Another Underrated heavyweight from the 70's Ron Lyle

[QueensburyRules]

- -Don't know anyone who had an easy time with Lyle. OP failed to mention Lyle was knifed in prison and like Cleveland Williams, dangling on a rheas of death. He recovered better than Cleve for a hard fight up the boxing chain. Very few fighters had more to overcome, thus Ron earned his way into the hearts of boxing fans who remember him fondly.

[markusmod]

- -Don't know anyone who had an easy time with Lyle. OP failed to mention Lyle was knifed in prison and like Cleveland Williams, dangling on a rheas of death. He recovered better than Cleve for a hard fight up the boxing chain. Very few fighters had more to overcome, thus Ron earned his way into the hearts of boxing fans who remember him fondly.

Lyle was a the kind of fighter you could never bet against with anyone. Always a potential spoiler.

[OctoberRed]

When we look at great fighters, they are usually gifted with other great fighters to compete with. I made the case that Jimmy Young was in fact a great fighter and did not get the credit he deserved. If you connect the dots and see how great all these 70's heavies were, you can see how they affirm this greatness fighting each other. No fighter represents this better than Lyle. Lyle was first and foremost a puncher, but had skills, will and a chin that were truly great. When these guys fought the fights were fantastic and close... Lyle was ahead on the scorecards when Ali beat him. His fight with Foreman was one of the most exciting fights of all time, and his fight with Shavers was according to some, as exciting.

Lyle in many other times would have been a champion. I have no doubt that like more than a few of the seventies gang, he would clean house in the division today. Watch and judge for yourself... Here are two of Lyle's fights, and two of the most exciting fights ever Imo... Enjoy

I can watch his fight with Foreman every day of the week

[billeau2]

I can watch his fight with Foreman every day of the week

LOL. I am not a fan of rewatching fights regularly... BUT on this one I have to agree.

[OctoberRed]

LOL. I am not a fan of rewatching fights regularly... BUT on this one I have to agree.

Yes indeed.

[landotter]

Not sure anyone who's followed 70's boxing underrates Ron. His fight with Foreman is a classic heavyweight fight. His KO losses were at the tail end of his career, and I had him up on Ali lol.


That said, great thread for people who are unaware.

I saw this headline in the forums and all I could think is there is not a boxing fan who has done any kind of research into Ali, Foreman, or Frazier who would "underrate" Lyle. His name is all over the wars of the 70's that make today's fighter look like the spoiled children they are when compared. I respect the hell out this man.

[landotter]

One poster (forgot his name) said the Lyle Foreman fight was better than the Hagler Hearns fight, what do you think? I am on the fence.

I could easily make the argument for it. It is like making the argument that Wilt Chamberlain was a more dominate talent than Jordan was. The numbers are there, and historically Chamberlain did things no other player ever will, but Jordan is universally accepted as the best because of the championships. I love taking the other side of any debate just for fun.

I love those both those fights. Hagler-Hearns is accepted as one of the greatest, but Foreman-Lyle has a case to be heard for it.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Well, Wilt made The Greatest publicly melt on the ABC broadcast arranged by Howie Cosell. MJ can't top that...