Ali vs. Tyson: The Showdown
July 18th, 2009
By Bolish Gudgworth: Your browser may not support display of this image. This is perhaps the most talked about and most debated over fantasy fight of all time. It is of course, easy to see why. Who wouldn’t want to pit the speed, grace and incredible talent of Muhammad Ali against the ferocity, menace and explosive dynamite that is Mike Tyson? If only a prime Ali ( I would say late 1960’s or in particular 1966 when Muhammad gave Cleveland Williams a boxing lesson) were to come up against a 1986-1989 era Mike Tyson.
I know that boxing forums across the Internet have almost debated the outcome of this fight to death, but nonetheless…my prediction: Muhammad Ali wins by unanimous decision over 15 rounds. I am now going to explain why.
To the casual boxing fan Mike Tyson looks like the clear winner. Watch any fight from Tyson’s early pro career (i.e. against Robert Colay, Hector Mercedes etc) and all we see is Tyson bombarding his opponent with furious and devastating uppercuts and hooks. The opponent of course collapses to the floor like some delirious crook in a Hollywood B-movie and Tyson is the victor usually in the first round. So how can Ali possibly go fifteen rounds with Mike and actually come out the winner? Although not fully apparent to us in 1986, there were flaws to Tyson’s game. Some unsuspecting fighters were showing us the blueprints hazily as to how to beat Tyson. Fighters like Mitch Green, Quick Tillis, James “Bonecrusher” Smith had all gone the distance with Kid Dynamite and had done so by jabbing and not letting Tyson get command of the inside. Along the way to Tyson’s unification of the heavyweight crown (which was completed by his UD over Tony Tucker to claim the IBF crown to his already WBC and WBA Heavyweight Championship Belts), he still looked unsinkable. Tyson had an enormous marketing campaign based upon that invincibility, but when James “Buster” Douglas knocked him out in February 1990 I became convinced Muhammad Ali could defeat Tyson. After all if a 42-1 underdog with previously questionable motivation and dedication could defeat the “Baddest Man on the Planet” then surely the Greatest, Muhammad Ali could do the same. I don’t think Douglas won by outclassing Tyson physically (although this was a major factor in Buster’s victory) but he won through determination. Buster Douglas stood up to Tyson and when Tyson couldn’t KO Douglas he lost his momentum and in turn was KO’d.
Now Muhammad Ali is mentally the strongest fighter that ever laced a pair of gloves on. Muhammad Ali would win because he would get into the ring and play with Tyson’s mind. Ali would wear Tyson down not with devastating KO blows to the head every five seconds, but using words would wear Tyson down. Not to mention, Muhammad Ali had one of the greatest chins of all time.
Ali had fought Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Earnie Shavers and Ken Norton. Not only could Ali take the crushing blows that these men dished out (particularly at the “Rumble in the Jungle” and “The Thrilla in Manila”) but he had a way of beating them all…and Mike Tyson would be defeated in a similar fashion.
But Muhammad wouldn’t just win because of his mental strength, determination and chin, but the tale of the tap makes it look like Ali could slap Tyson all across the ring with one hand. Ali at 6 ft 3 inches towers over the smaller Tyson (5 ft 11 inches), and with that kind of height advantage, I can see Ali pushing and bullying Tyson away from him and with Ali’s superior reach, he would keep Tyson completely at bay and unable to do damage on the inside.
Ali, over 15 rounds would jab, dance and flurry towards the ends of the rounds keeping Tyson distant. Although Tyson was an extremely mobile puncher who could move quickly, Ali is the fastest heavyweight of all time, and in Muhammad’s prime, he could dance and flurry for 15 rounds no problem. Finally, Ali was never a great knockout artist and that is why the judges would have to crown Ali the winner of this fantasy fight, rather than Ali scoring a KO despite (I predict) landing more punches.
Tags: 45 Responses to “Ali vs. Tyson: The Showdown”
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Ali wins.
He would put the dumb gorilla down in the fifth, if not earlier.
Tyso fought chumps.
