Who would win in a fight ,Mike Tyson or Muhammed Ali?

I’m assuming that we’re talking about a boxing match, and not a hot dog (or ear) eating contest.

I think that Ali would win, maybe not “handily”, but “footily” because of his extraordinary footwork and ability to escape Tyson’s wicked punches. Ali fought a lot of good punchers, but while in his prime he hardly seemed to be touched by them.

Both, the defeated one overturning the result in the inevitable rematch

Ya. Good call. But I think Tyson was way more than a puncher. He was super intimidating. Even to boxers in the upper echelon of his sport. And Ali was in guys heads too. But when Mike was angry he was the best boxer in history in rounds 1 and 2. I think. He was sadly on crack , we’ve learned, when he bit Hollyfields ear off…Crack Tyson vs wheelchair Ali is my next question lol…

Tyson would likely cheat.

Ali was a classier guy and cleaner boxer.

Tyson would probably win.

Tyson was a remarkable hitter. People who fought him described it as a sledgehammer.
Ali was the smartest fighter ever. He was fast fast fast.

Who would win? If they both had a chance to study the other’s fights, Ali would take him, but it would take that study.
Strategy beats strength.

Ali more than likely, if he could escape Tyson’s punches while still look like he was in the fight and not running like a sissy. Ali would have had to plan on winning it off the score card because a knockout was not coming. If he got lucky and caught Tyson with the right combinations at the right time, say in the later rounds, he might get the KO or TKO, if he got close enough to Tyson or tried to out punch him in close, it would be good night sweep prince for Ali.

Tyson and Forman would be more an epic battle of heavy punchers.

Ali was a much more talented fighter, and I like to think he would win, because I far prefer his style, and also because Ali was a much more likeable person, with far better behavior, and AFAIK causing less misery in the world.

Tyson was very tough and heavy-hitting though. I think it depends on how successful Ali ended up in avoiding getting hit too badly in the first two rounds. He was great at not getting hit and wearing down his opponents. Tyson was great at hitting and hitting hard. So the number of actual hits would decide what happened, and would be a matter of fortune, luck, or specific movements, however you want to call it.

I read that Tyson himself said that he would not expect to be able to beat Ali in his prime.

One better breakdown than I can give on this question is here . I like his details, most of his category assessments, and his conclusion, which I like to think is right. I think it makes particular sense when looking at the types of fights each man lost to. Ali tended to survive and defeat opponents like Tyson – his losses were generally to other types of fighters. Tyson’s losses were to fighters who had strengths that Ali had (but who were not as good as Ali), and some of Tyson’s strengths (especially intimidation) and weaknesses (faltering when getting hit and not able to hit back, due to short reach and/or maneuver) play right into Ali’s strengths. So the article confirms what I suspected based on much less actual information.

IMO. If Tyson can win it’s in the 1st 2 rounds by knockout. Ali can win if he survives the amazing power , speed, and fury of Tyson. Ali to me IS the better and smarter fighter. But Tyson could put together combos that would quickly damage any fighter. Tyson’s style never lended itself to fights going the distance , so Ali takes it by decision over an exhausted and frustrated Tyson IF he gets to round 3 .

Ali on a technical knockout. His footwork and his speed and reach would have worn Tyson down.

Wasn’t Ali known for his rope-a-dope strategy?

And Tyson certainly wasn’t the brightest bulb on the Xmas tree; so basically a dope.

As mentioned, Ali had lightning fast footwork and the brains to stay out of Tysons power fists early on. After that it was just a matter of trying to land as many strategic punches as possible while Tyson kept geting more and more frustrated.

I think that strategic brains would prevail over unfocused brawn. Let’s face it, brawn was pretty much all that Tyson had going for him.

Early in Tyson’s career he was brilliant (in boxing terms.) Too many people see him as who he was right before prison and Buster Douglas. And of course, the tattoo face weird guy. Not as an Olympic and later formidable World Heavyweight Champ. I suppose one could say he had a good mentor then and followed his teachers well or whatever but seeing Tyson as a strong idiot is doing him a disservice.
Watch some footage of him in the Olympics and pre Don King stuff.
Sadly Mike was a troubled man who only had a few people in his life that didn’t lead him astray or manipulate or take advantage of him. His personal judgment was never great but he badly needed good people around him. When he had good people guiding him he was great. When he lost those people for different reasons he became another tale of talent gone to waste.

RIP Ali…