Unfortunately, Fight Night Round 4 is not real life. We will never actually see this fight in reality, but it’s fun to debate over. If Kid Dynamite and The Greatest met in their primes, who would win? Well, first let’s establish they were both out of boxing during an athlete’s prime years. Both Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali were out of boxing for three years in their mid-twenties due to Tyson’s rape charge and Ali’s refusal of being drafted into the Army. Still, they will probably go down as the two most popular fighters ever. Ali’s best fight was arguably when he was 24 against Cleveland Williams. If you search that fight on Youtube, it’s scary how good Ali looks. We’ll also say Tyson looked like Superman when he knocked out Berbick, becoming the youngest Heavyweight champ ever. That Youtube video is insane, as well. If they met on those nights, it would be something special.
Mike Tyson had an overall 50-6 record with 44 knockouts; Ali was 56-5 with 37 knockouts. Ali had about a 5 inch height advantage and 9 inch reach advantage. Tyson had power, though. Serious knockout power where fights would sometimes end just after you bought your popcorn. Ali had speed and footwork unparalleled to any fighter. Tyson had lightning quick uppercuts and hooks, while Ali’s punches were quicker than an eye blink. Don’t believe me? Go watch Ali-Liston 2. Tyson was knocked out five times. Ali never got knocked out cold; he always got up before the 10 count. Wait, let me repeat that; Ali never got knocked out. The only time he never went the distance was against Larry Holmes when Angelo Dundee refused to let the 40 year old Ali back out for another round. That’s unbelievable; I think Ali’s toughness is much underrated. He took some serious shots against Joe Frazier and George Foreman, too. Frazier picked Ali off the ground when he knocked him out, but Ali got up in two seconds. Ali is quoted in his autobiography saying that twice he was in a dreamy halfway knocked out state in the Rumble in the Jungle, but shook it off and went on to drop Foreman. Tysons power looked immortal when he made Berbick fall three times when he knocked him out, but yes, I truly believe Ali could take Tyson’s biggest shot. I don’t think Tyson or anyone, for that matter, could touch Ali in his prime either. Too quick Michael Jackson dance moves, blurry head movement and camera flash jabs with quick follow up rights are just a deadly combo. Tyson would definitely land some shots, but he would be overwhelmed. I’m sorry to all the Tyson supporters, but this fight would not be close. I believe Ali would knock out Tyson in the seventh round. I believe in a fighter’s psyche as well. Ali fed off Zaire’s energy in the Rumble in the Jungle. To Zaire citizens, he was a savior for declining the draft and not going to war with another third world country. Ali was also very religious and is quoted as saying ” I told the world I talk to God every day. As long as God’s with me, can’t nobody be against me.” Mike Tyson tested positive for marijuana after one of his bouts. It just seems that Ali was more disciplined than Tyson in and out of the ring. However, Tyson is very religious now and clean from drugs. He seems to be very humble and thankful, judging by his tweets and has really made a 360 degree turn around, making himself a very positive role model in his retirement. It’s a heartfelt story. Ali got the belt back twice while Tyson struggled to get it after losing it to Buster Douglas. Ali got his belt taken away the first time, not by a punch, but from the U.S. government. He went on to get it back by upsetting Foreman, a man who most of Ali’s corner thought he could not beat. I’m not disrespecting Tyson; he was an amazing fighter. I get his knockout power could probably break bricks, but if he came across the Louisville Lip in his prime, it would be no contest. Ali was a master of psychological warfare, but more importantly, he was a savant when it came to throwing the wraps on. Unfortunately, he’s not as brash as he once was due to his Parkinson’s disease. However, his quick wit eliminates the need for feeling for bad for him as he says it’s from signing autographs, not boxing. I truly think he will go down as the best overall American athlete of all time. If Tyson had the maturity he has now when he was 20, then this fight would be a totally different story. This debate will never end, and I get that many people will disagree with me. So to eliminate the possibility of another one of these massive boxing debates, let’s see Pacquiao and Mayweather throw down once and for all. It could put boxing back on the map, although the UFC looks like it will never slow down.