Ali beat champs.
if these too fought and werre the same age at 25 then tyson would win because of the power and with trainer the traainer died but i fogot his name i think it was something like agosta
I think it could go either way,and NOBODY LEMME REPEAT NOBODY WOULD GET KO IN THIS FIGHT…this would be very close fight dat will go the distance
Iron mike, In his prime, 1 hit, All over.
Depends which Tyson or Ali was involved. If both were in their prime, either could have won.
Unfortunately Ali always seems to be remembered with loads of rose-tinted sentimentality whilst the Tyson that anyone thinks of is the fat guy with the face tattoo.
In their primes, it could have gone either way and you’d have to look at Ali vs Frazier 1 for the closest comparison. I’d go for Tyson.
One of Tyson’s biggest strengths was his intimidation factor. He had half, if not more of his opponents beat before they even stepped in the ring. Ali wasn’t the type to get intimidated and his chin was like granite. So couple Ali not being scared/intimidated, his granite chin, and his ability to box circles around Tyson and I see a clear cut victor in Ali. Whether or not Tyson would have been able to go the distance is another question. But then couple Tyson’s blinding speed, and although Ali had a granite chin, if Tyson would have caught him with two or three clean power shots from the off set, then it could have swung Tyson’s way…Now I just confused myself…I guess I’ll have to go play Fight Night Round 4 again and find out.
if you here the greatest often enough you beleive it. your all brain washed
Cooper 13st after dinner, Tyson 16st think about it
Blade, people that can think and write do just that. People that can’t or refuse, simply read and criticize. If you don’t have the patience to read, just pass over my comments. No just duck me like your man Mayweather! LOL
There are different styles; to each his own. You won’t hear me complain that your style has no body or substance but if I want, I’ll respond. I just don’t have to agree. It is my boring right to expound on that. I do not need you or anyone telling me what I can or can’t do! Respect man!
Ali was dropped a few times in his career but he never stayed down. Dundee stopped his fight vs Holmes. Styles make fights and Tyson was made for Ali. Secondly, Tyson folded as soon as he had a guy who punched back.
Well i aint convinced,if henry cooper can drop him i’m sure tyson would but daft arguin about it so give us all a rest and stop goin on about it and writing boring mammoth essays
Tyson has just blasted out your fighter in 91 secs in a non fight. People had just paid big $ to see this highly anticipated fight and your guy looks for a nice resting spot. Oh, don’t forget before the fight how much he had talked about getting killed and being scared etc.
So how does his manager justify this blatant act of cowardice? He makes an outrageous statement making Tyson out as the greatest heavyweight. I loved Tyson’s cleanup of the division.
I repeat, he beat many taxi drivers, has beens, beer drinkers, bums, quitters, cowards and never was fighters. Each time he fought a decent guy who was not scared or gave movement and punched in return, he had his hands full.
Ali was all of those things that gave him fits. Ali would have toyed with this shrimp and cut him to shreds or win an easy decision!
Yeah Ben I will correct you, your wrong! You saying Holyfield beat Tyson with skill!?! I dont think so, Holy wore Tyson down with headbutts and clinching.
Watched a documentary and after tyson ko’d spinks,spinks’s manager,a guy called butch lewis,said on that particular night tyson would have beaten any boxer,past or present.My own opinion is it’s impossible to call but when push comes to shove and havin a wild stab in the dark,i’d go for tyson by ko late on
bud, “Tyson put James “Buster” Douglas DOWN for longer than 10 seconds with his super sunday right upper cut. In theory Tyson actual beat James “Buster” Douglas.”
- You can count about 14 seconds between douglas hitting the canvas and getting to his feet, but do you know how long you can count between Tyson hitting the floor and getting to his feet? Yep thats right, 14 seconds. The ref may have had a slow count but he was consistant and Tyson also got a slow count. This is one of the reasons the appaeal was dissmissed.
As Wayne Lord says, Tyson was only effective when his opponents were scared of him, Lewis and Holyfield where not and they used their superior skills and game plans to school Tyson.
Tyson – not the fighter people would have you believe.
