In today's heavyweight division could Ron Lyle win a title

[drunkenpiper36]

If that becomes the question(absolutely any title), then of course the answer is yes. As it would be for almost anyone.

I mean pretty much anyone has the pan-pacific latino or what have you title at one point or another.

For what it's worth, I think your point about Foreman was a good one, in regard to a "world" title. Even without the NABF part, it shows something about Lyle in regards to his potential level on any given night.

He was a serious fighter to be sure. He beat Earnie Shavers and Buster Mathis pretty emphatically and gave a terrific account of himself against George Foreman in one of the most memorable heavyweight fights of all time. He always showed up in great physical shape as well.. Even in 1980 when he was 40 years old and fighting Gerry Cooney, he looked more fit than a great deal of today's heavys. I don't doubt Lyle's punching ability, but at the same time I don't think he was always the best finisher either. A lot of his better opponents ( save for Shavers and Mathis ) took him to the cards and even some of his lesser foes did as well. He had rugged trial horse Lou Bailey down 7 times but couldn't finish him and had to settle for a 10 round decision. Bailey was at the end of a very long losing streak and retired having been stopped 11 times. We saw similar examples throughout Ron's his career. Again not questioning how hard he ACTUALLY hit, only his ability to put a guy away when needing to force the issue. He was a reasonably good sized heavy for his day at 6'3" and lingering between 215-220 lbs on an average evening. Today however, this only qualifies as being about average if even that much. He was badly hurt against Shavers, but toughed it out long enough for Shavers to gas in the 6th round. Foreman was nearly handed his second career loss on the night he fought Ron. But coming off a 15 month layoff, a devastating loss, and weighing what was THEN a career high weight for him, one might think that things would have been less dramatic had Foreman fought Lyle on the night that he beat Joe Frazier. Still a great career with lots of fun moments to watch and certainly admirable for a man who turned pro at age 30 and peaked around 35. I myself can see him beating most of today's top 10 when at his pinnacle point. I won't guarantee a genuine world title win though, and nor am I even sold that he clears out ALL of today's contenders. The presence of Ron Lyle would have made for some entertaining wars with such men as Tony Thompson, Bermaine Stiverne, Chris Arreola and Deontay Wilder - most or all of whom he might have beaten. But for stylistic reasons and other small issues I don't seem being "the champ."

[Tomasino]

Tony Thompson, in a war with Ron Lyle

[Tuan_Jim]

Lyle seemed to be a thinking fighter for the most part. Other than the Foreman and Bugner fights where I feel he spied weakness he often seemed to be thinking about his boxing. Seldom did he try pulverise a guy in the way that Shavers did at every second of every round. When hurt of dragged into a fight, i.e. against the Acorn, he came alive and looked lethal. When he let his hands go the results were frightening. His one-punch KO of the utterly enormous, and very tough, Jack O'Halloran is a sight to behold.

I would hate to be a modern, gutbucket or overmuscled heavyweight, gasping for breath halfway through the fight, dragging myself off the stool and seeing Ron Lyle limbering up across from me, ready to go another round. He would have a lot of KOs against these less mobile 'modern' Overweights.

To quote the great A.J. Liebling, 'beer pounds are no weight advantage in boxing'.

[drunkenpiper36]

Tony Thompson, in a war with Ron Lyle

You're right for laughing. Looking at how easily Lyle dispatched the ever so aggressive and impressive Joe Bugner and Gregorio Peralta, Tony Thompson would have done well to remain in the dressing room.

[Crease]

It depends on how held the four titles. But seeing as Wladimir holds three of them... I'd say NO at the moment.

[drunkenpiper36]

Just rethinking some things.

I believe that every good fighter to some degree benefits from the era that he lives and fights in, which subsequently contributes to his success. This has nothing to do with how strong or weak the period is, so much as it pertains to what types of fights, styles and circumstances each man is subjected to in that environment. When Lyle fought hard punching aggressive men like Foreman and Shavers, he looked very good, beating Earnie whom he outlasted and giving a great account of himself in a losing effort to Foreman. But when placed against Joe Bugner, Jimmy Young and Gregorio Peralta in slow paced - low action bouts against men who applied their survival tactics, he either lost, drew or barely won in most unimpressive fashion. For as good as Lyle was, he'd likely be subjected to the latter of the two scenarios and hence in many more fights like that had he fought in today's heavyweight division, possibly resulting in less success than in his actual career.