Muhammad Ali Admits Mike Tyson Would Have Beaten Him in Prime

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Muhammad Ali, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history, once revealed that even in his prime, he would have struggled to defeat fellow heavyweight legend Mike Tyson. Ali, who dominated the sport for over two decades, made the surprising admission in a rare interview, highlighting Tyson’s ferocity and power.

Ali, known as ‘The Greatest,’ captured the world heavyweight championship for the first time in 1964 with a historic victory over Sonny Liston. He repeated this feat in 1965 with a first-round knockout of Liston. Ali held the undisputed championship until 1978, when he lost to Leon Spinks in one of boxing’s biggest upsets. Despite facing numerous formidable opponents, Ali singled out Tyson as the one fighter who could have bested him.

In a candid clip, Ali said, ‘I’m scared of him. He’s a real champ. [Tyson would have won], I was a dancing master. You are that powerful and so fast, if he hit me [mimics falling over].’

Mike Tyson, nicknamed ‘Iron Mike,’ is recognized as one of the most fearsome heavyweights in boxing history. At just 20 years old, Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight champion in 1986 after a second-round knockout of Trevor Berbick. His aggressive style and devastating knockouts earned him 50 wins, 44 of which came by knockout.

Ali, who won 56 of his 61 professional fights, is the only boxer to reign as the lineal heavyweight champion three times. His legacy is defined not only by his achievements but also by his entertaining fighting style, characterized by impressive footwork and evasive maneuvers. Tyson and Ali never faced each other in the ring, as they competed in different eras, but their hypothetical matchup remains a topic of debate among boxing enthusiasts.

Despite Tyson’s dominance, he has expressed immense respect for Ali. In a past interview with ThisIs50, Tyson said, ‘There is no man like him, there just isn’t. Everything we have, he supersedes us in. He was an animal, he looked more like a model than a boxer. He’s very special. The best. Nobody beats Ali. I can’t beat the man, hell no.’

While Tyson acknowledged Ali’s superiority, some fans believe his explosive style during his prime could have posed a significant challenge to Ali. The debate continues to captivate boxing fans, underscoring the enduring legacies of both fighters.

Tyson, now 58, briefly returned to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. and later fought YouTuber Jake Paul in 2023, earning praise for competing against a much younger opponent.