That "20 yr old freak show" was actually much less of a freak show than the later Tyson due to Cus D'Amato who kept him focused and disciplined more than anyone could. But that same D'Amato could never have prepared Tyson of any age for the frustration Clay/Ali would have smothered him with. Clay/Ali tormented the like of Sonny Liston and would have destroyed the psyche of Tyson so easily that the fight might never have taken place but instead might have been decided when Tyson attacked at the weigh in and was dropped by the speed displayed by Clay/Ali. I have a feeling you're a young guy who may have seen a fair amount of Tyson but very little of Clay/Ali to see how he engineered every fight psychologically as well as physically. I truly believe that only in the waning days of Clay/Ali would Tyson have any physical chance but would probably have succumbed to the mind war before he ever made it into the ring.
Your opinion, my opinion. Who cares how young I am? You dismissed the psyche factor in Tysons case and apply it in Clay's. This is an intriguing matchup. I'm going with the 20 year old bud. I want to emphasize my respect for The Greatest.
Nobody cares how old or young you are; it was simply a reference to what you may have experienced first hand rather than read about. And yes, I absolutely dismiss any chance of Tyson being able to have had any favorable psychological impact on Clay/Ali, especially if you're talking about inducing any kind of fear or trepidation.
Ali was 6'3" with the hand speed of a guy with a much smaller frame. He'd have beaten Tyson the same way he beat Frazier, with a longer reach and the ability to keep his chin out of the big puncher's way. Tyson might have landed a haymaker at some point and put him down, like Frazier did, but he wasn't going to be the dominant fighter in any fight with Ali. The more interesting question is whether Tyson would have had a chance against George Foreman when they were both at their peak. Foreman had people really intimidated because he threw punches that could knock you out through a block and he did that a couple of times. Put a guy on the ground even when the guy got his glove between Foreman's glove and his chin.
I want to emphasize my respect for The Greatest. The consummate icon. This guy was the best, talked about it, backed it up, and made sure nobody forgets. Respect to this beast.
IMO young Tyson was on the path to " possibly " becoming great,,,,,but then he went on the wrong path with the wrong people and his boxing went out the window,,,,,Ali was " the greatest " nothing like him , simply amazing !
RIP - Greatest of All Time to the man that coined the phrase "I am the Greatest" Talk of Tyson in the same class while pure speculation is silly in my opinion. Take the absolute best version of Tyson and it would never have beaten Ali/Clay at his best.
An Icon of the 60's Kennedy MLK JR and Cassius Clay...remember it all like yesterday. What a time in America! Perhaps the greatest African American sports figure of the Century Stood up against the VN War and Racism...I guy who got the Supreme Court to overturn his draft dodging Who among todays athletes sits 4 years for a cause they believed in?? (25-29 were also MA prime years??) The image we have today are guys who get shot in nightclubs or arrested for other reasons...or drugs Always controversial (and I didn't go for all his views personally especially Black Muslims/Nation of Islam etc) Ali went 56-7 because he had the swag and the moxie to predict success ahead of time a sign of a Champion personality Never flaunted his $ but was a world Good Will Ambassador RIP
"In the olden days" you could turn on the television and watch a fight. I wish I was there, but I'm not that old.
Ali was a smarter/better fighter later in his career. He won with speed, movement and power early, he won with strategy/defense and punishing combinations later.
Don't know if this was posted but starting real soon, its 7:20 now,,,,Espinoza going to televise lots of Ali stuff,,,,,,Frazier vs Ali 3,,,??ali vs Foreman,,,,and other stuff,,,TiVo or enjoy
Thanks...ESPN Classics. Watched 'em all at one point or another but never tire of them. I've prolly watched the Ali/Foreman Fight 20 times...at least...seriously Some great Documentaries out there also
