re: Prime Ali vs. Prime Mike Tyson

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That’s a terrible analogy.

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Opinions vary.

Ali was a mouthpiece, great fighter but we will never know and anyone saying differently is ignorant.

I think prime Ali wins easily. I saw some of his fights as a kid, and saw all of Tyson's while in college.

A little perspective- Tyson had trouble with tall guys who could actually box. I remember him fighting Larry Holmes, who was washed up by that point and purely in it for the payday... Holmes gave Tyson a lot of trouble with the jab for a couple rounds. Then he got tired and slow, and went down on the first good hit.
Going back to the "both in their primes" argument, I think Tyson loses to prime Larry Holmes. And I think prime Ali beats Holmes.

This. Ali would mindfrick Tyson, then take him out.
And I rooted for Joe Frazier in all three fights.

I agree with the majority of posters here: Tyson is hugely overrated and Ali would box his ears off.

The thing Tyson fans never get (besides the fact that he lost to the best fighters he fought, Lewis and Holyfield, twice) is that he just wasn't as mentally tough as the great ones. Fighters like Ali, Frazier, Louis, Foreman, etc....no one intimidated them.

Intimidation was one of Tyson's greatest weapons but it wouldn't be a factor against the greats. Also, he didn't have the stamina that guys like Ali, Frazier, etc.
had. They were 15 round warriors with tremendous willpower.

As for Tyson catching Ali with a big punch, sure it is possible. It also more than possible, it is extremely likely, that Ali would get up like he always did and start whipping his arse again.

People also wrongly believe Ali couldn’t hit. He didn’t have Tyson’s one-punch KO power and he had hand issues later on but when he sat down on his punches he could crack. He was swiveling Foreman’s head in Zaire. And when he was younger and in his real prime, he combined speed and pop.

I stopped liking Cassius Clay once he changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Tyson had the weirdest career ever. He fought 28 times his first two years as a pro and won the belt(s). He was knocked out at 24 and was never the same. So, his prime was from 19-23. But he really didn't fight anyone great during that time, and they all seemed like set-ups. He dodged a ton of guys.

I believe Tyson was athletically a freak and supremely skilled. Tyson could beat anyone. He just doesn't have a good resume. His career isn't top 10, even for a heavyweight. Usyk already has better signature wins. But Tyson believers will always defend his legacy.

Ali all day long. He would have Rope A Doped Tyson for 5-6 Rounds then KO'd. Tyson himself said the same.

Wasn't Tyson still prime when he lost to Buster Douglas?

Tyson was only 5 years into his boxing career when he fought Buster Douglas and was a 42-1 favorite to beat him.

Tyson's problem was he had left the people who made him the fighter he was early in his career, and he took up with Don King and his lot.

I believe Tyson didn't really train as hard for the Douglas fight thinking he was such a favorite he'd just go out there and blow the guy away and as we all now know, that didn't happen.