View source for Ron Lyle

{{Short description|American boxer (1941–2011)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2011}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Ron Lyle
| image = Ron Lyle boxer2.png{{!}}border
| caption = Lyle {{abbr|c.|circa}} 1967
| weight = [[Heavyweight]]
| height = 6 ft 3 in<ref>{{cite web | url=https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/226 | title=BoxRec: Login }}</ref>
| reach = 76 in
| nationality = American
| birth_name = Ronald David Lyle<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/286875811/ |title= Golden Glove Tournament| work= [[Orem-Geneva Times]]| date= July 16, 1970| first= | last= | agency= | page= 8| via= Newspapers.com| access-date= }}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|1941|2|12}}
| birth_place = [[Dayton, Ohio]], US
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|11|26|1941|2|12}}
| death_place = [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], US
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| total = 51
| wins = 43
| losses = 7
| draws = 1
| KO = 31
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[amateur boxing]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|North American Championships}}
{{MedalGold| 1970 Vancouver | Heavyweight}}
}}

'''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 for the world [[heavyweight]] championship, losing to [[Muhammad Ali]] in 1975. Known for his punching power, crowd-pleasing fighting style, and his courage and determination in the ring, Lyle defeated [[Buster Mathis]], [[Oscar Bonavena]], [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]], [[Vicente Rondón]], [[Earnie Shavers]], [[Joe Bugner]], [[Gregorio Peralta]] and [[Scott LeDoux]], but is best known for his fight against [[George Foreman]] in 1976, which was voted [[The Ring magazine Fight of the Year|Fight of the Year]] by [[The Ring (magazine)|''The Ring'' magazine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ringtv.com/481624-big-georges-redemption-foreman-recalls-lyle-war/l |title=Big Georges Redemption Foreman Recalls Lyle War... |date=March 1, 2016 |accessdate=March 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Early life, family and education==
Lyle was born the third of 19 children<ref name= past /> to William and Nellie Lyle of [[Dayton, Ohio]]. In 1954, they moved to [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], where his father (a part-time minister<ref name= repay />) had a job as a [[sandblasting|sandblaster]] at [[Buckley Air Force Base]]. Nellie had been a [[missionary]].<ref name= repay /> The family resided in [[housing projects]] on Denver's northeast side. 

Lyle associated with [[street gang]]s in his [[Whittier, Denver, Colorado|Whittier]] neighborhood.<ref name= repay>{{cite web| url= http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content6993.html |title= Ron Lyle: 'Ali Just Transcended the Sport and I Don't Ever Think We Could Repay Him' |website= fighthype.com| accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref> He dropped out of [[Manual High School (Denver)|Manual High School]] at age 17 after the school basketball coach told him he would not be on the team.<ref name= past>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/452043250/| title= New Heavyweight KO's Past| agency= Associated Press| work= [[The Sunday Oklahoman]]| date= February 28, 1971| page= A19 | access-date= March 14, 2025| url-access= subscription | via= Newspapers.com}}</ref> 

==Prison and introduction to boxing==
At age 19, he  was involved in the shooting death of a 21-year-old gang rival. Lyle argued he was being attacked with a lead pipe and was not the one who pulled the trigger, but he was convicted of second-degree murder<ref name="auto">{{cite news |url= http://www.denverpost.com/ci_19419186 |work= [[The Denver Post]] |first=Nick |last=Groke |title=Denver's Ron Lyle, heavyweight boxer, dies at age 70 |date=November 27, 2011}}</ref> and sentenced to 15 to 25 years in the [[Colorado State Penitentiary]]. He nearly died on an operating table there after being stabbed by another inmate, but survived after 36 blood transfusions.<ref name="auto" /> In solitary confinement for 90 days afterward, he began doing push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and other exercises, and he trained regularly from then on.

