Mike Tyson or Mohammad Ali (Page 2)

I'm no boxing expert, but an overwhelming majority of boxing experts disagree with you on Tyson beating Ali.

Yes, for a very small window, Tyson beat all comers...but who were the comers?  It really is too bad Tyson didn't have the competition out there like Ali had...but then again, had Tyson fought well into his early 30's like Ali, he could have made himself a true legend...beating Holyfield, Lewis, and Bowe would have ben accomplishments.  Imagine Tyson with a brain like Ali...with the work ethic of Ali.  That would have been scary...but to say Tyson was the best of all time...no way man.  If I'm crafting a fighter, he's gonna be smarter, taller, longer, and quicker than Tyson...sounds a lot like one Muhammad Ali!  

I NEVER said Tyson was the best of all time.  I think Ali holds that hands down.  But Ali vs. Tyson when both were at their best?  Tyson kicks his arse.  

Ali never gets to use the jab or his speed, it's over in 3 rounds or less.  Tyson, for a brief period, was unbeatable. I don't think I can say that about Ali.

Was that when Ali was on his back in Ali/Frazier 1? 

In fairness, I get your point...those guys went to war!  

But let's face it....Ali is who he is today largely because of the pounding he took from Frazier.  Those fights were brutal!

Yes.  That "glory period" of Iron Mike included that stunning knockout victory over Michael Spinks...in the 1st round...in 91 seconds.  What a lot of folks don't remember is that Michael Spinks was a Light Heavyweight Champion, not a Heavyweight Champion.  He had NO business being in the ring with a heavyweight of Tyson's caliber.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not denying Tyson was a force, please check this post out!  It has some VERY interesting info. in it...towards the end it details the losses both men incurred in their careers...interesting stuff.  Tell me what ya think of it.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/582929-mike-tyson-versus-muhammad-alian-in-depth-analysis-of-who-would-really-win

I think we can agree that both Tyson AND Ali were unconventional fighters.  

jmk, did you check out that link I posted in my last post?  I think it was pretty darn accurate...that said, while we may disagree about who would win, I think it's safe to say that IF Tyson won, it would HAVE to be in the 1st 3 or 4 rounds.  

I think a telling statistic was the answer to "what kind of fighter beat Ali?"  If you look at the fighters who beat Ali, Tyson was not the type.  If you look at the types of fighters who beat Tyson, Ali was the type that gave Tyson fits (and losses).

I'd be interested to see what you guys gleaned from that "fantasy fight" breakdown.

...even scarier, how much greater would "The Greatest" have been had there been no Viet Nam War? 3 years off of his prime.  

I'm still taking Tyson after reading the article.  I remember the first bet for money I ever made in my life......in the back of a school bus.....Ali over Frazier.....the only good thing it did for me was teach me not to gamble.   

I get the author's point about Ali then beating Frazier 2 times.....but the truth is, Frazier was never the same fighter after the first Ali fight.....he took a terrible beating....they both did.

The only point in that article that gave me pause......and I guess I just forgot in the years f watching him mumble around after his career was over....is the fact that Ali truly did have a granite jaw.  If he could get past the first 3 rounds I'd go ahead and give the edge to Ali.  But damn.....at his absolute best....nobody could vs. Tyson.

I don't give much credence to Tyson's losses.....once D'amato was gone, Tyson was through....not even close to the same fighter....his will was gone.  But when Tyson had Cus in his corner,  I think he was a close to unbeatable as I've ever seen.