Prime Ron Lyle vs Prime Jack Dempsey

[them_apples]

Foreman was a year and a half removed from his last bout when he fought Lyle. He was not in prime shape physically or mentally.

Quite a few thought Ali carried Lyle. Lyles strategy going in was to try NOT to beat Ali. In other words conserve himself. So you had both fighters conserving themselves at the same time. Ali with his new found “mirage” and Lyle just trying to do barely enough to win rounds. Boring affair that Ali ended when he wanted at the beginning of round 11.

Lyle was never gonna beat Ali because he was intimidated by him. Ali used him as a sparring partner early in his career and knew Lyle quite well. They both subconsciously decided Ali was the better man. I was surprised how Ali would belittle Lyle to his face on camera and get nothing back in return.

Ali saw right through the tough guy image that why he was the bane of all tough guys lol. Foreman, Lyle, Liston etc, they all scared everyone around them but got scared themselves like most bully's do, when you see through it.

[them_apples]

Don't undersell Lyle. He almost beat prime Foreman, ad IMO was ahead on points vs a guy names Ali after 10 rounds. IMO the stoppage was debatable.

50/50 match

Foreman was at one of the worst points in his career, not defending himself and preoccupied with pacing himself. He dropped Foreman because Foreman stood there and let him.

Ali toyed with him and the stoppage wasn't debatable at all. No he didn't beat him down to the canvas like the Joe Louis era, but he was certainly gonna be stopped, even if it took 10 more punches, the fight was over. He couldn't hit Ali.

[HOUDINI563]

I do not believe Lyle was afraid of anyone. The fight in terms of strategy made sense at that time. Opponents trying hard to beat or ko Ali simply exhausted themselves trying and were koed themselves. So Lyle when asked how he was planning to beat Ali stated “by trying not to beat him”. Lyle did just that. However with Ali introducing “the mirage” for this bout it made for a very boring event. As soon as Ali opened up it was over. Lyle was a physical specimen and a terrific right hand puncher but way too slow to compete with Ali.