While in prison, Lyle, then age 26 and known as Ronnie, enlisted the African-American [[Support group|self-help group]] Black Cultural Development Society (BCDS) and coached the prison's football team, The Wildcats, leading them to a championship among the inter-prison teams.<ref name="Bogle">{{cite news| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=AtsDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA70| title= Black and Proud Behind Bars| first= Donald |last= Bogle| date= 1969| work= [[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]| volume= 24| number= 10| page= 70| publisher= | via= Google Books| access-date= }}</ref> He also played baseball<ref name= repay /> and basketball on the prison's teams, the Cañon City Rockbusters.<ref name="Levin">{{cite magazine| last= Levin| first= Dan| url= https://archive.org/details/Sports-Illustrated-1972-10-09/page/n91| title= Before the shower, deluge| magazine= [[Sports Illustrated]]| date= October 9, 1972| volume= 37| number= 15| page= 88| publisher= | access-date= | via= archive.org}}</ref>

He first attended a prison boxing event on July 4, 1962, as a spectator, where he decided he could compete as well. His prison boxing debut came in 1964. Lyle credited Lt. Cliff Mattax, the prison's [[athletic director]] for developing his interest in boxing.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |url= http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ron_Lyle |work= BoxRec.com |title=Ron Lyle |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> When Mattax first approached Lyle and tried to befriend him, he wasn't welcomed, "Man, you're a [[prison guard|screw]] and I'm a convict. I came here by myself and I'll leave the same way." After recovering from the 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."<ref name="Levin" />

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.<ref name="Levin" /> "They had [[fight card]]s in prison. I sat around watching them for a while and finally said to myself, 'I can do that,'" Lyle said.<ref name= past /> In his first match for the prison boxing team, Lyle was said to have been defeated by Texas Johnson. He never lost a prison boxing match again.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} According to Colorado State's Warden Wayne K. Patterson, Lyle was a "natural born athlete."<ref name="Bogle" />

==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.<ref name="Lamb">{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/65774540/ | title= Ronnie Lyle Made Big Comeback; Not in Ring, but in Life |first= David |last= Lamb| work= Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph| date= June 19, 1970| page= 4-D| publisher= | via= Newspapers.com| access-date= }}</ref><ref name="ColoradoSprings">{{cite news| url= https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-feb-28-1971-p-132/ |title= Denver Boxer Lyle Readies for Professional Debut| work= Colorado Springs Gazette| date= February 28, 1971| page= 6-E | publisher= | via= NewspaperArchive.com| access-date= }}</ref> By 1969 Lyle was eligible for [[parole (law)|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 November 9, 1969, Lyle was released from prison on parole. He was released on parole on November 22, 1969, after serving 7½ years. The next morning, he arrived at the Rocks' Gym in Denver (later known as Elks Gym) to try out with the Rocks. He made the team, and in the succeeding fifteen months, before turning pro, he won a number of tournaments.<ref name="Levin" />  He was later given a [[pardon (law)#United States|full pardon]] by the Governor [[John Arthur Love]].<ref>{{cite magazine| last= Bromberg| first= Lester| title= Ron Lyle: Denver's Heavyweight Hope| magazine= [[Black Sports]]| date= April 1973| volume= 2| number= 10| pages= 20–23| publisher= }}</ref>

