What If? Muhammad Ali Faced Mike Tyson

By Ian “The Boxing Historian” Murphy
Photo Credit: Evan Shoman Art

When boxing fans discuss fantasy matches, at some point the discussion ends up at Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson. They are the two most exciting heavyweights in the past fifty years. Despite their common respect and adulation, they were polar opposites in almost any way you could think of. One was from the South, one North. One was tall, the other short. One was the most approachable man in the universe, the other a loner who preferred to be left alone. Yet, despite having contrasting origins and methodologies, these two men are linked constantly in the “What if?” conversation of all time great boxers. How would a fight between the Butterfly and the Bull play out? Before we get to the fight itself, let’s first examine these two great fighters in some detail and gain an understanding of what made them who they were.

Mike Tyson was a lethal weapon, capable of throwing crippling punches with murderous intent. Iron Mike was squat, (5’10 and weighed 218lbs at his best) muscular and menacing, with his mere presence radiating power and danger. His intent was to maim, hurt and brutalize his opponent. Often Tyson’s reputation preceded him, rendering men petrified and deflated before the fight even began. Tyson had the worst of starting points in life. He came from one of the roughest slums in America: the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, NY. Mike’s upbringing was difficult to say the least. He had no father figures and his home life was a total mess. Tyson learned how cruel the world could be from the streets, which molded him into a criminal just so he could survive. Although he was physically blessed with great athletic ability, he was taught to box by Cus D’Amato, who shaped his fighting style in rural, secluded Catskill, New York. D’Amato might have made him a boxer, but the streets shaped him and made him who he was.

As a fighter, Mike Tyson’s aggressiveness, demeanor and killer instinct hearken back to a day when men were hard, rough characters. Fighters like Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb and Mickey Walker come to mind. Not only were they champions, they were real life action heroes. They captured the imagination and hearts of fight fans with their exploits in and out of the ring. It comes as no surprise that these men were Tyson’s idols. He emulated them in both his fighting style and image. Mike shaved his head like Jack Dempsey and even took his nickname from “The Manassa Mauler”, who called his right hand “Iron Mike”. He also patterned his fighting style on that of Dempsey, and like his hero, was a frightening combination of speed, power and aggression. His mentor Cus D’Amato saw this in his young protégé and added excellent defensive skills to the mix, making Tyson exceptionally lethal and dangerous. He was incredibly explosive and his skills were razor sharp in the early part of his career. Tyson at his best was electrifying.

Conversely, Muhammad Ali was an artist, and had a grace to his movement that belied his size. At 6’3 and well over 200lbs, Ali floated and stung his opponents like a huge butterfly holding a hammer. He was a magician, lulling his opponents into false security before blasting them with blazing speed and underrated power. Ali was a man of his time, a perfect face and persona for the turbulent 1960s and 1970s. His face was everywhere, and he relished the attention. Reporters that covered him never went without good copy. His origins were in suburban (but segregated) Louisville, Kentucky. Ali had an intact nuclear family and did not suffer from poverty or deprivation. He made his way to the top via the Olympics, winning a Gold Medal in 1960. Ali in his first incarnation (before he was stripped of his belt in 1967) was physically unbeatable, as his speed, reflexes and unorthodox skills completely stymied his opponents. He was hardly even challenged during his first reign. In his second incarnation, (after he was reinstated) he was slower, and not as sharp, but he compensated with strength, toughness, will, and determination. Ali learned he had a cast iron jaw and a will to win matched only by his arch-nemesis, Joe Frazier.

Physically at his best, Ali had few peers. He had incredible reflexes that enabled him to elude the punches of his opponents. He broke all the rules of boxing and if logic prevailed, he never would have gone as far as he did. Ali leaned back to avoid head shots and almost never went to the body. He led with his right hand and relied on his speed to keep him away from danger. Muhammad’s combination of hand and foot speed were a nightmare for anyone who set foot in the ring with him. He had a flicking, stinging jab and a great right hand. He hooked well on the inside for a tall man and before age robbed him of his blinding speed and lingering hand injuries sapped his power, he was a great finisher in the ring.

Before we ring the bell, let’s examine a key factor that may have a profound effect on the match. For starters, Ali was a master at psychological warfare. He would get into his opponent’s head and unnerve, enrage, and distract them. The effect was the opposite of Tyson’s intimidation, as Ali’s trash talk would make his foe sloppy and angry, or insecure and ineffective. This worked to great effect versus the two most frightening foes in Ali’s career: George Foreman and Sonny Liston. Both were considered “unbeatable” (like Tyson at one point) and were heavy favorites against Muhammad. Ali, instead of being intimidated, got in their heads and finished both before the 9th round. Despite this psychological advantage, we cannot underestimate what Tyson can do. His power, aggression, speed, and killer instinct could beat anyone if he hurts you early. He has more than a puncher’s chance.

