Roy Jones Jr Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Mike Tyson Would Beat Prime Muhammad Ali

Roy Jones Jr has little doubt how a Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson bout would play out.

The two heavyweight greats are in the history books, Ali as the division’s first three-time world champion and ‘Iron’ Mike as the youngest fighter to ever win the belt.

Both men were born with blistering speed and commanded the attention of media and fans. Ali was a slick mover and stylish operator inside the ropes, whereas Tyson’s main strengths were his ferocity and power.

Ali would hang up the gloves in 1981, a little too late in the eyes of most, on the back of losses to Larry Holmes and Tervor Berbick. Tyson entered the pro game four years later, and would win his first title against Berbick and KO Holmes five fights later – something he says he had promised Ali he would do.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated for a rapid fire round of fantasy predictions, Jones – who fought an exhibition with Tyson back in 2020 and called him the hardest puncher he ever faced – backed Ali without hesitation had he clashed with the dangerous ‘Iron’ Mike.

“Muhammad Ali. If it wasn’t for Muhammad Ali there would be no Roy Jones Jr. He will always be the greatest in my book.”

Both Ali and Tyson were complimentary of one another, Ali in his later years and Tyson when he was knocking out all comers. Each man said that they other would win a fight, though that modesty would have no doubt been out the window if the cross-generational fight been a realistic prospect.