"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 [[United States national amateur boxing championships|National AAU Heavyweight Champion]] (outpointed previously unbeaten Mike Montgomery of Philadelphia<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/67101050/ |title= Denver Boxer Wins AAU Title| first= Ira| last= Berkow | work= [[Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph]]| date= May 4, 1970| page= 5-B| via= Newspapers.com| accessdate= }}</ref>), 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,<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/67109067/ |title= Denver Rocks Lyle to Box on US Ring Team| first= James| last= Meade | work= Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph| agency= UPI| date= May 14, 1970| page= 35| via= Newspapers.com| accessdate= }}</ref> as he was still on parole he was given permission to leave the US,<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/18679642/  |title= U.S. Team Will Meet Boxers Of Three Nations | first= James| last= Meade | work= [[The Cumberland News]] | agency= UPI| date= June 23, 1970| page= 11| via= Newspapers.com| accessdate= }}</ref> and dispatched on a boxing journey across Europe, visiting [[Italy]], [[Yugoslavia]], and [[Romania]] and meeting top local heavyweights in the process.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/464554587/ |work= [[New York Daily News]] | first= | last=  | title= AAU Boxers Off to Rome| agency= | date= June 23, 1970 | page= | via= Newspapers.com| accessdate= March 14, 2025}}</ref> He lost by decision to Romanian [[Ion Alexe]], but pounded [[Soviet Armenia]]n heavyweight Kamo Saroyan (89–9<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/68708470/  |title= Ali Invites Russian To Go 2 Rounds| first= | last=  | work= [[Kingsport News]] | agency= UPI| date= January 7, 1971| page= 7-C| via= Newspapers.com| accessdate= }}</ref>) against the ropes (referee interrupted and saved Saroyan from further pounding<ref>{{cite news| url= https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-jan-24-1971-p-89/ |title= Lyle Wins But Russ KO Boxers| first= Ron | last= Bontrager | work= Colorado Springs Gazette| agency= UPI| date= January 24, 1971| page= 3-D| via= NewspaperArchive.com| accessdate= }}</ref>) in a match broadcast by ABC television's [[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nctimes.com/mobile/article_6c9ec922-1960-5705-ab21-08dad6a1aaf2.html |archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120903153142/http://www.nctimes.com/mobile/article_6c9ec922-1960-5705-ab21-08dad6a1aaf2.html |url-status=dead |title= RUSSELL: Former local tackles bio of boxing great Lyle |date=September 3, 2012|archivedate=September 3, 2012| website= nctimes.com |accessdate=March 30, 2020}}</ref> preparing for which he quit his regular job<ref name="ColoradoSprings" /> and dispatched of [[Duane Bobick]], which took the latter's corner five minutes to bring him back into consciousness. 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 heavyweights, [[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 Frazier's previously selected sparring partners, a professional boxer from Chicago<ref name="sixty">{{cite episode | url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf73bQFMNGM |title= Ali, Frazier, . . . and Lyle?| first= Paul |last= Loewenwarter| series= [[60 Minutes]]| publisher= | date= March 1971| volume= 3| number= 12| via= YouTube| accessdate= }}</ref> (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.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://tbo.newspapers.com/newspage/317064473/ |title= Boxing| work= [[Tampa Bay Times]]| date= January 15, 1971| page= 37| publisher= | agency= | via= Newspapers.com| access-date= }}</ref>)

