Ron Lyle

Ronald David Lyle (February 12, 1941 – November 26, 2011) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1971 to 1980, and in 1995. He challenged unsuccessfully once for the undisputed world heavyweight title, losing to Muhammad Ali in 1975. Lyle was known for his punching power, crowd-pleasing fighting style, as well as courage and determination inside the ring. He held notable wins over Buster Mathis, Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, Vicente Rondón, Earnie Shavers, Joe Bugner, and Scott LeDoux, but is best known for his slugfest against George Foreman in 1976, which won Fight of the Year honors by The Ring magazine.[2]

Ron Lyle
Lyle c. 1967
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 3.5 in (192 cm)
Reach76 in (193 cm)
NationalityAmerican
BornRonald David Lyle[1]
(1941-02-12)February 12, 1941
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
DiedNovember 26, 2011(2011-11-26) (aged 70)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins43
Wins by KO31
Losses7
Draws1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  United States
North American Championships
1970 Vancouver Heavyweight

Early life

Lyle was born the third of 19 children to William and Nellie Lyle of Dayton, Ohio. In 1954, they moved to Denver, Colorado as his father got a job as a sandblaster at Buckley Air Force Base. He grew up on the Northeast side of the city, a predominantly African American area, in public housing projects.

During his time in Denver, Lyle was known to have associated with violent gangs. At 19, after dropping out of Manual High School, Lyle was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 21-year-old gang rival Douglas Byrd. Lyle argued he was being attacked with a lead pipe and was not the one who pulled the trigger.[3]

He was convicted for second-degree murder and sentenced to 15-to-25 years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. In 1965, while in prison, Lyle nearly died on the operating table after being stabbed by an inmate, but Dr. Townsee didn't give up on him, Lyle underwent 36 blood transfusions and survived.[3] After he underwent the operation, he was put into solitary confinement for 90 days, and as he was alone and there was nothing to do while recovering from the wound, he began doing push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and other exercises, after that he was training on a regular basis.

While in prison, Lyle, then age 26, enlisted the African-American self-help group named Black Cultural Development Society (BCDS,) and coached the group's football team, The Wildcats, and led them to a championship among the inter-prison teams.[4] He also played with the Canon City Rockbusters.

He first attended a prison boxing event on July 4, 1962, as a spectator, though he noticed for himself he could compete as well. According to his own recollections, his prison boxing debut came in 1964. Lyle credited Lt. Cliff Mattax, the athletic director at the prison, with getting him interested in boxing.[5] Although when Mattax first approached Lyle, and tried to befriend him, he wasn't welcomed, "Man, you're a screw and I'm a convict. I came here by myself and I'll leave the same way." But after recovering from a stab-wound, he changed his mind. "It was the turning point of my life. Mattax was white, and he wore a badge, but he really cared. He believed in me and my ability. Right then I decided to be a success," Lyle said later. Mattax in turn said: "I don't like to take any credit for what happened, but Ron turned into a real gentleman."[6]

He watched boxing on TV and said, "I can do better than that," and soon the prison was bringing in boxers for him to fight.[6] "They had fight cards in prison. I sat around watching them for a while and finally said to myself, 'I can do that,'" Lyle said.[7] In his first match for the prison boxing team, Lyle was said to be defeated by Texas Johnson. He never lost a prison boxing match again, however. According to Colorado State' Warden Wayne K. Patterson, Lyle was a "natural born athlete."[4]

Amateur career

During the remainder of his sentence, he had around twenty-five unaccounted amateur fights, losing only once, and winning six heavyweight titles for inmates.[8][9] By 1969 Lyle was eligible for parole, but twice he was turned down. He was told that a professional boxing career was not a suitable parole plan. Fortunately, his fame had spread to Denver, where the Denver Rocks boxing team had just joined the short-lived International Boxing League. Bill Daniels, a cable television executive, president of American Basketball Association and owner of the Denver Rocks boxing team and the Utah Stars basketball team, offered Lyle an official job as a welder with a firm he owned, and on Sunday, November 9, 1969, Lyle was released from prison on parole. He was released after serving 7½ years. The next morning he showed up at the Rocks' Gym in Denver (later known as Elks Gym,) and was trying out with the Rocks. He made the team, and in the succeeding fifteen months, before turning pro, he won a number of tournaments.[6] He was paroled on November 22, 1969, and later he was given a full pardon by the Governor John Arthur Love.[10]

