Among all the possible fantasy fights that can be imagined in boxing, one stands out more than any other, captivating the curiosity and interest of fans. On one side, the legendary dancer of the ring, the Louisville Lip, self-proclaimed “The Greatest,” later confirmed as such by numerous historians and analysts. On the other side, the ultimate puncher, the most feared fighter of all time, the KO artist born in Catskill and raised in violence. Many could argue stubbornly for hours about who would have won; I’ll give my own take in this edition of our column, dedicated to Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson.
Two Paths to Perfection, Interrupted Too Soon
Interestingly, both Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, two of the most iconic and idolized heavyweights in boxing history, share the fact that they never fully realized their complete potential, albeit for very different reasons.
When talking about Ali, most people think of his unforgettable battles against Joe Frazier and George Foreman: legendary fights that are still the subject of films, documentaries, books, and commemorative articles. However, the best version of The Greatest ever seen in the ring predates those and goes back to the years ’66 and ’67, when after defeating the infamous Sonny Liston twice, Ali had fully realized his greatness, dancing in the ring with the grace of a butterfly and the confidence of a lion.
Stripped of his license for refusing to participate in the Vietnam War, Ali returned to official matches after three and a half years of forced inactivity, appearing heavier and less quick than in his golden years, yet still making history thanks to his immense talent and unmatched determination.
Similarly to his childhood idol, Mike Tyson gave the early impression of being unbeatable. An authentic destruction machine with gloves on, he dismantled one opponent after another with moves never seen before, nor since. By the age of 22, he already seemed invincible.
In Tyson’s case, it was the boxer himself who disrupted the magic, neglecting his training and adopting habits incompatible with the life of an elite athlete. He lost his unbeaten record and reputation as an unstoppable warrior, being brutally KO’d by James Douglas. The subsequent conviction for sexual assault, just as Iron Mike seemed to be getting back on track, definitively robbed us of the chance to see him at his peak.
Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson: The Fantasy Fight!
Weight class: heavyweight. Scheduled rounds: 12.
Most boxing fights start with the first sound of the bell. However, there are some that truly begin well before the fighters step into the ring, in the build-up to the event, where press conferences, statements, and interviews are opportunities to invade an opponent’s psyche, subjugate him, irritate him, or make him insecure.
In this respect, Muhammad Ali was a master, perhaps the most skilled in boxing history. The Greatest had a unique ability to understand the right attitude to break his opponent’s composure and cause him to enter the ring without the clarity needed to execute a winning tactical plan.
The months leading up to a bout between Ali and Tyson would have been transformed into a spectacle by the Louisville boxer, who would have unleashed a multitude of provocations: taunts, mocking rhymes, insults… Iron Mike would have been the target of every kind of trick designed to unnerve him, and this strategy would likely have hit the mark.
Tyson, who was often up against opponents overwhelmed by his reputation as a lethal puncher and his tough-guy persona, would have found Ali’s brazen showmanship bewildering. Seeing himself as the object of disrespectful ridicule, he would have felt a blind rage build up inside, along with the desire to punish the irreverent opponent.
Perhaps Iron Mike could have hidden his anger in public, but once face-to-face with Ali in the ring, he would have acted like a bull in front of a red cape, unleashing his fury.
Even the great Ali, in fending off the explosive assaults of a “seek and destroy” Mike Tyson, would have had to grit his teeth and endure a difficult phase. Sheltering against the ropes, as he did in his historic fight against George Foreman, would have been extremely dangerous because, in his prime, Iron Mike was a powerhouse at breaking through his opponents’ defense with varied and devastating combinations. Thus, Ali would have had to move furiously on his feet and hold decisively when necessary.
Considering The Greatest’s exceptional chin, his immense character strength, and his speed in dodging his opponents’ punches in his prime, it’s plausible that Tyson’s immense effort to land a quick KO wouldn’t have paid off. Even if he managed to land some significant and spectacular punches, Iron Mike would likely have been forced to abandon the idea of a quick knockout and reluctantly temper his initial rage.
Once the pace of the fight slowed down, Muhammad Ali would have come to life, launching his signature flickering punches: jabs and uppercuts from long range, so fast they’d be hard to anticipate and avoid. Tyson would then have found himself in an unusual situation: when the intensity waned, his opponents usually took a breather, staying away from him. Ali, on the other hand, would have used every moment to strike and keep Tyson on edge.
With each round, Tyson’s attacks would have become less effective, while Ali’s lightning-fast combinations would have become increasingly impactful. Seizing control of the fight, The Greatest would have unleashed his famous verbal and physical provocations. Though some might have found them disrespectful, they would have further clouded Tyson’s already frustrated mind.
Hit more frequently and, due to exhaustion and frustration, increasingly reliant on isolated power punches instead of his formidable two-handed combinations, Iron Mike would have entered the final rounds in critical condition. In a desperate search for a winning blow—his only remaining hope—Tyson would have exposed himself to Ali’s precise counterpunches. Used to fighting over 15 rounds, Ali would have surely had enough energy left for a grand finale.
I like to think that the formidable puncher from Catskill, in peak condition, would have remained standing until the merciful referee intervened, denying Ali the satisfaction of looking down on him after knocking him to the canvas. Whether Tyson was stopped on his feet or on the mat, however, wouldn’t have made a difference in sporting terms. During The Greatest’s celebrations, many in the crowd would have checked the “poem” Ali composed before the match, perhaps something like this:
“Tyson will fall in the twelfth, I know,
With my fists, he’ll dance slow to the KO.
I’m faster, smarter, and stronger too,
His fate is sealed, and he knows it’s true.”
Fantasy Prediction: For about four rounds, Ali would have been on the defensive, moving swiftly on his feet and enduring Tyson’s frenzied attacks. Little by little, Iron Mike’s brilliance and intensity would have faded, allowing Ali’s flair and class to shine through. The Greatest would have dismantled his opponent round by round, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the fight just before the end. Result: Muhammad Ali defeats Mike Tyson by technical knockout in the twelfth and final round.