===Highlights===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
IBL Denver–Chicago match-up (Denver Rocks vs. Chicago Clippers), [[Denver Auditorium Arena|Auditorium Arena]], Denver, Colorado, December 1969:
*Defeated Fred Houpe KO 3
IBL Eastern–Western Division match-up (Kentucky Pacers vs. Denver Rocks), [[Memorial Auditorium (Louisville, Kentucky)|Memorial Auditorium]], [[Louisville, Kentucky]], January 1970:
*Lost to Tommy Garrett by split decision 1–2
IBL Denver–Milwaukee match-up (Denver Rocks vs. Milwaukee Bombers), Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, January 1970:
*Defeated James Sherard KO 2 {{small|(Lyle was voted Outstanding Fighter of the match)}}
{{gold1}} Denver Golden Gloves, 1970:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} Colorado State Golden Gloves, February 1970:
*(no data available)
{{gold1}} Regional Golden Gloves, [[Salt Palace (arena)|Salt Palace]], [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], February 1970:
*1/2: Defeated Charles Schoolmeyer KO 1
*Finals: Defeated Charles Banks KO 1
[[National Golden Gloves]], Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 1970:
*1/16: Defeated Lerdy Sargent KO 1
*1/8: Defeated Alan Kit Boursse TKO 3 {{small|(0:59)}}
*1/4: Defeated [[Nick Wells]] by decision
*1/2: Lost to [[Bill Thompson (American boxer)|William Thompson]] by decision
IBL Detroit–Denver (Detroit Dukes vs. Denver Rocks), Community Arts Building, [[Michigan State Fairgrounds|State Fairgrounds]], [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], April 1970:
*Lost to Bill Hurt by decision
IBL Denver–Miami match-up (Denver Rocks vs. Miami Barracudas), Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, April 1970:
*Defeated ?
{{gold1}} [[United States National Boxing Championships|National Championships]], [[Trenton, New Jersey]], April–May 1970:
*1/2: Defeated [[Duane Bobick]] KO 2
*Finals: Defeated Mike Montgomery by decision {{small|(Montgomery knocked down in the 2nd rd)}}
{{col-2}}
IBL Denver–Milwaukee match-up (Denver Rocks vs. Milwaukee Bombers), 1970:
*Defeated Larry Penigar by split decision 2–1
{{gold1}} North American Championships, [[Vancouver, Canada]], June 1970:
*Finals: Defeated [[Jack Meda]] (Canada) by decision
IBL Denver–Louisville match-up (Denver Rocks vs. Kentucky Pacers), Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, June 1970:
*Defeated Tommy Garrett
{{gold1}} IBL Championships (Denver Rocks vs. Kentucky Pacers), Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, June 1970:
*Defeated Billy Freeman by split decision 3–2
Italy–USA Duals (Rocky Marciano Trophy), [[Palazzo dello Sport (Rome)|Palazzo dello Sport]], [[Rome]], [[Italy]], June 1970:
*Defeated Amedeo Laureti (Italy) KO 1 {{small|(2:21)}}
Yugoslavia–USA Duals, [[Belgrade, Yugoslavia]], July 1970:
*Defeated Anton Vukušić (Yugoslavia)
Romania–USA Duals, [[Bucharest, Romania]], July 1970:
*Lost to [[Ion Alexe]] (Romania) by decision
{{gold1}} Rocky Mountain Golden Gloves, [[Derks Field]], [[Salt Lake City, Utah]], July 1970:
*(no data available)
IBL Denver–Mexico Exhibition (Denver Rocks vs. all-star Mexican team), [[Colorado State Fair|State Fair Grounds]], [[Pueblo, Colorado]], August 1970:
*Defeated Pete Chiano (San Antonio, Texas) TKO 1 {{small|(1:49)}}
*Defeated Pedro Vega (Mexico)
National Team Selection Eliminator, [[Fort Carson, Colorado]], January 1971:
*Finals: Defeated [[Duane Bobick]] KO 2 {{small|(0:30)}}
USA–USSR Duals, [[Caesars Palace]], [[Las Vegas, Nevada]], January 1971:
*Defeated Kamo Saroyan (Soviet Union) TKO 2<!-- officially a TKO-win --> {{small|(0:30)}}
IBL Denver–Seattle match-up (Denver Rocks vs. the Pacific Northwest team), Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, January 1971:
*Defeated Jim Wahlberg KO
{{col-end}}
His amateur career outside of prison lasted only 14 months, during which he compiled a record of 25–4<ref>Or 29–4, according to some accounts. See {{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xY4I-7T4Q5gC&pg=PA132 |title= Heavyweight Boxing in the 1970s: The Great Fighters and Rivalries| first= Joe| last= Ryan| publisher= McFarland| year= 2013| page= 132|isbn= 978-0-7864-9249-7| via= Google Books| access-date= }}</ref> (no stoppages,) with 17 knockouts at national and international contests.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/156131639/ |title= Ex-convict signs pro boxing pact| work= The Morning News from Wilmington| date= February 25, 1971 |page= 44| publisher= | via= Newspapers.com| access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.kocorner.com/boxing/entry/ron-lyle/|title=Ron Lyle |website= kocorner.com|accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref> (plus unaccounted record of 23–1, 15 KOs, and also without a stoppage, while serving seven-and-a-half-years prison term,<ref name="Lamb" /><ref name="ColoradoSprings" /> bringing his overall amateur record to around 47–5.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/61028522/ |title= Eliminallon Bouts Begin Tonight for U.S.-Russ Meet| first= Morris| last= Fraser| work= Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph| date= January 15, 1971| page= 3-C | publisher= | via= Newspapers.com| access-date= }}</ref>) During his amateur days he was never knocked down or cut.<ref name="Jet">{{cite magazine| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0bEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 |title= Former Prisoner Is No. 4 Among Heavyweight Boxers| magazine= [[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]| date= February 8, 1973| volume= 43| number= 20| page= 56| publisher= | via= Google Books| access-date= }}</ref> Lyle was an obvious choice for the [[Boxing at the 1971 Pan American Games|1971 Pan American Games]] and the [[Boxing at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Heavyweight|1972 Olympics]], but as he stepped into the pro ranks, [[Duane Bobick]], whom he knocked out twice, was set to represent the United States.<ref name="sixty" />

