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Tyson's speed and ALI's ability to take a punch are both overrated in some cases. While most assessments of both are accurate, there are some factors that many tend to leave out.
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ALI took the punches of greater punchers than Tyson. However, none of them had Tyson's initial speed. Also, ALI was a more mature and stronger fighter when he faced those guys. Still, he stood the test of Liston's power. He would pass the Tyson test as well.
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Tyson was indeed fast. However, his punch output diminished, nearly by half, as early as round 4. He has only 3 fights past round 6 where he didn't get stopped. At best, Tyson never had great stamina.
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I could see some fighters falling into Tyson's early attack trap. Do you really think a mobile fighter like ALI/Clay would be one of them?
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Perhaps, the most important factor is the mental make-up of each fighter. While Tyson was always prone to doubt against anyone who stood up to him, ALI, even as a younger man, was always a master at psychological warfare. It's very easy to see him getting inside Tyson's head.
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It's easy to see ALI dragging Tyson into the middle rounds, where he begins to exploit the seeds of doubt he planted earlier during the press conference. Check the records and films and you will see Tyson's punch output diminish to 25% after round 6. That's just not enough to even keep up with a busy body like Clay, or any version of ALI before the exile.
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ALI by TKO in 12
Who could really say how this one would go and would come out? First of all I think you would have to both not only at the peak of their ability but, even more importantly, you would have to have both fighters at the height of the their confidence for it to really matter.
Given some mystical point in between time which would allow this, it's a really difficult call. The vast majority of men to give Tyson trouble at ANY point in his career were clearly bigger men. Ali in his prime was not quite as tall as Buster Douglas and certainly NOT (around 215, pretty much the same as the prime Tyson) as big. Taking this all into account, I tend to lean toward Tyson. Ali at the top of his career never saw anyone nearly as big, powerful, AND fast as Tyson--and definitely not as brutal! Tyson was a Joe Frazier type mauler with Sonny Liston kind of power, and much better hand speed than either of the two. Also, while Ali COULD really take a punch, he never saw anyone who hit as hard AS often as Tyson.
Furthermore to the point, when in any real doubt it's usually wise to go with the latter athlete in history. Tyson would say himself recently when ask how he would fare against the Klitschkos at his peak: boxing almost always, like most sports, gets better over time--"even if it doesn't look better". Only one boxer or athlete's career would seem to cast any doubt on this line of reasoning: George Foreman's.
Ali was smarter and more mature than Tyson. This means that Ali who could take a good punch and was the fastest heavyweight I have ever seen could keep Tyson away from him and win the fight in a decision, or late stoppage as he did against Foreman.
Tyson was shown to be at a disadvantage against taller fighters who could avoid his big punches.
Trevor Burbick was no Sonny Liston and if Ali could beat Liston with his movement, frustration, etc. then he beats Tyson easy. IMO.
Ali by MD
Sweet Science fans,
1964 & 1986
Cassius Clay was 22 years old in '64 when he won the World Heavyweight Championship! (def. Liston)
Mike Tyson was 20 years old in '86 when he won the WBC Heavyweight Championship! (def. Berbick)
Youth is served!
Q 1. WHO wins 15 Round Heavyweight YOUTH Bout between:
? Mike Tyson at 20 years old.
VERSUS
? Ali / Clay at 22 years old.
REPEAT: Clay / Ali is 22 & Tyson is 20 for hypothetical.
source: curiosity
