'88 Tyson DESTROYS '66 Ali

[El Kabong]

Again, Ali is way too quick on his feet added in his reach and his defensive skills at that time plus his handspeed....I'm sorry Tyson may well beat a lot of champions, but Ali wouldn't have been one.

[Beanflicker]

Again, Ali is way too quick on his feet added in his reach and his defensive skills at that time plus his handspeed

Tyson was fast as shit too though. We're not talking about another lumbering mummy like Liston or Foreman.

My money is on the guy with the woman voice.

[El Kabong]

Again, Ali is way too quick on his feet added in his reach and his defensive skills at that time plus his handspeed

Tyson was fast as shit too though. We're not talking about another lumbering mummy like Liston or Foreman.

My money is on the guy with the woman voice.

Floyd Patterson had the same style and he was extremely fast as well....how'd that work out?

[El Kabong]

I think Holyfield would have given Ali Hell based on his style, Lennox, Vitali, Wlad based on size and athletic ability. Chris Byrd would have been difficult for Ali. Riddick Bowe may have been tough for him. Larry Holmes would always be tough for him. It's a style matchup that doesn't suit Tyson is all...Mike Tyson was great going forwards, well Ali was just as great going backwards, if you're a big puncher, if you're a pressure fighter you're going to be a Bull chasing a Matador the entire fight and Ali had the speed and skills to avoid Tyson's power. Ali's chin, his ability to recover, his ability to use his speed AS his power...that doesn't work well vs what Tyson did well.

[greynotsoold]

You wouldn't beat Tyson, at his best, by moving and jabbing. Everything he did, the whole focus of the D'Amato style, is slipping the jab. If you are moving it let's him use his own fast and skillful feet. Then he cuts distance throws a shift into the mix and hits you with punches you don't see.
Two things to keep in mind. First, Ali moved almost exclusively to his left; if he did move right he didn't punch. That makes sense because he jabbed and followed his left foot. Second, Tyson didn't fight well inside but he did damage on the way in. That would also be the time Ali would be most vulnerable to getting nailed.

[SugarBoxing]

You wouldn't beat Tyson, at his best, by moving and jabbing. Everything he did, the whole focus of the D'Amato style, is slipping the jab. If you are moving it let's him use his own fast and skillful feet. Then he cuts distance throws a shift into the mix and hits you with punches you don't see.
Two things to keep in mind. First, Ali moved almost exclusively to his left; if he did move right he didn't punch. That makes sense because he jabbed and followed his left foot. Second, Tyson didn't fight well inside but he did damage on the way in. That would also be the time Ali would be most vulnerable to getting nailed.

As much has I love Tyson, I want to points out that prime Ali before the suspension was INSANE combination punchers, he could do it moving in all directions. So no, it is not just movign and sticking jab like he did in his late years

[Beanflicker]

Floyd Patterson had the same style and he was extremely fast as well....how'd that work out?

Pshh now I know you ain't comparing Floyd Patterson and prime Tyson.

Kevin Rooney had the same style too. Mike made that shit work like no one else... come on man!

[brocktonblockbust]

@AdamGB another post in which you point that out, another post in which you 'blame' the ~ref~ for `calling` too many <warnings> against 'Ali'.

[AdamGB]

@AdamGB another post in which you point that out, another post in which you 'blame' the ~ref~ for `calling` too many <warnings> against 'Ali'.

Who said anything about refs or warninGs? Don't put words in my mouth.

It's not polite to put stuff in other men's mouths Brock...

[brocktonblockbust]

@AdamGB another post in which you point that out, another post in which you 'blame' the ~ref~ for `calling` too many <warnings> against 'Ali'.

Who said anything about refs or warninGs? Don't put words in my mouth.

It's not polite to put stuff in other men's mouths Brock...

Why the capital 'G' in ~warninGs~, Adam? I know, you 'accidentally' `"`thumbed`"` the <SHIFT> key. Now THAT is polite.

[El Kabong]

Floyd Patterson had the same style and he was extremely fast as well....how'd that work out?

Pshh now I know you ain't comparing Floyd Patterson and prime Tyson.

Kevin Rooney had the same style too. Mike made that shit work like no one else... come on man!

Yeah and who basically ended Rooney's career? Arguello, a lanky fighter that could control distance. Ali didn't have the pop of Arguello, but he had length and speed as well as footwork.



Power punchers have to set their feet....Tyson wouldn't have been able to get those feet set vs Ali, I'm sorry man but Tyson was human even in 1988.

[El Kabong]

Interesting watch for you guys out there just to add to the discussion

[El Kabong]

At 4:09 of the video "Iron" Mike Tyson gives his honest take on the hypothetical Ali vs Tyson matchup. Maybe Mike is just paying respects, but either way he has very good things to say about Ali and even gets a little choked up talking about how great Ali was in the ring.


So there you have it straight from the horse's mouth "I can't beat that man, hell fuckin no, no fuckin way"

[TitoFan]

Floyd Patterson had the same style and he was extremely fast as well....how'd that work out?

Pshh now I know you ain't comparing Floyd Patterson and prime Tyson.

Kevin Rooney had the same style too. Mike made that shit work like no one else... come on man!

Power punchers have to set their feet....Tyson wouldn't have been able to get those feet set vs Ali, I'm sorry man but Tyson was human even in 1988.

Tyson was one of those rare individuals (back in late 80's) who could knock your head into the 10th row with a massive hook that would connect while both feet were off the ground. So while conventional wisdom says power punchers have to set their feet.... Tyson was a whole 'nother animal back then. Also agree with Bean about please not comparing Patterson to Tyson in any shape or form. No way.... no how. Tyson was faster.... and logarithmically more powerful.

[Beanflicker]

Floyd Patterson had the same style and he was extremely fast as well....how'd that work out?

Pshh now I know you ain't comparing Floyd Patterson and prime Tyson.

Kevin Rooney had the same style too. Mike made that shit work like no one else... come on man!

Power punchers have to set their feet....Tyson wouldn't have been able to get those feet set vs Ali, I'm sorry man but Tyson was human even in 1988.

Tyson was one of those rare individuals (back in late 80's) who could knock your head into the 10th row with a massive hook that would connect while both feet were off the ground. So while conventional wisdom says power punchers have to set their feet.... Tyson was a whole 'nother animal back then. Also agree with Bean about please not comparing Patterson to Tyson in any shape or form. No way.... no how. Tyson was faster.... and logarithmically more powerful.

I agree, Tyson was great at getting in on guys. Quick feet, jabbed his way in, and lunged in with fast punches if he had to. I mean you look at a guy like Liston... he was moving in slow motion compared to Tyson. Mike was just a different beast, if Ali was going to beat him he was going to have to go through hell to do it. There's no way Ali dances around Mike for 12-15 rounds like he's tiptoeing through the tulips, that just wouldn't happen.