iron mike tyson vs Muhammad "The Greatest" Ali -- who will win

I used to think this was a slam dunk (i.e. for Ali) but now I'm not so sure. After re-watching Tyson bitch slap and literally torture Terrell Biggs to tears, it makes me wonder. For those of you who don't remember, Biggs was about as close to Ali in terms of style and skills as anyone ever was... The fact that you even compared the two of them is sickening. This fight would be a boxing clinic. I'm going to say this for the last time: MIKE TYSON IN 86-87 IS A CLONE OF JOE FRAZIER. LOOK BACK ON HISTORY AND DON'T ASK A STUPID QUESTION LIKE THIS EVER AGAIN. :bryce:

Ali is the better all around fighter of the two, but styles make fights. Swarmer > Boxer..... Boxer > Bomber... Bomber > Swarmer. The best heavyweight swarmer (who could bomb no doubt) vs the best heavyweight boxer, I will take the swarmer...... but there is no way in hell I would bet on this fight :boxing:

ali. i dont really need to say how or why, now do i?

speculation is difficult because you have to consider many things. However, when tyson arrived and started KOing everyone (and im speaking of the young motivated tyson of 86-87), i think even a prime Ali's skills would be obsolete compared to Tyson offense. Ali had a very durable chin but tyson would just keep attacking like a bull. Ali would not have known how to handle that. Because he never fought Foreman, did he?

most people would say that ali would box circles around him but uh uh. not a prime mike. u people forget how fast he was. once mike got his shots in it'd be over. then u would say nah ali's defense is too good. he open in some places and tyson is known as probably the most devastating puncher in history. You should leave these forums, because you're an idiot. Foreman is considered as devastating a puncher, and Ali took all of his shots. Also, you seem to forget the quality of opponents that Mike fought back then, making him seem so much better than he was. He beat two name fighters, really, Holmes and Spinks, and neither of them were half the fighter they were a few years before hand. Mike Tyson, prime or not, is one of the most overrated boxers in the history of boxing. Go learn something before you come back posting your garbage here.

They were both great fighters, most say Ali was better because Tyson fell apart after leaving Kevin Rooney at an early age. Ali went to Cus D'amato many times throughout his career for advise, if not for Cus i don't think Ali would have beaten Foreman. It was documented that Cus told Ali his early style left him open to hooks, Ali got up and started dancing around the 60 year old Cus throwing jabs towards him, Cus D'amato caught Ali and busted his lip before Ali could move. Ali always respected Cus after that moment. Joe Frazier is the fighter who beat the best version of Ali, and he was a swarmer just like Tyson, only without the speed, head movement and angles of Tyson. I'm not saying Tyson would win, but i'd have it 50/50. People who say Ali would destroy Tyson need to look at some old films again. Tyson had tremendous speed, power, and upperbody strength. And yes Tyrell Biggs would have been an all time great just like Ali, but Tyson made him look like a fool with his 7 round destruction of Biggs. Tyrell came out in the first round dancing around and throwing the jab, but Tyson went to his body and broke him up making Biggs cry like a girl. The only person who i think could beat a swarmer like Tyson is a punchers like Foreman. A great boxer beats a great puncher. A great puncher beats a great swarmer, and a great swarmer beats a great boxer. Thats what history has shown us over and over again. 19-21 year old Tyson by 8th round KO over the Ali from the Liston fight.

See most people forgot how Tyson used to be. A prime Tyson was not one dimensional and could adapt. the problems is that he would have to be one dimensional agaisnt ali, because ali has every advantage over mike except raw power. also, ali wasnt intimidated by big punchers, and tyson relied on fear just as much as boxing skill and power

this has been debated for years but it never has been here both in their primes of course who will win between these 2 great champs tyson was one of the greats in his prime, but ali was untouchable in his prime he would ud or tko mike tyson has always had trouble with tall guys, and ali's stature would be a big advantage also, ali had good power, and his hand and footspeed are faster than tysons it be a good, entertaning fight, but ali would take it home

are you kiddin me? this thread comes up here atleast once a month its boxings period ....QFT....

i could go t ali or tyson but i would say tyson by tko10

ali wins by a fifth round ko!

tyson had very good endurance in his prime, norton demolished ali in their first fight, tysin beats ali late by points or TKO

I already discussed Biggs in the previous post to that one, so check it out if you want and comment on it if you can. And sure, Tyson was a great fighter in his own right, but some people think he was indestructable machine and without flaws during his "prime", which was simply not the case...He had his flaws which were apparent in some of his "prime" fights (which were most noticable against fighters who relied on a jab, movement and smart clinching on the inside...Tillis, Ribalta, Tucker, etc.), and obviously Buster Douglas proved he was not at all indestructable. Oh I agree he certaintly had flaws...