"I asked around about the Rocks. They told me they already had a heavyweight (Richard Archuletta and Dan Hermosillo). I figured I could whip him so I stuck around." They were trained by the well-known boxing veteran Bobby Lewis. Less than a month later, Lyle made his amateur debut with the team, avenged an earlier Rocks' heavyweight loss and became the team's heavyweight at 215 pounds. Lyle's first amateur victory was a third-round knockout over Fred Houpe (who would later be Leon Spinks's final opponent). He was the 1970 National AAU Heavyweight Champion (outpointed previously unbeaten Mike Montgomery of Philadelphia[11]), the 1970 North American Amateur Heavyweight Champion, and the 1970 International Boxing League Heavyweight Champion. After capturing the NAA title, Lyle became a member of the United States National Boxing Team,[12] as he was still on parole he was given permission to leave the U.S.,[13] and dispatched on a boxing journey across Europe, visiting Italy, Yugoslavia, and Romania and meeting top local heavyweights in the process.[14] He lost by decision to Romanian Ion Alexe, but pounded Soviet Armenian heavyweight Kamo Saroyan (89–9[15]) against the ropes (referee interrupted and saved Saroyan from further pounding[16]) in a match broadcast by ABC television's Wide World of Sports,[17] preparing for which he quit his regular job,[9] and dispatched of Duane Bobick, which took the latter's corner five minutes to bring him back into conscience. No American before Lyle knocked out a Soviet heavyweight. Fighting Bobick to make it to the national team, Lyle was behind on judges' scorecards, and when he fought Saroyan, he again was behind on points, which nonetheless didn't stop him from knocking out both. On January 25, 1971, Lyle fought his last fight as an amateur, knocking out the Pacific Northwest Golden Gloves heavyweight champion Jim Wahlberg. Meanwhile, two world's top-ranked heavyveights, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, were preparing themselves for the Fight of the Century. In February, Lyle visited both rival camps. First he went to Miami Beach, Florida, where the Ali's training camp was based, to spar several rounds with Ali. Then he went to Catskill, New York, to the Frazier's camp, but Yancey Durham, Frazier's manager, did not approve Lyle as a sparring partner, instead he went against one of already selected Frazier's sparring partners, a professional boxer from Chicago[18] (Frazier reportedly has invited Lyle for a two-round exhibition at Kiamesha Lake, New York, on January 19, but Lyle was busy qualifying to fight the Soviet.[19])

Highlights

His amateur career outside of prison lasted only 14 months, during which he compiled a record of 25–4[20] (no stoppages,) with 17 knockouts at national and international contests.[21][22] (plus unaccounted record of 23–1, 15 KOs, and also without a stoppage, while serving seven-and-a-half-years prison term,[8][9] bringing his overall amateur record to around 47–5.[23]) During his amateur days he was never knocked down or cut.[24] Lyle was an obvious choice for the 1971 Pan American Games and the 1972 Olympics, but as he stepped into the pro ranks, Duane Bobick, whom he knocked out twice, was set to represent the United States.[18]

On February 24, 1971, Lyle, age 29, signed a professional boxing contract with Bill Daniels. "Daniels told me ‘You fight this Russian in January and we'll turn you pro.’ This was the door that had to be opened, whuppin' the Russian. So I quit my job and trained for six months. I wasn't going to get beat because I wasn't in shape," Lyle recalled.[9] Daniels, in turn, said of Lyle that, "The reason Ron has adjusted is that he's got a talent, something he knows he's good at and can dedicate himself to."[25]

After he turned pro, Lyle visited his fellow inmates in prison the day before or after each and every his professional fight.

