Could Muhammad Ali lay on the ropes against Mike Tyson?

[boxingbuff]

What do you think? Could Muhammad Ali lay on the ropes against Mike Tyson?

[BG_Knocc_Out]

I'm not sure, that's where Tyson's boxing intellect and killer instinct intertwine as far as where he chooses his shots when his opponent is on the defensive.

[QuietOne]

It wouldn't be a good idea. Tyson isn't someone you wanna take punches from, even if your goal is to make your opponent tire himself out.

I imagine that Ali would tie Tyson up, everytime he gets close. Just like Buster Douglas did.

[Benny Leonard]

HELL NOOOOOO. And a Prime Ali wouldn't. Only the post-exile Ali had to do that.

Tyson picks his shots unlike George Foreman and doesn't look to wear himself out. Tyson would even wait if he had to for you to do something so he could counter real quickly. The more you have to keep banging someone that is in the shell the more you might have to expend your energy. It's easier to hit a target that is open because you hurt them faster. If Ali tried to open up on Tyson while his back is against the ropes, with Ali nowhere to go and a bad habit to drop his hands...he'll get clipped hard because of Tyson's own speed and combination punching he can throw at the same time as Ali.

[Benny Leonard]

It wouldn't be a good idea. Tyson isn't someone you wanna take punches from, even if your goal is to make your opponent tire himself out.

I imagine that Ali would tie Tyson up, everytime he gets close. Just like Buster Douglas did.

Ali would tie Tyson up but the Buster Douglas fight was b.s. to use. Use the Smith fight at least. Are we talking about a trained Tyson or an untrained Tyson who looked lost?

Tyson was really only as good as his training camp.

[BG_Knocc_Out]

Even Joe Frazier was working and hurting Ali against the ropes, and he was predictable (although masterful) with his left hook, and Ali barely did a thing about it. Tyson would do much of the same.

[samir191]

Tysons favourite combo was the right hook to the body, followed by a right uppercut to the chin, which he loved using when he had his opponent on the ropes, therefore Ali couldn't. Plus in his prime Ali never used the rope-a-dope; he would have danced circles around Tyson for 15 rounds, outboxed him with his speedy combos and fast footwork, kept him at range with his jab, and tie up on the inside. Tyson would have become frustrated and lose his composure in the late rounds, which would have let Ali win by either late stoppage or UD!

[QuietOne]

Ali would tie Tyson up but the Buster Douglas fight was b.s. to use. Are we talking about a trained Tyson or an untrained Tyson who looked lost?

Tyson was really only as good as his training camp.

Whether or not Tyson was in his prime had nothing to do with Douglas' game plan.

[YoungJab]

none of us can predict fight outcomes, were all wrong

ull never know

[samir191]

Tyson used short, stinging, accurate punches; even moreso than Frazier. He never threw wild, swinging shots like Foreman; so it would be ridiculous for Ali to lay on the ropes and take that punishment!