In their Primes, Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson, Who would win ?
Introducing Muhammad Ali
Height : 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Reach: 80 in (203 cm)
Muhammad Ali Boxing Style (Prime)
Ali had a highly unorthodox boxing style for a heavyweight, epitomized by his catchphrase "float like a butterfly, sting like a bee."
Never an overpowering puncher, Ali relied early in his career on his superior hand speed, superb reflexes and constant movement, dancing and circling opponents for most of the fight, holding his hands low and lashing out with a quick, cutting left jab that he threw from a number of angles.
His footwork was so strong that it was extremely difficult for opponents to cut down the ring and corner Ali against the ropes.
Ali probably had the fastest hand and foot speed ever seen in a big fighter. Using a synchronizer, Jimmy Jacobs, who co-managed Mike Tyson, measured young Ali's punching speed versus Sugar Ray Robinson, a welter/middleweight, often considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in history. Ali was 25% faster than Robinson, even though Ali was 45-50 pounds heavier.
Introducing Mike Tyson
Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach: 71 in (180 cm)
Mike Tyson Boxing Style (Prime)
Mike Tyson, executed the style perfectly and was notorious for his savage punching ability and excellent defense. Probably the best example of the Peek-a-Boo style.
Round 1. Tyson stamps his authority. He leaves no one, least of all the opponent, in any doubt as to who’s in charge. To be faced with such intensity at the opening bell is stressful for a fighter. Biggs moves well popping out a jab, Ali-style as Tyson puts on masses of pressure. But, it’s a smart pressure.
The speed of Mike Tyson’s punches during this phase of his career was plain for all to see. He would whip in hooks at blindingly fast speeds, with no ‘drawback’.Let’s not forget though that Tyson also employed excellent footwork to get him into the positions to allow his hand speed to have it’s effect.
The precision of the Mike Tyson punches is incredible. Some of his shots in this bout are a little wayward, but the vast majority of his punches find the target. Both shots land right on target. Whilst possessing a killer punch is one thing, the ability to bring that kind of precision and accuracy to the ring pays for itself.