Professional career
Lyle punches a speed bag

Lyle had a very late start in professional boxing. He turned professional under Bill Daniels, with trainer Bobby Lewis. His first fight was at the age of 30 in Denver, Colorado, against A. J. Staples, which he won by knockout in the second round. Lyle went on to post a 19–0 record with 17 knockouts, and became the 5th rated heavyweight contender. He scored impressive knockouts over notables Vicente Rondon, a light heavyweight champion; hulking Buster Mathis; and won by unanimous decision over former WBA Heavyweight Champion, Jimmy Ellis.[26] After dispatching of Buster Mathis, Lyle stated that he is looking for a match-up versus current undisputed champion Joe Frazier, saying "When I'm ready. I'm not taking any shortcuts." Yancey Durham, Frazier's manager and an interested observer, did compliment Lyle on his punching power.[6] He was ranked #4 heavyweight in the world by WBA and the Ring Magazine.[24] Lyle's undefeated streak ended on a one-sided decision to veteran Jerry Quarry: the latter gave one of his career best performances using a boxer/puncher style to create openings first, gaining the initiative using his greater experience. Lyle then lost to Jimmy Young in 1975. In a later rematch, Young again edged Lyle and went on to outpoint George Foreman in 1977.

Lyle vs. Ali

On May 16, 1975 he was given an opportunity to face heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, during Ali's second title defense in his second reign as champion. Lyle had Bobby Lewis and Chico Ferrara in his corner. Lyle was the more aggressive fighter in the early rounds, with Ali conserving his energy and covering up in the center of the ring allowing Lyle to score. Lyle also showed restraint and did not respond to Ali's attempts at the rope-a-dope ploy. Though in danger of falling too far behind on points, Ali appeared to be in control of the pace of the fight, and picked his moments to score. The fight was close going into the 11th round, with Lyle winning on all three of the judges' score cards. Ali then hit Lyle with a strong right hand and followed with several flurrying punches, scoring. The referee stopped the fight, seeing that Lyle was unable to defend himself and Ali was punching him in the head at will. Lyle's corner was not happy with the referee's decision.[27][28]

Lyle vs. Foreman
"No one, beyond Sonny Liston, ever stood up to me. Everybody would have to run, hide, cover-up . . . no one stood up to me. But Ron Lyle decided, 'I ain't run.' And he hit me so hard it didn't even hurt. There I was on the canvas thinking, 'What excuse are you gonna have now?' I had to get up. But when I got up, he knocked me down again. He beat me so bad, after while he fainted . . . and I won the fight. That was most memorable fight, 'cause I kept thinking, 'Why am I here?'"

—George Foreman on his fight versus Lyle.[29]

Lyle is perhaps best known for a brawling fight in 1976 with Hall of Famer George Foreman. Foreman was making a comeback after suffering his first loss to Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle.

The fight is looked upon to this day as one of the most exciting and brutal in heavyweight history. Lyle took the offensive against the former champion and won the opening round. At one point he hit Foreman with a staggering body punch. After almost being knocked out in Round Two, Lyle amazed the crowd by flooring Foreman twice in the fourth round. Other than Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Young, Lyle was the only boxer to have ever knocked down George Foreman during a professional boxing match. Foreman later wrote in his autobiography, and told on several occasions, that Lyle was the toughest man he ever fought, and the hardest hitter he ever took up. The former champion recovered and scored a knockout in the fifth round. George later recalled about Ron that he won the fight due to Lyle's exhaustion.[29]

Lyle scored impressive victories over rated Jose Luis Garcia, and big names Oscar Bonavena and Earnie Shavers during his career.[30] He also won a split decision over Joe Bugner, boring in with a thudding body attack in a fine contest.

According to George Foreman, Ron Lyle was one of the three hardest punchers he had faced in his career along with Gerry Cooney and Cleveland Williams.[31]

Later career

The year 1979 marked a decline in Lyle's abilities. Draws with fringe contenders Stan Ward and Scott LeDoux were followed by a stunning one-punch loss to unheard-of Lynn Ball. Ball went on to match other names but never achieved similar success. The Ring magazine quoted Lyle as saying afterwards "No one does that to me."

