Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson
The ultimate boxing debate — Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson. Professional records, style and legacy compared in full.
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Muhammad Ali
American · Born 1942
The Greatest — three-time world heavyweight champion, Olympic gold medallist and the most celebrated athlete of the 20th century.
View Full Profile →Mike Tyson
American · Born 1966
The youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years and 145 days — the most feared boxer of his era.
View Full Profile →Career Statistics
| Statistic | Muhammad Ali | Mike Tyson |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Record | 56-5 (37 KOs) | 50-6 (44 KOs) |
| Weight Class | Heavyweight | Heavyweight |
| World Title Reigns | 3 | 1 |
| Career Knockouts | 37 | 44 |
| Olympic Gold | Rome 1960 (Light Heavyweight) | — |
| Peak Ranking | Undisputed Heavyweight Champion 1964–1967, 1974–1978, 1978–1979 | Undisputed Heavyweight Champion 1987–1990 |
| Youngest Champion | — | 20 years 144 days (1986) |
Muhammad Ali
Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. — Muhammad Ali — was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942 and won Olympic gold as a light heavyweight in Rome in 1960 before turning professional that year. His professional record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 losses across a 21-year career (1960–1981) encompasses three reigns as undisputed heavyweight champion. He won the title for the first time in February 1964, stopping the fearsome Sonny Liston as a 7-1 underdog. He was stripped of the title in 1967 for refusing military induction — "I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong" — and banned from boxing for t…
Full Muhammad Ali biography →Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard Tyson was born in Brownsville, Brooklyn in 1966 and became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at 20 years and 144 days when he stopped Trevor Berbick in November 1986. His professional record of 50 wins (44 by knockout) and 6 losses across a career spanning 1985 to 2005 includes a period of total heavyweight dominance from 1987 to 1990 when he unified all three major titles — WBC, WBA and IBF. His knockouts of Michael Spinks in 91 seconds (1988) and Carl Williams in 93 seconds (1989) are the two fastest heavyweight title fights in history. His combination of extraordin…
Full Mike Tyson biography →The Verdict
Ali won 3 heavyweight world titles with a record of 56-5. Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion (20) with a record of 50-6 and 44 knockouts. Ali's superior chin, footwork and longevity give him the edge in most analysts' assessments — but Tyson's peak 1987-1990 power was unlike anything seen before or since.