I think ali will win because
Speed- Ali is the fastest heavyweight boxer ever lived.
Stamina- Ali can box, dance and talk the whole 15 rounds. I doubt if tyson can do that.
Strenght- I gave it tyson.
Intelligence- No offense but Ali is way above Tyson.
The only way Tyson could win is luck. A lucky punch that could put Ali in a coma.
To Joe, the Tyson that killed Spinks would be destroyed by the Ali that blinded Liston and Cleveland Williams with speed and combinations. And for the record, Spinks was a blown up light heavyweight, scared and not in his prime. He did not have Ali’s speed, heart, chin, experience, guile, determination and ring generalship.
He was looking for somewhere to fall. Did you listen to his interviews before the fight? He was scared stiff. Ali feasted on guys like Tyson in his prime and even in hi later years.
Ali would do exactly what he done with George Foreman to Mike Tyson. Dance around, frustrate him, and in the later rounds unload some serious shots on him…simple! Its been said George Foreman was a harder puncher than Tyson.
Anyway Rocky Marciano beats them all.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\fans of both but agree with author’s opinion
The Tyson that fought Spinks would kill Ali
tyson 1rnd. 1bite, ali would want none of that.
ali! Prime or not tyson lost 2 danny williams, a washed up ali would still win simply on foot work an his jab against that fat sack of crap. Anytime tyson faced anyone who could box he was ko’d if not he’d bite there ear off… plz correct me if im wrong
Tyson was a slaughterer of anyone less than top drawer .How many truly competetive fights did he win? Key fight for me here is Tyson versus Tony Tucker a big slick heavyweight who was one of Tysons few live opponents , he rocked Tyson early and certainly made him work hard and this was a prime time Tyson.Ali was a universe better than Tucker and for me would frustrate Tyson early when the bomb were flying .Tyson was much less effective later in fights and Ali would take over and outpoint a slowing Tyson. When truly tested how great was Tyson? Holyfield , Douglas ,Lewis answered that question!!
Tyson was absolutely awesome beating up on guys who were scared, slow or totally immobile. I know he did hit very hard but like I said before, even at his devastating best, he did not knock out big strong guys, good boxers, guys with decent chins, mobile/quick guys or thinking guys.
Ali was all of these combined. An old Holmes was giving him fits until the crowd started cheering and his legs and whatever else gave out. A young Larry Holmes would have also beaten him. His win against Spinks is overrated. Spinks was scared stiff and lso was a blown uo L-heavy who got 2 poor gifts vs an old Holmes.
As soon as Tyson fought better quality fighters his recklessness and frustration showed more. He could never exytricate himself from clinches. Ali would either stick and move or hit 3-4 punches and clinch. Eventually, he would either get cut up or quit in fruatration.
Tyson was a bully who relied on intimidtion. Do you think Ali before his retirement would be intimidated by him? I repeat, go check the bums Tyson beat 85-89 and see theye were exactly as I decsribed. Then check how he fared against guys who were not scared or had a good chin. Now put Ali 62-67, or up to 1975 and tell me who wins!
Yes. But you have to remember…..
Tyson put James “Buster” Douglas DOWN for longer than 10 seconds with his super sunday right upper cut.
In theory Tyson actual beat James “Buster” Douglas.
Go watch the fight again.
And he never trained for that fight he was out partying with toyko girls.
How ever much you pick Ali and I am with you JUST, know that Ali would never have KO’ed Tyson, but Tyson WOULD have throw what was necessary to hurt beat and maybe catch ALI for a KO.
Ali Tyson would have been a great fight, you just can’t call it in a simple way, the fight would have needed to have played out for the answer, Tyson was a FORCE of NATURE in his prime, nothing before him or since. He was THICK, SOILD like a station waggon carrying a load of IRON.
