Muhammad Ali won 56 of 61 fights (91.8% win rate) with superior boxing technique and footwork, while Mike Tyson won 50 of 58 fights (86.2% win rate) with devastating knockout power and aggressive peek-a-boo style, making Ali the more technically skilled fighter and Tyson the more physically dominant.
Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
American heavyweight boxer and youngest undisputed champion with 50-6 record and devastating knockout power.
American heavyweight legend with 56-5 record, 3× world champion, cultural icon, and revolutionary political activist.
Professional Win Rate. Knockout Percentage. Championship Belts Won. Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. Years as Reigning Champion. Average Fight Duration. Notable Comeback Success
Muhammad Ali was the superior all-around fighter with better footwork, ring intelligence, and a higher win percentage, making him the greatest heavyweight of all time. However, Mike Tyson at his peak (1986-1990) possessed more raw power and knockout dominance than any heavyweight before or since. Choose Ali if you value technical mastery and longevity; choose Tyson if you prioritize explosive athletic dominance in a fighter's prime.
Mike Tyson: 1 (undisputed, 1987-1990) | Muhammad Ali: 3 (multiple organizations, 1964-1978)
Mike Tyson: 100% (58 KOs in 58 wins) | Muhammad Ali: 66% (37 KOs in 56 wins)
Mike Tyson: 6 years (1986-1992) | Muhammad Ali: 14+ years (1964-1978)
Mike Tyson: 20 years (1986) | Muhammad Ali: 22 years (1964)
Mike Tyson: 9 consecutive (1987-1990) | Muhammad Ali: 10+ consecutive (mid-1960s)
Mike Tyson: Exceptional (fastest heavyweight of 1980s-90s) | Muhammad Ali: Elite (fastest heavyweight of 1960s-70s)
Mike Tyson: 220 lbs (peak muscle) | Muhammad Ali: 210 lbs (lean muscle)
Mike Tyson: 60 years (2026 exhibition with Mayweather) | Muhammad Ali: 56 years (1994-1995 comeback fights)
Mike Tyson: 37 major title fights | Muhammad Ali: 61 major title fights
Mike Tyson: 7 (entertainment, comeback narrative) | Muhammad Ali: 10 (civil rights, global humanitarian icon)
Mike Tyson: 7 (explosive but limited range) | Muhammad Ali: 10 (jab mastery, footwork, ring intelligence)
Mike Tyson: 3 years (unified title) | Muhammad Ali: 15 years across 3 reigns
Consecutive Title Defenses (Peak Streak)
Mike Tyson: 9 defenses (1987-1989) | Muhammad Ali: 10+ defenses (1966-1967)
Mike Tyson: 56 fights | Muhammad Ali: 61 fights
Mike Tyson: Peek-a-boo defense, explosive entries, timing | Muhammad Ali: Superior footwork, head movement, strategic adaptation
Mike Tyson: 1987-1990 (3 years undefeated as champion) | Muhammad Ali: 1960s-1970s (16 years peak dominance)
Mike Tyson: 88% (44 KOs) | Muhammad Ali: 66% (37 KOs)
Mike Tyson: 3.8 rounds (early dominance) | Muhammad Ali: 6.2 rounds (technical matches)
Significant Wins vs Top-10 Ranked Opponents
Mike Tyson: 19 (Holyfield, Frazier, Holmes) | Muhammad Ali: 25+ (Frazier 3x, Foreman, Norton 3x, Cleveland)
Mike Tyson: 16 years (1986-2002) | Muhammad Ali: 14 years (1964-1978)
Mike Tyson: 1 (defeated Lennox Lewis 2002) | Muhammad Ali: 4 (Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Spinks rematches)
Mike Tyson: #2 greatest heavyweight all-time | Muhammad Ali: #1 greatest heavyweight all-time
Mike Tyson: 58 wins | Muhammad Ali: 56 wins
Mike Tyson: 20 years, 4 months | Muhammad Ali: 22 years, 10 months
Mike Tyson: 3 reigns (WBA, WBC, IBF simultaneous 1987-1990) | Muhammad Ali: 3 reigns (1964-1974, 1975-1978, 1978-1979)
Mike Tyson: 5 years, 8 months | Muhammad Ali: 10+ years combined
Mike Tyson: 5.1 minutes average | Muhammad Ali: 6.8 minutes average
Mike Tyson: 44 consecutive wins (1986-1989) | Muhammad Ali: 29 consecutive wins (1964-1967)
Mike Tyson: 34 years (1985-2020, with gaps) | Muhammad Ali: 21 years (1964-1981, continuous)
Mike Tyson: 50 wins | Muhammad Ali: 56 wins
Mike Tyson: 6 losses | Muhammad Ali: 5 losses
Mike Tyson: 9 title defenses | Muhammad Ali: 37 title defenses
Mike Tyson: 20 years old (1987) | Muhammad Ali: 22 years old (1964)
Mike Tyson: 37 consecutive wins (1987-1989) | Muhammad Ali: 29 consecutive wins (1964-1967)
Mike Tyson: 8 years (1984-1992 at age 18-26) | Muhammad Ali: 20 years (1964-1981 at age 22-39)
Mike Tyson: 30 seconds (Michael Spinks, 1988) | Muhammad Ali: 45 seconds (Sonny Liston, 1965)
Mike Tyson: 20 years | Muhammad Ali: 29 years
Mike Tyson: 7 (Spinks, Holmes, Holyfield x3) | Muhammad Ali: 9 (Frazier x3, Foreman, Cleveland, etc.)
