Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, who would win a fight?

Question

Imagine both of them are in their prime time and in the ring boxing. I think Tyson would destroy Ali.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Ali wins, hands down.
Let's just compare them:
Ali had 61 professional fights, he won 56 of them, and was never knocked out.
Mike had 58 professional fights, he won 50 of them, and was knocked out by three opponents.
Ali was 191 cm tall (6'3 ft), and had 198 cm reach (78 inches).
Mike is 178 cm tall (5'8 ft) and has 180 cm reach (71 inches).
Ali's average weight in his prime was about 107 kg (circa 236 pounds)
Mike's average weight in his prime was about 101 kg (circa 223 pounds).

Ali was way faster than Mike, had better evasive maneuvers, much better technique, and could sustain stronger punches in a longer time period (some of his fights lasted for 14 - 15 rounds) - at the end, Ali always managed to stay on his feet.

Mike Tyson was overhyped by his fans, his only weapon was strong punching ability, nothing else, but even that wasn't enough for him to stay undefeated.
Remember that Tyson lost against Holyfield twice, while Ali never lost two times against the same boxer... because Ali learned from every defeat, and knew how to adapt against any opponent.

Here are all of Tyson's lost fights, see the lack of skill and agility, compared to Ali.
Muhammad defeated some of the greatest fighters of all times (Liston, Frazier, Norton, Foreman and many others), even in his old age, Ali was never knocked out.
On the other hand, two last guys who defeated Mike Tyson were just a mediocre fighters.

VS James Buster Douglas:

Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, who would win a fight?

VS Evander Holyfield:

VS Lennox Lewis:

VS Danny Williams:

VS Kevin McBride:

WhiteSteve · Accepted Answer

Boy, tough call. I haven’t seen a whole lot of Ali, but I grew up watching Tyson, he’s my guy. I always thought he looked the worst against Lennox Lewis, he just got overmatched by reach and couldn’t get in close. That’s how I remember it anyway, never watched it after the live fight. Eventually his eyes were swollen shut after round after round of walking into jabs every time he tried to go on the offensive. Looking at some measurables, Lewis was 6’5 with an 84 inch reach, Ali 6’3/78 in, and Tyson obviously the smallest of them at 5’10 and a 71 inch reach.

My concern in this fight for Tyson would be reach vs an excellent fighter. We’ve seen Tyson dispatch of bigger fighters in spectacular fashion, but most of them were the County Fair All-Stars, lmao. Then other big guys like Razor Ruddock, he just out-skilled them. I don’t know if we can say Tyson ever regained prime form after his prison bid, and his fights in the 80s, I can’t tell if they were tomato cans or if he was just THAT good.

To me, it’s just a matter if Tyson could catch Ali. Nobody had the one-hitter-quitter like Tyson. Ali had plenty of chin to him, but when Mike ducks a punch and springs back up with his own, that can be lights out for anyone, from bums to legends.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Ali would win, easily.
Muhammad was faster and more skilled, more intelligent boxer, and a fantastic strategist.
All that Tyson has as an advantage is more powerful punch, but that can't help him if he can't hit Ali... and you should know that Ali could actually evade punches even when he was cornered.
Mike never had such a stamina, if he can't knock out an opponent in the first 4-5 rounds, he starts getting tired

Muhammad Ali was never knocked out in his entire career, he was able to endure even the strongest punches... he could last for more than 12 rounds, so he would easily outlast Tyson, and knock him out.
Just look at Muhammad's fights, he could easily dodge a combo of punches with just a small but very fast head swinging.

Mike Tyson was not "unbeatable", not even in his prime, considering James Buster Douglas knocked him out when Mike was only 24 years old.
Muhammad Ali in fact defeated three boxers who were more powerful punchers than Mike was (Sonny Liston, George Foreman and Earnie Shavers): https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1688234-ranking-the-10-most-powerful-punchers-in-boxing-history

In conclusion, Ali would outmaneuver and defeat Mike with no problem, Ali's speed, endurance and tactics would prevail ;)

OneMoreSoulToTheCall · Accepted Answer

If Tyson didn't win by knockout in the first couple rounds, Ali would outlast him.

But in those crucial first rounds I'd hedge my bet on Iron Mike. If we reach round 6 I'm gonna start regretting that bet.

0112358 · Answer

I think Ali but it’s close. I rate Tyson quite highly, Ali higher, but I don’t think it’s a great matchup for Ali. Ali was a boxer and like most great boxers chewed up punchers but struggled with great swarmers. Iron mike was not a one punch KO machine, he instead moved in with elite slips and head movement, much better ability to move while evading than say a Frazier, while landing counter bombs off the slips. I suspect that would have given young Ali a lot of trouble.