He would return to the ring, however, but not for long. Ron retired again after a first-round knockout loss to then-rising star and undefeated power-hitting Gerry Cooney. By then, Lyle was 39 years old and his best years had gone.[32]

Comeback

In 1995, after George Foreman made his comeback into the ring to capture the world heavyweight title again, Lyle, at the age of 54, also decided on a brief comeback. After scoring four quick knockouts over second-rate opponents, Lyle tried to get a rematch with Foreman. The match was never made, however, and Lyle retired from boxing.[33]

Retirement

While Lyle was working as a security guard in Las Vegas, he was accused of another murder. He shot a man in his apartment who had spent time with him in the Colorado State Penitentiary (back in the 1970s he already brought along with him three fellow former convicts from the Colorado State Pen.) Lyle claimed self-defense and was found not guilty.[34] A biography titled Off the Ropes: the Ron Lyle Story was written by Candace Toft and released by Scratching Shed Publishing in May 2010.[35]

Lyle ran the boxing gym Denver Red Shield in Denver, Colorado.[36] He was the former trainer of light welterweight contender Victor Ortíz, who fought out of Denver during some of his amateur career.[37]

In 1992 Lyle trained a young promising talent from Las Vegas, Arash Hashemi,[38] and under his mentorship Hashemi won two Golden Gloves championships.

Death
"Nobody ever hit me that hard. No question about it. I'll remember that punch on my deathbed. Ron Lyle was a great puncher. Tremendous puncher, great guy, good-hearted guy. We became very good friends over the years."

—Earnie Shavers.[39]

Lyle died at the age of 70, on Saturday November 26, 2011 from complications from a sudden stomach ailment.[40] "We're gonna miss Ron. He was a friend", Earnie Shavers said. "He was the strongest man I have ever known, inside-and-out. When he gave advice, it was solid. He will never know how much I loved him. I will greatly miss him now that he is gone. I will never have a close friend like him again", states Lisa Dawn Sheridan.

Ron Lyle appeared in the film Facing Ali,[41] a 2009 documentary, where he discusses his life and career. About his fight against Ali, when referee Fredy Nunez stopped the fight, he said "I couldn't believe it, you know. I'm ahead on all scorecards. [...] Am I bitter? Forget about it. I never took it personal. If there don't be no Ali, you think you'd be sitting here talking to Ron Lyle? About what?"[42]

During this documentary he revealed that, during his stint in prison, where he received one meal a day consisting of a bowl of spinach, he passed time by doing up to 1,000 push-ups in an hour each day.

