Flashback: Muhammad Ali vs. Ron Lyle in Las Vegas

On May 16, 1975, at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, Muhammad Ali and Ron Lyle met for the WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles. Ali came into the fight with a 46-2 pro record, while Lyle had a respectable 30-2-1 record. The bout was aired in the United States via ABC, with “The Greatest” coming in at his heaviest career weight of 224.5 pounds. It wasn’t vintage Ali, but he showed glimpses of why he was called “The Greatest,” winning by eleventh-round TKO.

Muhammad Ali Defeats Ron Lyle by Eleventh Round TKO

Muhammad Ali vs. Ron Lyle Recap

Ali had promised entertainment during this fight but wasn’t throwing a lot and seemed content to absorb Lyle’s punches. The Ohio native found his range early on and bloodied the nose of Ali, with “The Greatest” only throwing a sporadic jab. Ali displayed the Ali shuffle at the mid-way point of the fight, much to the delight of the Vegas crowd.

Despite Ali’s attempt to increase his output, he appeared flat, and Lyle kept finding a home for his right hand. For the next two rounds, Lyle was outworking Ali, who seemed content to take the punches from his opponent.

The eleventh round saw “The People’s Champion” land a heavy right hand, which sent Lyle stumbling back into the ropes, and Ali pounced. “The Greatest” unloaded with vicious, accurate combinations, which hurt Lyle and saw the referee step in and end the fight, ensuring Ali retained his titles. Lyle was ahead at the time of the stoppage, but Ali showed, at 33, that he still could finish fights in style.

What Happened Next?

Following the win over Lyle, Ali went on to win his next eight bouts before losing to Leon Spinks by split decision. “The People’s Champion” avenged that defeat seven months later, defeating Spinks by unanimous decision. The wonderful career of Ali ended with a defeat to Trevor Berbick on December 11, 1981. Despite the loss, Ali’s legacy as a boxing legend remained secure.