Now that the table has been set, it is time to eat…

Round 1

Tyson comes out guns blazing, firing lefts and rights with bad intent, forcing Ali into a corner. Ali parries and slips most of them, and clinches. He hangs on the shorter Tyson’s head, and keeps his dangerous foe at bay for the moment. At the break, Tyson fires a left hook to Ali’s head. The illegal blow lands with an audible thump, and it forces Ali back into the corner. Tyson pounces and is met with a hard right cross to the face and again he smothers Iron Mike. Ali then mean mugs for the camera shaking his head and making faces, implying he isn’t hurt. Ali pushes Tyson away from him and begins to cast his spell. He glides effortlessly left to right, flicking a long, cutting jab at his stockier foe. Tyson uses good head movement and avoids the majority. Ali continues to use the over sized ring to his advantage, slipping in and out of range and landing a stiff jab as the bell rings to end the round.

ROUND 1: 10-9 ALI

Round 2

Ali and Tyson both meet quickly in the center of the ring, and Tyson gets underneath an overextended jab and lands two brutally hard body shots. Ali looks to clinch, but Tyson presses and lands a right hand to the jaw. Ali retreats back and covers up. Tyson moves him into a corner and gets to work with body/head/body combinations. Ali manages to smother most, but some get through. Ali knows this boy is serious now. He tries to rope-a-dope Iron Mike and is paying the price, especially to the body. Tyson is reminiscent of Frazier in his relentless pursuit and aggression. Ali survived against Frazier, but can he withstand the assault from a man who arguably has more firepower? Tyson continues to pound away at the head and body, not really connecting with full force, but piling up points and damage. The round ends as Ali ties up Tyson.

ROUND 2: 10-9 TYSON

Round 3

Tyson is beginning to wonder why Ali doesn’t appear as hurt as he should be. He has hit the Butterfly with punches that have at least floored many other men, if not finished them. Ali is still gliding side to side, moving his not inconsiderable body smoothly in and out of danger. Tyson looks a little befuddled, but quickly snaps back to life as he notices (a remnant of his training with D’Amato) that Ali gets a little too careless with his right hand as he pulls it back. Now Iron Mike has a plan, he needs to land that left hook to shake up Ali and do damage. Ali continues to pepper Tyson with jabs, keeping him at bay. With 30 seconds left in the round, Tyson coils his stout body like a massive spring and uncorks a tremendous left-hook counter that crashes into Ali’s jaw. Ali nearly drops to a knee, then stumbles into his own corner. Trainer Angelo Dundee pleads with Ali to clinch. But Muhammad is too hurt to clinch. Tyson is on him in the blink of an eye, the blood lust driving him to near madness in his haste to finish the fight. He unloads his patented right to the body/right uppercut and lands flush. Ali slumps on the ropes and lands on his backside. He then rolls over to his side, posts his leg, and gets up at the count of 7. Right as the referee signals for the fight to resume, the bell rings. The crowd at Madison Square Garden erupts for its hometown boy Iron Mike Tyson.

ROUND 3: 10-8 TYSON

*In between rounds, Angelo Dundee is frantic in trying to fully revive his clearly hurt fighter. He brings out smelling salts and Ali begins to collect himself. The right side of his face is swollen terribly, but the look in the man’s eyes betrays that pain with complete defiance. No more fooling around. Time to get to work.

Round 4

Ali slowly shuffles out of his corner, still a little foggy from Tyson’s assault the previous round. Tyson meets him in the middle of the ring with a hungry and impatient look on his face. Tyson can sense the damage he inflicted on his opponent. In fact, he can practically smell it. Tyson pounces on Ali, looking to press his advantage. He throws a huge right hand, but Ali deftly avoids it, slipping to his left, landing his own right hand counter. Tyson is temporarily stunned, as the combined force of Ali’s punch and his own momentum magnify the power of the blow. Ali uses this temporary respite to slow the fight down so he can fully recover and implement his own plan. This is one of Muhammad Ali’s greatest strengths. After the right hand connects, Ali flurries on Tyson, forcing him to cover up and clinch. Ali then hangs again on Tyson’s neck, using his weight to tire him. After the break, Muhammad does an “Ali Shuffle” to let the fans know he’s not hurt and is still in the fight. The round ends as Ali is flicking his jab at Tyson’s body.