On February 24, 1971, Lyle, age 30, 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.<ref name="ColoradoSprings" /> 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."<ref>{{cite magazine| url= https://archive.org/details/Sports-Illustrated-1971-09-20/page/n85| title= For now the answer is not in the stars| first= | last= | date= September 20, 1971 |magazine= Sports Illustrated| volume= 35| number= 12| page= 77| via= archive.org| access-date= March 14, 2025}}</ref>

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

==Professional boxing career==
[[File:Ron Lyle boxer.png|thumb|Lyle punching 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 age 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 [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] Heavyweight Champion, [[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086625/index.htm | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121102101951/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1086625/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date= November 2, 2012 | work=CNN.com | title=Most Popular | date=October 9, 1972}}</ref> After dispatching Buster Mathis, Lyle stated that he was 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.<ref name="Levin" /> Lyle was ranked #4 heavyweight in the world by WBA and ''The Ring'' magazine.<ref name="Jet" /> 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 (boxer)|Jimmy Young]] in 1975. In a later rematch, Young again edged Lyle and went on to outpoint [[George Foreman]] in 1977.

===Lyle vs. Ali===
{{main|Muhammad Ali vs. Ron Lyle}}
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.<ref>http://video.google.com/videoplaydocid=3996128832928221414# {{dead link| date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name= repay />

===Lyle vs. Foreman===
{{main|George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle}}
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote=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?"|source=—George Foreman, on his fight versus Lyle<ref name="Foreman">{{cite AV media| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzWCHbZRzR4&t=3053 | first= George |last= Foreman |title= George Foreman: Full Address and Q&A| date= 13 July 2016| publisher= [[Oxford Union]]| via= YouTube| access-date= }}</ref>}}

Lyle is perhaps best known for a brawling fight in 1976 with [[International Boxing Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[George Foreman]]. Foreman was making a comeback after suffering his first loss to Muhammad Ali in the [[Rumble in the Jungle]] match.

The fight between Lyle and Foreman is considered 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 thunderous right hand followed by a staggering body punch. After nearly being knocked out in Round Two, Lyle was able to recover due to a timing error resulting in the round being only two minutes instead of the scheduled three. Later in the fight, Lyle amazed the crowd by flooring Foreman twice in the fourth round while being knocked down once himself. (Lyle, Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Young are the only boxers to have ever knocked down Foreman during a professional boxing match.) Foreman later said that Lyle was the toughest man and the hardest hitter he ever fought. Foreman recovered and scored a knockout in the fifth round. He later said he won due to Lyle's exhaustion.<ref name="Foreman" />

