Another Underrated heavyweight from the 70's Ron Lyle

[billeau2]

When we look at great fighters, they are usually gifted with other great fighters to compete with. I made the case that Jimmy Young was in fact a great fighter and did not get the credit he deserved. If you connect the dots and see how great all these 70's heavies were, you can see how they affirm this greatness fighting each other. No fighter represents this better than Lyle. Lyle was first and foremost a puncher, but had skills, will and a chin that were truly great. When these guys fought the fights were fantastic and close... Lyle was ahead on the scorecards when Ali beat him. His fight with Foreman was one of the most exciting fights of all time, and his fight with Shavers was according to some, as exciting.

Lyle in many other times would have been a champion. I have no doubt that like more than a few of the seventies gang, he would clean house in the division today. Watch and judge for yourself... Here are two of Lyle's fights, and two of the most exciting fights ever Imo... Enjoy

[_Rexy_]

Not sure anyone who's followed 70's boxing underrates Ron. His fight with Foreman is a classic heavyweight fight. His KO losses were at the tail end of his career, and I had him up on Ali lol.


That said, great thread for people who are unaware.

[billeau2]

Not sure anyone who's followed 70's boxing underrates Ron. His fight with Foreman is a classic heavyweight fight. His KO losses were at the tail end of his career, and I had him up on Ali lol.


That said, great thread for people who are unaware.

A lot of people, naturally, look at decisions, but do so without watching the actual fights. I have come to realize many fights are for all practical purposes, a toss, or, that the judges render a bad decision. best example is Young, who got a bum decision against Norton and Ali... If he had gotten the nod(s), he would have beaten Foreman, Ali, Norton, Lyle (twice). And, as you say, Lyle was up on the cards (2 out of three) when the fight was stopped against Ali. many felt the stoppage was premature in that fight.

The heavyweight division at that time, had such a depth of talent and all these guys were fantastic. You look at all the things they did in the ring, compared to now, the pace they fought at, and the will they displayed and its embarrasing to watch a contemporary match lol.

[billeau2]

Not sure anyone who's followed 70's boxing underrates Ron. His fight with Foreman is a classic heavyweight fight. His KO losses were at the tail end of his career, and I had him up on Ali lol.


That said, great thread for people who are unaware.

One poster (forgot his name) said the Lyle Foreman fight was better than the Hagler Hearns fight, what do you think? I am on the fence.

[_Rexy_]

One poster (forgot his name) said the Lyle Foreman fight was better than the Hagler Hearns fight, what do you think? I am on the fence.

That's pretty hard...The Lyle/Foreman fight had both guys getting up from knockdowns so brutal that you thought the fight was over both times, plus one of the rounds was only 2 minutes if I'm remembering correctly. Minute too short or minute too long, time keeper error. That right there was one of those strange occurrences that only seems to happen on special nights. Plus, I'd never seen Foreman hurt like that before or after that. The KD against Ali was more exhaustion, and although it's been a very long time, I seem to recall the Young KD being a slip? Anyways, I'm rambling. Just smoked a big bowl lol. Let me think about that one lol

[Willie Pep 229]

Lyle vs. Ali

I thought Lyle just plain tired. In the 1940s the fight wouldn't have been stopped- but I am not sure whether Lyle was going to get a second wind or not. He had four more rounds to go.

Maybe just a modern safety stoppage - Lyle wasn't a beaten fighter -- but he was a fighter n the process of being beaten - stoppage is hard to call but certainly not stopped in 1948.

[GhostofDempsey]

Lyle was a tough scrappy HW who like Norton, got off to a late start when turning pro. I'm of the opinion he would be a champion in today's HW division. A Lyle/Joshua fight would be a barn-burner.

I can't say the stoppage against Ali was all that premature. Lyle appeared out on his feat and wasn't throwing punches. A few times he should have been counted down since the ropes held him up. As I recall, that was a scheduled 15 round fight, I'm not sure if Lyle had another four rounds in him at the time of the stoppage.

[billeau2]

That's pretty hard...The Lyle/Foreman fight had both guys getting up from knockdowns so brutal that you thought the fight was over both times, plus one of the rounds was only 2 minutes if I'm remembering correctly. Minute too short or minute too long, time keeper error. That right there was one of those strange occurrences that only seems to happen on special nights. Plus, I'd never seen Foreman hurt like that before or after that. The KD against Ali was more exhaustion, and although it's been a very long time, I seem to recall the Young KD being a slip? Anyways, I'm rambling. Just smoked a big bowl lol. Let me think about that one lol

LOl, enjoy your cheeba! I actually really digged Cossell's commentary, and it was an added bonus how one guy would look like he was going to knock the other over, and half the time? the other guy would wind up on his duff lol. Cossell would really express geniune amazement. with all his buffonery, I liked Cossell. He supported Ali when it was unpopular to do so. That two minute round lol... Like the parachute guy during the Bowe fight.

[billeau2]

Lyle was a tough scrappy HW who like Norton, got off to a late start when turning pro. I'm of the opinion he would be a champion in today's HW division. A Lyle/Joshua fight would be a barn-burner.

I can't say the stoppage against Ali was all that premature. Lyle appeared out on his feat and wasn't throwing punches. A few times he should have been counted down since the ropes held him up. As I recall, that was a scheduled 15 round fight, I'm not sure if Lyle had another four rounds in him at the time of the stoppage.

I agree with you. The thing is, all these guys were so well matched. Fights were amazing.

[HOUDINI563]

Lots of talk after Ali vs Lyle that Ali carried him. Ali introduced a new strategy prior to this bout...”the Mirage”. Basically ropeadope but mid ring vs along the ropes. Lyle prior to the bout told Cosell that he would best Ali by “not trying to beat him”. In other words he was not going to punch himself out trying to ko Ali while Ali covered up.

So you had Ali offering Lyle to him him and Lyle refusing! Talk about boring! Lyle was ahead but it was uneventful and no one deserved to be far ahead in this push and shove debacle. Beginning of round 11 Ali lands a huge right which would have knocked Lyle down save the ropes. Ali landed something like 35 consecutive blows culminating in a jarring left hook that violently jerked Lyles head to the right. Bout was stopped and it was a good stoppage. Lyle made no effort to fight back.

Lyle was actually one of my favorites all during the 70’s. He was a powerful puncher but aside from this attribute he lacked much depth. He was not very quick and with this could be easily outboxed.