Tyson would have made ALI very wery indeed and he would have needed to dance for the full 12-15, there would have been VERY little toe to toe maybe once or twice in the 2nd or third.
ali beat one of the hardest punchers of all time when he beat foreman, and he was past his best then, ali by points, maybe late stopage
maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayte
chris pole what big fight did tyson win coz to my mind he had plenty of big fights i’e berbick,bonecrusher smith,pinklon thomas,tyrell biggs,carl williams,there’s plenty more and they were all genuine heavyweights and are alot better than the trash that’s stinking out the division now.you’ll find he started going down hill when he put boxing behind partying,but when he was in his prime he was unbeatable plain and simple,he was a truly awesome fighting machine that was hard to hit,quickfeet and hands and bonecrunching power,ali lost to frazier and he wasn’t a patch on tyson so do the maths!!!
Tyson in his prime would have been a handful for Ali, remember Frazier beat Ali in his prime and he had eye trouble that would’ve shown on todays medical tests but back then went un-notced
As much as I admired the strength and ferocity of Mike….Ali would have made a fool of him.
Tyson speed and power in his hands was deadly, he hits much faster then ali with power. But ali can dance around and move in and out very quickly and had faster movement in his legs.
The problem would of been if tyson didnt knock out ali in the first 3 rounds, ali had to much stamina to slow down n would of proabbly fustrarted mike and eventually knocking him out.
i would love to say mike would of won but it quite clear that ali had the edge over mike, Tyson didnt have a great boxing mind like ali and his height was a problem too.
Why does everyone keep banging on about Tyson from 85-89?! He only had one genuine big fight in that period! Its like me beating up 10 year old kids for 4 years then pickin on people my own age and gettin my a*s kicked, then everyone sayin “yeah but he slaughtered them 10 year old kids for a while, he was awesome back then!”
Why cant people see this?!!!!!!
I think this question needs to be more specific as far as who would win? Would it be the Tyson who fought Spinks? Or would it be the Ali who fought Liston? That is a hard one to call because both of those guys were unstoppable in those fights. Personally, I feel that Ali is the greatest heavyweight of all time. But, Mike Tyson from 85-89 was Def. my number two HW. It would be a great fight in my opinion and it would come down to the person who is more mentally prepared for the fight.
ALI IN HIS PRIME WOULD HAVE PLAYED WITH TYSON’ ALI’S CHIN WAS ONE OF THE BEST IVE SEEN ,POEPLE THINK HE WAS JUST A FANCY DAN , BUT HE WAS TUFF AS TEAK’ HE WOULD HAVE GOT IN TO TYSONS HEAD ‘THAT WEAR TYSONS WEAKNES IS’THEN HE WOULD BEAT ON IS HEAD ALL NIGHT LONG’ THE 1ST ROUND WOULD BE CLOSE ‘AFTER THAT ALI WOULD HAVE FUN WITH HIM JUST OUT BOX HIM AND MAYBE STOP TYSON LATE ‘A PRIME LARRY HOMES WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME’ BUT A PRIME TYSON COULD HOLD HIS OWN WITH ALL THE GREATS ‘BUT ALI AND HOLMES WOULD HAVE BEATEN HIM!!!!
Look how much trouble Frazier gave Ali! Frazier’s style is similar to Tysons in some ways, except Tyson is alot faster, stronger and hits harder. If Tyson had it mentally he would have been the best fist fighter ever born.
Agree with malone early to mid 80s Tyson smashes the entire heavyweight div no matter what era….Rooney was key with him in the corner unstoppable……….
In my opinion Tyson would stop Ali before round 6.
Tyson had so much power it was almost unfair
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2cOtzA64ns
I can see everybody’s point on this one! Personally i think Ali would stop Tyson towards the end of the fight. Prime Tyson would be mentioned in the same breath of any fighter from any era but i think Ali is so strong in every department needed to be a boxer. Hatton beat a seemingly invincible Tszyu who was only slightly past his prime and Hattons career has hardly been miserable he lost to two of the best boxers around today albeit convincingly.
Tyson knocks him out inside 6 rounds. Size isnt a factor, tyson only ever fought people bigger than him. In his prime , his footwork, head movement and speed would be something Ali never would have seen.
Its a no brainer. Yes I was brought up on Tyson etc, but as a boxer and boxing fan have also seen pretty much all of Ali’s fights, and I just don’t think Ali lives with Tyson
Tyson by KO for me.
