Ron Lyle

Ronald David Lyle, who was born on February 12, 1941, in Dayton, Ohio, and died on November 26, 2011, was a respected American professional boxer. Lyle turned professional at a late age of 30 under Bill Daniels and won his first boxing match against A. J. Staples in Denver, Colorado. Lyle won his first 19 fights and became the 5th rated heavyweight contender. He had 43 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw, and 0 no-contests during his 24-year of professional boxing experience, which spanned from 1971 to 1995.

Lyle, who was known for his punching power, courage, and crowd-pleasing fighting style and had a height of 6 ft 3.5 in (192 cm), had an orthodox stance during a fight. His reach was 76 in (193 cm), which he utilized to his advantage throughout his career. He competed in the heavyweight weight class.

During his career, Lyle won 31 of his fights via knockout, which highlighted his immense punching power that could bring down any opponent he faced in the ring. However, he did not win any world title or made any title defense during his professional boxing career.

Lyle had his first world title fight in May 1975 against former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, challenging for the WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles at the age of 34. During the fight, Lyle used his aggressive fighting style to score points against Ali, who was conserving his energy and covering up in the center of the ring. Lyle won ten rounds, and Ali won two rounds before Ali ended the fight with an 11th-round TKO, where Lyle was unable to defend himself, and Ali was punching him in the head at will.

Some of Lyle's notable victories include winning against Earnie Shavers, George O'Mara, Horace Robinson, Al Neumann, Fili Moala, Kevin Isaac, and Dave Slaughter. His win against Shavers and Oscar Bonavena, who was ranked #2 by The Ring, showcases his immense punching power and ring skills.

Lyle's career, which spanned over two decades, was filled with several significant events that both showcased his fighting talent and made boxing fans realize his contributions to the sport. One of the most exciting and brutal boxing matches in the heavyweight category is the fight between Ron Lyle and George Foreman, which was held in 1976 in Las Vegas. Foreman was making a comeback after losing his first bout to Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle that took place in Zaire in 1974. Lyle, who took the offensive, won the opening round and even hit Foreman with a staggering body punch. However, Foreman recovered and scored a knockout in the fifth round. It is viewed as one of the most exhilarating boxing matches in the heavyweight history.

It is worth noting that Lyle won a split decision over Joe Bugner, who was a fearsome heavyweight from England, after boring in with a thudding body attack in an excellent competition.

Lyle's incredible career, which saw him take on some of the greatest boxers of his time, such as Ali, Shavers, and Foreman, came to an end in August 1995. His last professional fight, which was a non-title bout against Dave Slaughter at the age of 54, saw him win via 2nd round TKO.

Lyle's death in 2011 marked the loss of a great boxer and a person who had dedicated most of his life to professional boxing. He died at the age of 70 in Colorado from complications resulting from a sudden stomach ailment.

Ron Lyle may have not won any world titles or made any title defenses in his boxing career; however, his immense contribution to the sport was felt across the boxing industry. His punching power, ring skills, and courage made him a formidable opponent, and he took on some of the greatest boxers of his time. His boxing legacy and career remain a lasting inspiration for many young boxers aspiring to become successful in the sport.

Ron Lyle Fight Record