Lyle scored impressive victories over rated [[José Luis García (boxer)|José Luis García]], and big names [[Oscar Bonavena]] and [[Earnie Shavers]] during his career.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7165/tss-where-are-they-now-ron-lyle/ |title=TSS Where Are They Now: RON LYLE | website= TheSweetScience.com  |accessdate=2010-07-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090910094248/http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7165/tss-where-are-they-now-ron-lyle/ |archivedate=September 10, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite AV media| first= George| last= Foreman| archiveurl= https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/JmG_gR576EA | archivedate= December 11, 2021 |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmG_gR576EA|title=George Foreman On Tyson & Hardest Punchers| interviewer= Lyle Hill|date=November 2, 2011 |publisher= |accessdate= December 10, 2018| via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote= Nobody ever hit me that hard. No question about it. I'll remember that punch on my deathbed.<ref>{{cite book| url= https://hannibalboxing.com/shop/off-the-ropes-the-ron-lyle-story-ebook/| title= Off The Ropes: The Ron Lyle Story | isbn= 9781949590043| year= 2018| format= ebook| publisher= Hamilcar Publications| language= en-us| first= Candace| last= Toft| access-date= March 14, 2025}}</ref><br><br>Ron Lyle was a tremendous puncher.... Great guy, good guy, good-hearted guy. We became very good friends over the years.... Maybe once or twice a month we'd call each other, talk on the phone.<ref>{{cite AV media| first= Earnie| last= Shavers| url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVgnfPsYfz4&t=597| title= In This Corner Presents Earnie Shavers| publisher= In This Corner TV| interviewer= |year= 2017| via= YouTube| access-date= }}</ref>|source=—[[Earnie Shavers]]}}

===Later years===
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)|The Ring]]'' magazine quoted Lyle as saying afterwards, "No one does that to me."

Ron Lyle briefly returned to the boxing ring, but he retired again after a first-round knockout loss to then-rising star and undefeated power-hitting [[Gerry Cooney]], who has stated he broke some of Lyle's ribs during the match.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/4528/talk-gerry-cooney/ |title=A Talk with Gerry Cooney | first= Luca  | last= De Franco |website= thesweetscience.com| date= |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20101012054934/http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/4528/talk-gerry-cooney |archivedate=October 12, 2010 |df=mdy-all |accessdate=2010-07-16}}</ref> Lyle was 39 years old.

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/316594-down-memory-lane-george-foreman-vs-ron-lyle|title=Down Memory Lane: George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle|first=Cliff|last=Eastham|website=Bleacher Report|accessdate=December 10, 2018}}</ref>

===Retirement===
Lyle ran the boxing gym Denver Red Shield in Denver.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.denverredshield.org/Boxing.html |title= Boxing | website= denverredshield.org| publisher= |accessdate=2010-06-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100625022647/http://www.denverredshield.org/Boxing.html |archivedate=June 25, 2010 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> He was the former trainer of [[light welterweight]] contender [[Victor Ortíz]], who fought out of Denver during some of his amateur career.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-08-sp-boxing8-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |first=Lance |last=Pugmire |title=He's his own man |date= November 8, 2007}}</ref>

In 1992, Lyle trained a young promising talent from Las Vegas, Arash Hashemi,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arash-hashemi.com/?page_id=2 |title= 'Next Day Paint and Body' » Arash Hashemi| website= arash-hashemi.com| publisher= |accessdate=2011-04-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811163214/http://arash-hashemi.com/?page_id=2 |archivedate=August 11, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> and under his mentorship Hashemi won two Golden Gloves championships.

Lyle was working as a security guard in Las Vegas in 2002.<ref name= "Levin" />

==In the media and popular culture==
A biography, ''Off the Ropes: the Ron Lyle Story'', was written by Candace Toft and released in the UK by Scratching Shed Publishing in May 2010.<ref>{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=n6nrQwAACAAJ |title= Off the Ropes: The Ron Lyle Story| isbn=9780956252623| via= Google Books|last1= Toft|first1= Candace|date= June 2010|publisher= Scratching Shed Publishing, Limited}}</ref> It was republished in the United States by [[Hamilcar Publications]] in October 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Off The Ropes: The Ron Lyle Story| publisher= Hamilcar Publications |website= hamilcarpubs.com| url=https://hamilcarpubs.com/books/off-the-ropes-the-ron-lyle-story/ |access-date=2020-11-05}}</ref>

Ron Lyle appeared in the film ''[[Facing Ali]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1419318/|title=Facing Ali| website= IMDb.com| publisher=| accessdate=December 10, 2018 }}</ref> 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?"

