I see it the same way. In interviews, they’ve each said the other would win but I think that’s just being deferential. The most competitive bout would be is 1988 Tyson versus 1971 Ali. A younger Ali wouldn’t stand a chance. As Ali aged, he became a more efficient although less flashy boxer and learned to wear fighters like Foreman out and neutralize the weapons of fighters like Frazier. Tyson was like Foreman only more powerful and like Frazier only more elusive. Ali and the way he punched down at shorter fighters would have been useless against the way Cus and Rooney taught Tyson to move.
Tyson was for sure one of the best heavyweights ever - for sure! And I loved seeing his fights; for pure animal power- not much better than that. For the Ali comparison prime of career fight, I am not so sure it is as one sided as some here have alluded to. Ali in his prime was a fast, cagey wonderful fighter. Even the first Frazier fight was after Ali’s true prime. It would have been a huge difference in styles; and for most of Ali’s great fights he overcame a big difference in styles.
Of all of the comparisons that I would like to see, it would be the Ali fight. Tyson against other greats like Marciano would have also been an interesting fight. For the Ali Tyson fight simulation, it would have been interesting to see how Ali put up with the first 3-4 ( more like 1-2) rounds of a fight like that. Now after 5 rounds it would have gotten interesting if it went that long. For as much of a polished fighter Ali was, it was also amazing how much punishment he could take. The fella did not lack heart.
For sure Tyson was a must see event. After I first heard of and watched his first fights, I watched in real time almost all of his fights. True gladiator in his prime.
Contrast the styles of my two favorite heavyweights of all time. Tyson and Foreman. Tyson had explosive power. Foreman's power was derived from momentum. Foreman's hands were often described as heavy. He wasn't slow, but by boxing standards, he seemed to load and calculate each punch, bringing them in from far away with locomotive like momentum.
Tyson was a Animal in his prime, A master. Tyson was also a complete dickhead.
I'm not sure about him being a complete dickhead. I know he had issues in the ring and in his personal life, but I met him once and he was very cool to me. I lived in Brooklyn in the 1990s and after Rosh Hashana services in about 1997 or so, my wife and I were eating lunch near the synagogue. Mike Tyson and a few of his crew came by and sat down right next to us. Lots of people came up to him to talk and he was the ultimate gentleman. I talked to him for a bit and he was very nice to me as well and even wished me a happy new year. The thing that really struck me, though, was how intimidating he was physically. His biceps were bigger than my thighs and you could just sense that he was ready to dismantle people with his hands.
I'd rather get hit by a bus, then gored by a bull and dropped off the Empire State Building than get hit by him once.
Eliminate qualified immunity and you'll eliminate cops who act like they are above the law.
It it too bad he was not able to keep his head and career on track. I would of loved to see how long he could have reigned. I will say one thing...........when he hit someone else in the mouth their plans really did change
This is the same guy that bit off an ear, went to prison for rape where he converted to islam. Married 3 times and had 7 kids, declared bankruptcy and was convicted of DUI and cocaine possession. Spoke in public about raping Sarah Palin who would welcome it because he was a black man.
But that is all in the past, he had a ghost write a couple of self aggrandizing books on how the white man took advantage of him and got a face tattoo. He is now the favorite of hollywood liberals and their ilk. But man could he punch!
Lots of other good role models in the nba and nfl. Pro sports are a bastion of morality and patriotism.
But I am old and have yet to become woke...YMMV
mike r
Don't wish it were easier Wish you were better
Stab them in the taint, you can't put a tourniquet on that. Craig Douglas ECQC
That’s a straight up power vs power. I think Tyson wins that. YMMV I like the Ali matchup. But I honestly think Tyson gets inside and ko’s Ali too. But we will never know.
A good question is , does prime Tyson happen without Gus? His raw talent aside I think not
It isn’t a question at all.
Tyson was brought directly to Cus (not Gus) by a counselor from juvenile detention.
Cus watched Tyson spar once and took him on that day. The rest is history.
Without Cus there would have never been a Tyson.
It was a rhetorical question.
Decades of voting for the lesser of two evils has gotten us just that.....