Well, Tyrell Biggs had a similar style to Ali. My whole point was Tyson was a great fighter in his prime and people shouldn't forget that. Some seem to forget Tyson wasn't always the Tyson who lost to McBride. :D I already discussed Biggs in the previous post to that one, so check it out if you want and comment on it if you can. And sure, Tyson was a great fighter in his own right, but some people think he was indestructable machine and without flaws during his "prime", which was simply not the case...He had his flaws which were apparent in some of his "prime" fights (which were most noticable against fighters who relied on a jab, movement and smart clinching on the inside...Tillis, Ribalta, Tucker, etc.), and obviously Buster Douglas proved he was not at all indestructable.

Tyson didn't adapt very well against a past his prime version of James Tillis, who was probably the closest in style to what Ali would present to Mike. In fact, I thought Tyson barely sqeaked out a decision over Tillis in that one (95-94 was my card for Tyson), as Tillis certainly had the better of things over the last half of the fight when Tyson did very little combination punching and was not hard to find with Tillis' jabs, combinations, and uppercuts. Well, Tyrell Biggs had a similar style to Ali. My whole point was Tyson was a great fighter in his prime and people shouldn't forget that. Some seem to forget Tyson wasn't always the Tyson who lost to McBride. :D

See most people forgot how Tyson used to be. A prime Tyson was not one dimensional and could adapt. Tyson didn't adapt very well against a past his prime version of James Tillis, who was probably the closest in style to what Ali would present to Mike. In fact, I thought Tyson barely sqeaked out a decision over Tillis in that one (95-94 was my card for Tyson), as Tillis certainly had the better of things over the last half of the fight when Tyson did very little combination punching and was not hard to find with Tillis' jabs, combinations, and uppercuts.

Ali would have no problem with Iron Mike - anyone who ever watched Ali and watched Tyson knows this. I think even Tyson would say the same thing if asked. You all know Tyson has no stamina, never has... I think he did in his prime. He went 12 rounds a couple of times.

Ali would have danced around mike for the first 3 rounds poppin him with the jab and tying him up until he felt mike starting to get tired and then he would step it up hitting mikes one dumbmensional ass with everything in the book until tyson quits like he does when he knows he can't win.... remember Tyson was the youngest but Ali is "The Greatest"..... Less talk about a better matchup who would win between sonny liston and young george foreman? See most people forgot how Tyson used to be. A prime Tyson was not one dimensional and could adapt.

For those of you who don't remember, Biggs was about as close to Ali in terms of style and skills as anyone ever was... Pfft...Biggs was a known drug addict going into the Tyson fight and was fed to Tyson before he was really ready, just so the Duvas could cash in on their investment in him. Shit, Biggs was getting beaten up & bloodied by David Bey, of all people, just previous to facing Tyson, so...Wait, I suppose Francisco Damiani or Gary Mason would've beaten Ali as well, I guess hey, seeing as how they both stopped Biggs around that same time as Tyson did?

Prove me wrong Ali fans... I think you guys are fooling yourselves with the "nostalgia factor" and assume old school is tougher than new school. Remember, we are talking about both fighters IN THEIR PRIME - you are looking at Tyson's later blounders and trying to lessen his early dominance. Remember, Ali got his jaw broken by Ken Norton!?! Listen Ali fans, who did Ali fight that would equate to Tyson in his prime? Foreman? Frazier? Well, turn it around and be honest - a 1986 Tyson versus Foreman or Frazier (in their prime)? You saw what Tyson did to Frazier's son... 30 seconds? You are idolizing Ali for a reason unknown to me - it would be no contest. A prime Tyson would KO Ali because you talk about imtimidation from Tyson? Who trash talked like no other?? Hello - Ali?? No, not intimidation - go back, boxing buffs, and look at the tapes, first Ali and then Tyson - PICK YOUR FIGHT - how fast are they in comparison to each other? If you are honest, you will realize that Tyson's speed would dictate the fight, just like it did every '80's fight Tyson was in and Tyson would pummel Ali. Now do your homework and prove me wrong...