I am giving Young a 50-50 chance of surviving the first four to five rounds against Tyson after which I am giving him more than 50 percent chance of beating Mike on points in a 12 round fight. My reason is that Young had been there in the ring twice against a dreaded KO puncher like Tyson in the person of Ernie Shavers. In their first fight in only his 12th pro outing in 1973, he committed the mistake of trading with Ernie and as a result he was stopped inside just three rounds. In their return match seven bouts later the following year, Young had obviously learned his lesson very well and he managed to extract a draw against the older, more experienced Shavers who was 42-2 in their first fight. Using that experience Young then proceeded to beat feared KO artists Ron Lyle and George Foreman in the biggest wins of his career. Young's boxing skills in his prime was probably next only to the likes of Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes.

As for Tyson, his weakness even in his prime had been against mobile, quick-stepping and jabbing, thinking fighters like James Quick Tillis, even Jose Ribalta who gave him fits despite losing on points and late round TKO respectively and Buster Douglas who proceeded to pin him his first loss by KO.

If Young survives Tyson in the first four rounds where Mike is at his strongest and most dangerous, I think Jimmy will win on points pulling away.

Jimmy Young was probably the most underrated HW of the 70's. This guy could really box. He beat Foreman and Lyle, and gave Ali fits as well. I could see him outboxing Tyson but he'd have to be very careful, especially early. Slick boxers have always given Tyson trouble, even in his prime. Guys like Tony Tucker and James Quick Tillis for example, gave him fits even though he won both fights, and we know what a quick jabbing and quick moving Buster Douglas did to him in Tokyo. I see Young winning a close UD by keeping Mike off balance with the jab and good footwork. Young had a decent chin as well. I'd say Young wins.

Hello Irene! Great fight! I cannot improve on Teodor's answer as I totally agree and pretty much see the figtht the same way. Tyson could knock him out early on but Young was smart enough to beat the big bangers like Foreman and would survive and outbox Tyson in my opinion.

Mike would need a KO, Young would have boxed his ears off otherwise. You have to figure if Jimmy Young could out box Foreman, he would most likely have an easier time with Tyson. Young by UD.

Jimmy Young scored a spectacular unanimous 12 round decision over a prime George Foreman, on March 17,1977, in San Juan Puerto Rico. Young decked George in the 12th round, Foreman then retired for 10 years. Young has defeated Ron Lyle twice by unanimous decision. Iron Mike Tyson in his last fight flattened Michael Spinks in round 1, on June 27,1988. Who would win and why?