Mike Tyson: 83.3% (41 KOs in 50 wins) | Muhammad Ali: 58.9% (33 KOs in 56 wins)
Mike Tyson: 20 years 4 months | Muhammad Ali: 25 years (1964)
Mike Tyson: 7 years (1984-1991 before prison) | Muhammad Ali: 15+ years (1956-1971 undefeated, 20 total)
Mike Tyson: 1.3 rounds | Muhammad Ali: 4.2 rounds
Mike Tyson: 6 (Berbick, Holmes, Spinks, Holyfield x2, Botha) | Muhammad Ali: 10+ (Liston, Cleveland Williams, Frazier, Foreman, Norton x2, Spinks, Shavers, Holmes, others)
Mike Tyson: $400-500 million | Muhammad Ali: $60-80 million (≈$450-600M in 2026 inflation-adjusted dollars)
How to choose between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali
Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali. Contains 58 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali.
Who would win in a fight between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali?
This is boxing's most debated hypothetical. Most boxing historians favor Ali due to his reach, speed, and ring IQ. Ali's movement and jab would neutralize Tyson's signature peek-a-boo rush. However, if Tyson landed cleanly, he had sufficient power to end any fight.
Mike Tyson had significantly greater knockout power — 44 KOs in 50 fights, many in the first round. Ali's power (37 KOs in 61 fights) was more than adequate but not in Tyson's class for pure punching force.
At their primes, Ali had faster hands for his size, which experts say was his key advantage — his jab was released before opponents could react. Tyson was exceptionally fast for a puncher of his power, but Ali's hand speed was elite for a heavyweight.
What did Mike Tyson say about Muhammad Ali?
Tyson has repeatedly called Ali the greatest and has said Ali was the one fighter he was unsure he could have beaten. "Ali had everything — he was too fast, too good."
Muhammad Ali: 56-5 (37 KOs). Mike Tyson: 50-6 (44 KOs). Ali fought in a more competitive era of heavyweights (Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Liston). Tyson's era is considered slightly weaker at the top but his knockout ratio is superior.
How to Choose Between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali
Professional Win Rate: Mike Tyson has 50 wins from 58 fights (86.2%), while Muhammad Ali has 56 wins from 61 fights (91.8%).
Knockout Percentage: Mike Tyson has 44 KOs from 50 wins (88%), while Muhammad Ali has 37 KOs from 56 wins (66%).
Championship Belts Won: Mike Tyson has 3 major titles (WBC, WBA, IBF), while Muhammad Ali has 4 major titles across multiple reigns (WBC, WBA, WBO, Ring Magazine).
Consider: Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
Undisputed Heavyweight Champion: Mike Tyson has At age 20 (youngest ever, 1986), while Muhammad Ali has Never held all major belts simultaneously.
Years as Reigning Champion: Mike Tyson has Approximately 5.5 years (1986-1990, before prison and losses), while Muhammad Ali has Approximately 3+ years across multiple reigns.
Average Fight Duration: Mike Tyson has 3.8 rounds (dominant early-career dominance), while Muhammad Ali has 6.2 rounds (longer, technique-based fights).
Notable Comeback Success: Mike Tyson has Limited (returned 1995 with mixed results, defeated Lennox Lewis 2002), while Muhammad Ali has Highly successful (defeated Frazier, Foreman, Norton in comebacks).
Muhammad Ali won 56 of 61 fights (91.8% win rate) with superior boxing technique and footwork, while Mike Tyson won 50 of 58 fights (86.2% win rate) with devastating knockout power and aggressive peek-a-boo style, making Ali the more technically skilled fighter and Tyson the more physically dominant