ROUND 4: 10-9 ALI

Round 5

The round begins with Ali taking the center of the ring. He paws at Tyson with his left, enticing and hoping to draw a right hand he can counter. Tyson obliges, firing a wild right hand that Ali counters beautifully with a left hook/right hand. Both punches land, and Tyson’s advance is halted on the spot. Ali resumes his flicking jab, and mixes it up with left hooks. Tyson cannot believe this man is still on his feet, let alone pressing the action. Also, those hooks and right hands are beginning to hurt, and he’s feeling tired. Ali decides to play matador for the remainder of the round, making Tyson miss his heavy pot-shots and further fatigues his foe. Tyson’s left eye is swelling now, and he has a small cut beneath it.

ROUND 5: 10-9 ALI

Round 6

Tyson, sensing the fight’s momentum is moving away from him, presses smartly at the start of the round. His head is going side to side, avoiding Ali’s long jabs. He manages to trap Ali in a corner and goes to work on the body, landing hard, punishing shots. Ali takes them and again hangs on Tyson’s head to force a separation. The referee warns Ali about this and threatens to take a point from him next time he does it. Tyson nods to the referee, grateful for the notice. Ali continues his methodical attack, looking to lull Tyson into walking into a combo again. He lands a nice one-two and flurries in an effort to impress the judges. Ali then throws a sloppy jab. An advancing Tyson slips it and lands a right hand to the head. Ali winces visibly and covers up. Tyson again goes to the body, looking to set up his big uppercut to the head. Round 6 ends with Ali clinching and hitting Tyson with soft taps to the body.

ROUND 6: 10-9 TYSON

Round 7

A confident Tyson comes out strong, pushing past his fatigue. He throws a left hook-right hand combination and Ali blocks the left and parries the right. Just as he parries, Ali connects with a quick, dragging right hand to Tyson’s head. The cut on Mike’s left eye deepens and now is bleeding heavily. Tyson wipes the blood out of his swollen, bloody eye and moves back to reset. Ali follows with a strong flurry that further opens the cut. None of the punches appear to hurt Mike, but his cut is getting worse with every right hand Ali throws. Tyson stops the attack by clinching and grabbing Ali’s right arm with his left, looking to twist it and take the right hand away from Ali. The referee breaks them up and warns Tyson. The bell rings as Tyson lunges with a left hook. Swing and a miss.

ROUND 7: 10-9 ALI

Rounds 8 and 9 are more of the same. Ali pressures and attacks an increasingly tired and frustrated Tyson. Mike is game, but can no longer string together effective combinations, only single power shots. Ali takes full command and begins to really punish Tyson, especially with the right hands. Mike’s eye is nearly shut and the ref interrupts round 9 to have a doctor look at the cut. It is bad, but he allows the fight to continue.

Round 10

Ali continues to work on Tyson’s eye and is landing right hand counters almost at will. Tyson is tiring fast and his vision is becoming seriously compromised due to the cut and swelling. Ali starts dancing and moves with a fluidity that had eluded him since before the third round knockdown. He is in excellent shape and presses the action with urgency, feeling Tyson is beginning to wilt. Tyson doggedly sticks with his attack, but is taking a beating. Tyson lunges again with a left, and is met with a hard right hand that stuns him. He is too tired to mount effective defense and isn’t seeing those rights coming. Ali spins Tyson on the ropes and begins to flurry, almost identical to the barrage that finished Brian London. Ali pours it on, looking to close the show, but Tyson bravely stays on his feet. However, he is not defending himself and is taking loads of punishment. He begins to sag on the ropes, holding on but not going down. The referee saves Tyson and stops the fight at 1:45 of round 10.

Winner: Muhammad Ali via TKO 10.

*Note: The result of this match isn’t the only scenario, obviously. Ali was vulnerable to the left hook (shown vs. Jones, Cooper, Frazier), and he broke a lot of rules. He had a speed advantage against many of his opponents, but Tyson had more speed in his punches than any slugger Ali ever faced. So, even though Ali was never officially “finished” in the ring, if it was going to happen, Tyson certainly had the tools to do so. However, I feel that if Mike could not get Muhammad out of there early on (his will to win and cast iron jaw would make this difficult), he would have become increasingly less effective as the fight progressed and Ali would have gotten stronger and more confident. Also, the blueprint on how to negate a lot of Tyson’s strengths was laid out by James “Quick” Tillis, who jabbed, moved and countered Iron Mike in a very tough fight. Tyson had Tillis down, but the Fightin’ Cowboy (like Ali) had lots of heart and took Tyson the distance for the first time. James “Buster” Douglas further proved this point in their February 1990 match-up. Ali had a level of hand and foot speed that the slick Tillis and Douglas didn’t possess and this would have made Tyson’s chances at victory even smaller, especially in a long fight. Ali, with his superior mental preparedness and adaptation, takes Tyson into deep waters and drowns him.

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