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
51 fights 43 wins 7 losses
By knockout 31 4
By decision 12 3
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
51 Win 43–7–1 Dave Slaughter TKO 2 (10) Aug 18, 1995 Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
50 Win 42–7–1 Ed Strickland KO 2 Jun 9, 1995 Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S.
49 Win 41–7–1 Tim Pollard TKO 2 May 12, 1995 Peel's Palace, Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S.
48 Win 40–7–1 Bruce Johnson KO 4 (10) Apr 7, 1995 Peels Palace, Erlanger, Kentucky, U.S.
47 Loss 39–7–1 Gerry Cooney KO 1 (10), 2:49 Oct 24, 1980 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Hempstead, New York, U.S.
46 Win 39–6–1 George O'Mara KO 10 (10), 0:37 Aug 23, 1980 Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
45 Win 38–6–1 Al Neumann TKO 10 (10) Jun 19, 1980 University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
44 Loss 37–6–1 Lynn Ball TKO 2 (10), 2:55 Dec 12, 1979 Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
43 Win 37–5–1 Scott LeDoux SD 10 May 12, 1979 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
42 Win 36–5–1 Fili Moala TKO 8 (10), 1:51 Apr 6, 1979 San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California, U.S.
41 Win 35–5–1 Horace Robinson RTD 8 (10), 0:01 Jun 3, 1978 Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
40 Win 34–5–1 Stan Ward MD 10 Sep 14, 1977 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
39 Win 33–5–1 Joe Bugner SD 12 Mar 20, 1977 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
38 Loss 32–5–1 Jimmy Young UD 12 Nov 6, 1976 Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
37 Win 32–4–1 Kevin Isaac TKO 7 (10), 1:14 Sep 11, 1976 Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York, U.S.
36 Loss 31–4–1 George Foreman KO 5 (12), 2:28 Jan 24, 1976 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. For vacant NABF heavyweight title
35 Win 31–3–1 Earnie Shavers TKO 6 (12), 0:47 Sep 13, 1975 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
34 Loss 30–3–1 Muhammad Ali TKO 11 (15), 1:08 May 16, 1975 Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. For WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles
33 Loss 30–2–1 Jimmy Young UD 10 Feb 11, 1975 International Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
32 Win 30–1–1 Al Jones TKO 5 (10), 1:43 Dec 13, 1974 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
31 Win 29–1–1 Boone Kirkman TKO 8 (10), 2:02 Sep 17, 1974 Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
30 Win 28–1–1 Jimmy Ellis UD 12 Jul 16, 1974 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
29 Win 27–1–1 Oscar Bonavena UD 12 Mar 19, 1974 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
28 Draw 26–1–1 Gregorio Peralta PTS 10 Nov 17, 1973 Frankfurt, West Germany
27 Win 26–1 Larry Middleton UD 10 Oct 31, 1973 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
26 Win 25–1 Jürgen Blin TKO 2 (10), 1:01 Oct 4, 1973 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
25 Win 24–1 Jose Luis Garcia KO 3 (10), 1:01 Oct 4, 1973 Denver, Colorado, U.S.
24 Win 23–1 Lou Bailey UD 10 Jul 3, 1973 State Fairgrounds International Building, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
23 Win 22–1 Wendell Newton SD 10 Jun 11, 1973 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
22 Win 21–1 Gregorio Peralta UD 10 May 12, 1973 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
21 Win 20–1 Bob Stallings UD 10 Apr 14, 1973 Harry Adams Field House, Missoula, Montana, U.S.
20 Loss 19–1 Jerry Quarry UD 12 Feb 9, 1973 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Larry Middleton KO 3 (10), 2:34 Dec 9, 1972 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Luis Faustino Pires KO 3 (10), 2:55 Oct 28, 1972 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Buster Mathis KO 2 (10), 2:58 Sep 29, 1972 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Vicente Rondón TKO 2 (10), 1:41 Jul 11, 1972 Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Mike Boswell TKO 7 (10) May 25, 1972 Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Mel Turnbow TKO 4 (10), 2:59 May 10, 1972 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 George Johnson KO 3 (10), 0:31 Mar 25, 1972 Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Chuck Leslie TKO 2 (10), 1:47 Jan 22, 1972 Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Bill Drover KO 2 (10), 0:45 Dec 18, 1971 Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jack O'Halloran KO 4 (10), 2:15 Nov 26, 1971 Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Joe E Lewis KO 3 (10) Nov 10, 1971 Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Manuel Ramos UD 10 Oct 9, 1971 Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Eddie Land TKO 7 (10) Sep 1, 1971 Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Frank Niblett KO 9 (10) Aug 11, 1971 Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Leroy Caldwell UD 5 Jul 24, 1971 Playboy Club, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Edmund Stewart TKO 2 (6) Jul 16, 1971 Sunnyside Garden Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Gary Bates KO 3 (4), 2:20 Jun 19, 1971 Sahara Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Art Miller KO 5 (6) May 22, 1971 Matthews Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 A J Staples TKO 2 (6) Apr 23, 1971 Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
gollark: Well, that might be nice, but my main concern is it not being boring.
gollark: I only listen to music with guitars and screaming. Other "music" is not real.
gollark: Yes.
gollark: "Creation of Earth (Sun)" is also boring.
gollark: Well, I listened to the first 10 seconds, and it's really boring.

