Former heavyweight contender Ron Lyle has passed away at the age of 70 due to complications from a sudden stomach ailment.
Lyle is best remembered for two fights. In 1975, he faced Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title and was ahead on the cards after ten rounds. In the 11th, however, Ali staggered Lyle with a straight right and followed up with a series of unanswered punches. The referee stopped the fight with Lyle taking punishment but still on his feet.
In the 1976 Fight of the Year, Lyle and George Foreman engaged in one of the greatest slugfests in boxing history. Both men hit the canvas twice with Foreman ultimately prevailing by fifth round KO.
At 19, Lyle was convicted of murder in a Denver gang fight. He learned to box - and survived a stabbing - while serving more than seven years in prison. Lyle turned pro at age 30 and compiled a career record of 43-7-1 (31 KOs) including wins over Buster Mathis, Oscar Bonavena, Jimmy Ellis, Earnie Shavers, Joe Bugner and Scott LeDoux, and losses to Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Young (twice) and Gerry Cooney.
Lyle returned to the ring in 1995 - after a nearly 15 year absence ... at the age of 54 - and reeled off four straight KO wins in hopes of luring Foreman into a rematch which never materialized.
In recent years, Lyle had supervised a Salvation Army boxing program for youngsters in Denver.
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