I’m surprised that people mention Ali’s speed as a key success factor for this fight, I suggest that Tyson was the faster of the two.
I also do not see Ali being able to pick Tyson off, given his exceptional head movement displayed in his prime.
Tyson beats Ali, Frazier and Foreman for me however all on capable of beating each other should one of them have an off night – if that makes sence.
PS: Tyson of 1986-1989 beats Lewis and Holyfield in my book.
Tyson is heavily overrated. Yes, he was a killing machine against C class opponenets, but against A class opponenets (Lewis, Holyfield) he was taught a boxing lesson. Ive commented on this in another article but il say it again – his record is very siimlar to that of Ricky Hatton, demolished C class opponents in the early part of his career, won one big fight (Tyson – Spinks, Hatton – Tszyu) and failed miserably for the rest of his career, yet one is a hall of famer the other not, please explain that.
Tyson isnt fit to step in the ring with the likes of Lewis, nevermind Ali.
Thats a bit harsh Wayne. Im sure people picking Tyson have good arguments to back it up with considerin its something thats so widly debated the world around.
Yeah the Listons, Fraziers and Foremans were absolute beats with chins of iron but they were not bullet proof and at his peak Tyson hit like nothing ive seen before. Any human on the planet is fragile enough to be knocked out, any one of us.
Sayin that could Tyson actually land his best on Ali? Ali being about as clever as a boxer comes and what he did was realise you aint guna go the istance without being hit at all so hed work out which types of shots hed be vunrable to to make sure he didnt get hit with the more devastating ones. The man was a genius.
The way i see it you cant pick which one would definatly win 1 fight, Tyson could finish it early or Ali could tire him and take it late.
Id say either one of them could happen.
I honestly believe that the people who are picking Tyson to beat Ali are either video game freaks, dreaming, recent boxing fans or all of these.
Can you picture Tyson beating Liston? Foreman? Frazier? What about those fighters who had the ability to not only absorb his furious, early onslaught but also were physically strong and threw back punches with bad intentions?
As the writer stated, we saw Tyson have problems with big guy who were strong.
He also had problesm vs big guys who could take a punch; guys who were not intimidated; guys who could move and guys who could hit hard. But wait! Ali could do all of these things. In fact in his prime Ali was way faster than anybody Tyson ever faced.
Please don’t talk about Rope-a-dope or the Spinks fights and I will not talk about how Tyson was destroyed by Douglas, Holyfield, Lewis or the other no-names who beat him. Let’s keep this at their primes. Ali’s prime was the Liston fights up to when he 1st retired.
You may even include the 1st few fights after his return up to the Thriller in Manila. After that specific fight, Ali was as done as Tyson after Douglas. If anyone thinks a little man Tyson with less speed than Ali, that comes in head first and swing big wide punches could ever beat Ali, like I said, he must be playing a video game, dreaming or both!
Ali wins easily. Either late by cuts, by UD or Tyson the coward, quits on his stool due to utter frustration like Liston. Case closed!
ALI would win by points, if Tyson doesn’t hurt and stop Ali with body punches.
the buster Douglas fight Tyson didn’t even train properly, when Buster was running, Tyson was having sex with Asian chicks,
If Tyson was under the control of Kevin Ronney Ali would have been knocked out, Tyson had greater punching power than foreman and Frazier, Foreman’s opponents where class c fighters, where as Frazier only relied on his left hook, while Tyson is a has knock out power in both hands.
if Tyson tried the rope a dope with Tyson, Tyson would finish Ali like Tyson vs Bruno.
but over all Ali would win: too smart, quick, strong, tactical, If Ali brings his Cleavland Williams fight game, Ali would hoop Tyson all day.
THE ONLY WAY ALI CAN WIN IS BY TO HIT A MOVE.
the only person to fight back with tyson is Holyfield because only Holyfield knew that tyson was finished after prison.
Tyson ko 11 . The Night Tyson fought Spinks ,He was The Greatest Fighting Machine of ALL time