Prime jones....

[imp]

The first 3-4 rounds would be very risky for ali. Thats why i was not totally convinced it would be a walk in the park for ali.

[El Kabong]

James Toney was a great fighter from 160 to cruiserweight and he even showed some promise at heavyweight. The point is RJJ toyed with him in his prime, and that's not an easy thing to do.

I don't think that its a given that Ali beats a prime Tyson because he beat Liston or Foreman because Tyson fought nothing like either of them. I think the prime mid eighties Tyson beats both of those guys and believe me I was never a fan of Mike Tyson. Tyson had some of the best footwork of any hev I have ever seen for a crunching stalker and was extremely fast and compact with both hands along with Langford like power from either side. In addition I do not recall better head movement by a heavyweight in boxing history. Both Cooper and Frazier landed a hook that came from the parking lot and dropped him. As good a chin as Ali had, its simply not a given that he could withstand the onslaught.

Foreman would rape Tyson and I'm not so certain Liston wouldn't beat him either. Floyd Patterson had the Tyson style and Ali had what trouble with him

The first 3-4 rounds would be very risky for ali. Thats why i was not totally convinced it would be a walk in the park for ali.

Ali had a hell of a chin and his legs would be the death of Tyson. Ali would have Tyson chase him and then tie Tyson up and all that would wear Iron Mike down and after 4 rounds of that Mike would be looking for a way out.

[IamInuit]

[QUOTE=El Kabong;1110990]James Toney was a great fighter from 160 to cruiserweight and he even showed some promise at heavyweight. The point is RJJ toyed with him in his prime, and that's not an easy thing to do.

I don't think that its a given that Ali beats a prime Tyson because he beat Liston or Foreman because Tyson fought nothing like either of them. I think the prime mid eighties Tyson beats both of those guys and believe me I was never a fan of Mike Tyson. Tyson had some of the best footwork of any hev I have ever seen for a crunching stalker and was extremely fast and compact with both hands along with Langford like power from either side. In addition I do not recall better head movement by a heavyweight in boxing history. Both Cooper and Frazier landed a hook that came from the parking lot and dropped him. As good a chin as Ali had, its simply not a given that he could withstand the onslaught.

Foreman would rape Tyson and I'm not so certain Liston wouldn't beat him either. Floyd Patterson had the Tyson style and Ali had what trouble with him

The first 3-4 rounds would be very risky for ali. Thats why i was not totally convinced it would be a walk in the park for ali.

I don't agree. Patterson's style was not like Tysons at all and Tyson was twice as fast, hit harder and would not be dissuaded by Ali's jab. Beating Patterson has very little to do with a Tyson fight and Tyson would not have been raped by Foreman either. Foreman got pimp slapped by Jimmy Young and barely made it out of the Lyle fight. Foreman was slow, threw tree chopping punches that were telegraphed and at many times with palms open (see Ali fight). Against Tyson he would feel like he was in with a crowd.

And I'm not saying Tyson would beat Ali. I'm saying its not a forgone conclusion that he would not.