyson you have a legit shot.  Ali would be that perfect opponent for Tyson... he used his head and could use his boxing skills to wear down Tyson.

I don't think anybody can be certain who would be better - but it would have been a great matchup.  I can see it go both ways.
I still take Tyson in his prime before Cus died. He was more of a bob and weaver--- not just a straight ahead puncher. 
If Frazier and Norton could get inside on Ali --- pretty sure Tyson in his prime could have, and Tyson was a much better finisher than they were. Ask the average guy who some of those guys Ali beat were---they wouldn't recognize most of them. So, aside from a handful it is hard to say the competition was that much better.  Frazier, for example was undersized.  Heavyweights today are bigger and stronger as well. People also forget how fast Tyson was. 
I still say the same guy beat Ali four times---four different ways. So it is not like Ali couldn't be beat. Eddie Futch is still my all time favorite trainer. But he certainly exposed some of Ali's weaknesses. 
But you can still go watch some of the old fights---and some of them simply didn't look all that great. 
But Ali is still for sure an all time great---without a doubt!  Just think because of his appeal and slickness he is slightly overrated. Sort of the way I see Sugar Ray Leonard. 
But either way, I agree it would be an interesting fight!  
 
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Posted: #36
Quote Originally Posted by sports_Network:

Iron Mike couldn't carry ALI's jock strap to the gym...or the ring, or anywhere else for that matter; no comparison, no debate...get real here! or talk to George Foreman

RIP ALI 

 



Well said.

Very hard to fathom anyone disagreeing with this. Every once in a while you hear an opinion that is so awfully, dreadfully wrong and unsupportable that you can only scratch your head wondering.

This is one of those times.
 
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Posted: #37
Foreman had probably the best jab in the history of heavyweight boxing. Ali's mashed it and countered it with even more speed and accuracy.. 
Tyson would die against either one. 
 
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Posted: #38
Well, despite what I've said, because of Tyson's hand speed, vicious power & fairly good defensive skills, he would have a small shot. But would have to be in the 1st couple of rounds & no way Ali would be intimidated in any way which helped Mike so many fights. For Tyson to have a chance, Ali would have had to have taken him semi-lightly, been a touch heavy & out of shape (both of which occurred at times in his career)...otherwise not much of a contest. Especially in the yrs before Ali was banned when his footwork & speed was insane.  
 
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Posted: #39
Quote Originally Posted by searchwarrant:

Foreman had probably the best jab in the history of heavyweight boxing. Ali's mashed it and countered it with even more speed and accuracy.. 
Tyson would die against either one. 


Joe Frazier would have had Mike Tyson wailing for his momma.
 
 
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Posted: #40
Quote Originally Posted by 1129ken:



Joe Frazier would have had Mike Tyson wailing for his momma.
Hard not to like Frazier and feel a little sorry for him.  He was so elite. He only lost to Foreman and Ali. The power of Foreman showed what could happen to him. Which is why I would give Tyson the nod as well.    Couple of good quotes:

Joe Frazier was one of the great heavyweight champions of all time. It is sad that he fought in the same era as [Muhammad Ali] because he did not get the acclaim Ali did, and it was acclaim Frazier deserved. 

Despite the acclaim accorded Muhammad Ali, which somewhat diminished Frazier’s appeal, his opponent knew of his greatness, describing him as follows, "Fighting Joe Frazier is the closest thing to death that I know of. Of all the men I fought in boxing, including Sonny Liston and George Foreman, the roughest and toughest was Joe Frazier. ... If God ever calls me to a Holy War, I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me."
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