Older Ali likely would have frustrated and tied up Tyson a lot more, much like we saw Larry Holmes do. Holmes made Tyson look pretty ineffectual for a long time and Tyson was more vulnerable late fight when his evasion slowed down. He got Holmes of course but that was an old Holmes.

I think that an Ali with old Ali’s versatility and young Ali’s speed wins for sure... but that Ali never existed (much like a Tyson who has Cus D’amato train him right till his mid 30s doesn’t exist.). So it’s close.

JimboGB · Answer

I am guessing you mean a prime Mike Tyson, Mike Tyson of the 90s wouldn't have stood a chance with Ali from the 60/70s. Ali was an overrated fighter in terms of his skill set, he hardly ever threw to the body, he couldn't fight inside to save his life and both of these areas are aspects that Tyson specialized in. You throw in the fact that Ali didn't really lead with hooks and you have to wonder how he would have kept Tyson off him- especially as he couldn't keep Joe Frazier (with one eye) off him over 3 fights.

Tyson had some of the greatest head and upper body movement I have ever seen, so I feel Tyson would have been fast enough to slip Ali's jab and get inside where Ali wouldn't have stood a chance.

80's Tyson wins
90's Tyson loses.

QooLipBite · Answer

If Tyson does manage to land, I’d imagine it would be pretty devastating. But I doubt boxing is just about brute force and power, there are many various aspects that Ali is more skilled than compared to Tyson for example agility, strategizing, analytical skills, quick thinking etc.

Assuming both fighters are in their prime.

jgokgotit · Answer

It depends. If Tyson bites his ear off then he could win. Otherwise Ali. They are about equal in terms of boxing skill, but Ali faced a level of discrimination, persecution and a generally hard life that Tyson did not. That out of the ring toughness would play a factor inside the ring because, when the boxing skills cancel each other out, Ali had a deeper well to dig into.

NYCQuestions1976 · Answer

Both boxers in their prime? I think Tyson would win an initial match. In a rematch, I think Ali would win, because he would learn from their prior encounter how to use Tyson's aggressiveness against him. Both boxers were brutes, but Ali was also cerebral.

888theGreat · Answer

Ali in 20's would be too quick for Tyson. Ali was smart and well prepared. Tyson is dumber than a rock. Ali jabbed , Tyson wants a one punch ending. Tyson needs the inside and Ali would not let him do that. Ali had longer reach. Ali would make him go 15 rounds and Tyson would be worn out. Ali fought meaner, harder punchers than Tyson. No Contest , Ali wins fairly easy.

Curmudgeon · Answer

Ali (nee Clay) would "rope a dope". He understood how to psych his opponents, and he actually had strategy, and people forget how much damage the man could take, and was willing to take, which I do suspect caused his early onset Parkinson's.

DeeDeeDeVour · Answer

I love Cassius and I'm a big fan but Iron Mike's fierce determination in his prime is hard to "dance like a butterfly" from. Ali's "sting like a bee" punches ain't gonna sting Tyson.

Bananaman177 · Answer

Tyson has way more power, plus he's faster, plus he has better defense.  Ali would have to weather the early storm and pile it on in the later rounds.  Tyson can end it at anytime.

AaronKrieger · Answer

Hard to say, but I'm putting my money on Mike Tyson if we're talking about during their prime, but it wouldn't be an easy match.

Quackthulu · Answer

Tyson, easily. Ali is dead and wouldn’t put up much of a fight at all.

BeMuse · Answer

Ali is dead. Tyson would beat on his corpse and Ali wouldn't even be able to hold his arms up.

Anonymouus_ · Answer

you can't rope-a-dope an unblockable punch and mike tyson don't care if ali is in the corner

ecfresh · Answer

In a fight? Tyson. In a boxing match that’s official and scored? Ali

Thatsamazing · Answer

Well Ali was like six inches taller and had a significantly longer reach, so it's way more likely that Ali would win.

JosyJosy · Answer

I have absolutely no idea, but I like Ali's style better so

nickstaa · Answer

Ali had a better overall career. Tyson had a better peak.

Daniela1982 · Answer

Tyson would win even though Ali gave him an earful.

cheapshotbob · Answer

Ali would win but he would loose an ear XD

Levin · Answer

I'd take them both down now.

Gedaria · Answer

Float like butterfly sting like a bee...

Anonymous · Answer

Donald trump of course. who else!

gemgem · Answer

Ali had 7" of reach on Mike

mrgspoter · Answer

Tyson's to much in his prime..

Cryptic-Game · Answer

The match ends in a draw.

Anonymous · Answer

i have to pick Ali by far

Iron_Man · Answer

Cassius Clay

hknmhmn4 · Answer

Iron Man

Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson, who would win a fight?

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