References
  1. Golden Glove Tournament, Orem-Geneva Times, July 16, 1970, p. 8.
  2. "Big Georges Redemption Foreman Recalls Lyle War..." March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  3. Groke, Nick (November 27, 2011). "Denver's Ron Lyle, heavyweight boxer, dies at age 70". Denver Post.
  4. Black and Proud Behind Bars by Donald Bogle, (August 1969,) Ebony, vol. 24, no. 10, p. 70.
  5. "Ron Lyle". BoxRec. March 12, 2019.
  6. Levin, Dan. Before the shower, deluge, Sports Illustrated, October 9, 1972, vol. 37, no. 15, p. 88.
  7. New Heavyweight KO's Past (AP,) The Sunday Oklahoman, February 28, 1971, sec. A.
  8. Ronnie Lyle Made Big Comeback; Not in Ring, but in Life by David Lamb, Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, June 19, 1970, 4-D.
  9. Denver Boxer Lyle Readies for Professional Debut, Colorado Springs Gazette, February 28, 1971, 6-E.
  10. Bromberg, Lester. Ron Lyle: Denver's Heavyweight Hope, Black Sports, April 1973, v. 2, no. 10, pp. 20-23.
  11. Denver Boxer Wins AAU Title by Ira Berkow (NEA Sports Editor,) Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, May 4, 1970, 5-B.
  12. Denver Rocks Lyle to Box on US Ring Team (UPI,) by James Meade, Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, May 14, 1970, p. 35.
  13. U.S. Team Will Meet Boxers Of Three Nations (UPI,) The Cumberland News, June 23, 1970, p. 11.
  14. AAU Boxers Off to Rome
  15. Ali Invites Russian To Go 2 Rounds (UPI,) Kingsport News, January 7, 1971, 7-C.
  16. Lyle Wins But Russ KO Boxers by Ron Bontrager, Colorado Springs Gazette, January 24, 1971, 3-D.
  17. "RUSSELL: Former local tackles bio of boxing great Lyle". archive.is. September 3, 2012. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  18. Ali, Frazier, . . . and Lyle? (Special Report) by Paul Loewenwarter, 60 minutes, March 1971, vol. 3, no. 12.
  19. Boxing, Tampa Bay Times, January 15, 1971, p. 37.
  20. Or 29–4 according to some accounts: See Heavyweight Boxing in the 1970s: The Great Fighters and Rivalries by Joe Ryan, McFarland, 2013, p. 132.
  21. Ex-convict signs pro boxing pact The Morning News from Wilmington, February 25, 1971, p. 44.
  22. "Ron Lyle - KO Corner". www.kocorner.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  23. Eliminallon Bouts Begin Tonight for U.S.-Russ Meet by Morris Fraser, Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph, January 15, 1971, 3-C.
  24. Former Prisoner Is No. 4 Among Heavyweight Boxers, Jet, February 8, 1973, vol. 43, no. 20, p. 56.
  25. For now the answer is not in the Stars, vol. 35, no. 12, p. 77.
  26. "Most Popular". CNN. October 9, 1972.
  27. http://video.google.com/videoplaydocid=3996128832928221414#
  28. "RON LYLE: "ALI JUST TRANSCENDED THE SPORT AND I DON'T EVER THINK WE COULD REPAY HIM"-- FIGHTHYPE.COM". www.fighthype.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  29. George Foreman | Full Address and Q&A (13 July 2016), Oxford Union.
  30. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 10, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. Lyle Hill. "George Foreman On Tyson & Hardest Punchers". Retrieved December 10, 2018 – via YouTube.
  32. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 12, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  33. Eastham, Cliff. "Down Memory Lane: George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  34. Henderson, John (June 7, 2009). "Ex-boxer Ron Lyle muscling up on life". Denver Post.
  35. Amazon.com: Off the Ropes: the Ron Lyle Story (9780956252623): Candace Toft: Books
  36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. Pugmire, Lance (November 8, 2007). "He's his own man". Los Angeles Times.
  38. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved April 27, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. In This Corner Presents Earnie Shavers
  40. Groke, Nick (November 27, 2011) Ron Lyle, heavyweight boxer, dies at age 70 The Denver Post
  41. "Facing Ali". Retrieved December 10, 2018 – via www.imdb.com.
  42. "HugeDomains.com - BoxingMemories.com is for sale (Boxing Memories)". www.hugedomains.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
Earnie Shavers		 U.S. heavyweight champion
1970		 Next:
Duane Bobick
Awards
Previous:
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III		 The Ring Fight of the Year
vs. George Foreman
1976		 Next:
George Foreman vs. Jimmy Young
Previous:
Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III
Round 12		 The Ring Round of the Year
Rounds 4, 5 vs. George Foreman
1976		 Next:
Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
Round 15
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