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

==Personal life and death==
{{expand-section|date= March 2025}}

Lyle was charged with first-degree homicide at age 36 after he shot and killed a man on New Year's Eve 1977 in his home in [[Lakewood, Colorado]] near Denver,<ref>{{cite news| title= Ron Lyle booked on murder charge| work= [[Youngstown Vindicator]]| date= January 2, 1978 | agency= Associated Press |page= 20| publisher= | via= Google News| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=l5NIAAAAIBAJ&dq=New+Heavyweight+KO%27s+Past+lyle&pg=PA11&article_id=4754,891110 | access-date= March 14, 2025}}</ref> who had spent time with him in the Colorado State Penitentiary. On December 16, 1978, Lyle was acquitted.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-12-17 |title=Lyle Acquitted of Murder In Death of Former Aide |language=en-US |work= The New York Times |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/17/archives/lyle-acquitted-of-murder-in-death-of-former-aide.html |access-date=2023-03-02 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> His attorney Walter Gerash<!-- not supported in this source <ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.gerashsteiner.net/blog/attorney-walter-gerash-s-legal-success-like-fath/| website= gerashsteiner.net| title= Attorney Walter Gerash's Legal Success: Like Father, Like Son| date= July 14, 2021 | author= GSB Staff | publisher= Gerash Steiner Blanton, P.C. | access-date= March 14, 2025}}</ref>--> said Lyle shot Clark in self-defense.<ref>{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=John |date=June 7, 2009 |title= Ex-boxer Ron Lyle muscling up on life |work= The Denver Post |url= http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12537544| url-status= dead| archiveurl= https://archive.today/20120730121024/http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12537544| archivedate= July 30, 2012 | accessdate= March 14, 2025}}</ref>

Lyle died at age 70 on November 26, 2011, from complications from a sudden stomach ailment.<ref>{{cite news| last= Groke| first= Nick | date =November 27, 2011| url= http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_19419186 |title= Ron Lyle, heavyweight boxer, dies at age 70| work= The Denver Post | publisher= | access-date= }}</ref>

==Professional boxing record==
{{BoxingRecordSummary
|draws=1
|ko-wins=31
|ko-losses=4
|dec-wins=12
|dec-losses=3
}}
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
|-
!{{abbr|No.|Number}}
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
|-
|51
|{{yes2}}Win
|{{nowrap|43–7–1}}
|style="text-align:left;"|Dave Slaughter
|TKO
|2 (10)
|Aug 18, 1995
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Regency Hotel (Denver)|Regency Hotel]], Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|50
|{{yes2}}Win
|42–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Ed Strickland
|KO
|2
|Jun 9, 1995
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Erlanger, Kentucky]], US}}
|
|-
|49
|{{yes2}}Win
|41–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Tim Pollard
|TKO
|2
|May 12, 1995
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Peel's Palace, Erlanger, Kentucky, US}}
|
|-
|48
|{{yes2}}Win
|40–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Bruce Johnson
|KO
|4 (10)
|Apr 7, 1995
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Peels Palace, Erlanger, Kentucky, US}}
|
|-
|47
|{{no2}}Loss
|39–7–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Gerry Cooney]]
|KO
|1 (10), {{small|2:49}}
|Oct 24, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]], [[Hempstead, New York]], US}}
|
|-
|46
|{{yes2}}Win
|39–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|George O'Mara
|KO
|10 (10), {{small|0:37}}
|Aug 23, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[The Forum (Inglewood)|Forum]], [[Inglewood, California]], US}}
|
|-
|45
|{{yes2}}Win
|38–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Neumann
|TKO
|10 (10)
|Jun 19, 1980
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[University of Puget Sound]] Fieldhouse, [[Tacoma, Washington]], US}}
|
|-
|44
|{{no2}}Loss
|37–6–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lynn Ball
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|2:55}}
|Dec 12, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Celebrity Theatre]], [[Phoenix, Arizona]], US}}
|
|-
|43
|{{yes2}}Win
|37–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Scott LeDoux]]
|SD
|10
|May 12, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|42
|{{yes2}}Win
|36–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Fili Moala
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|1:51}}
|Apr 6, 1979
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[San Diego Stadium]], [[San Diego]], California, US}}
|
|-
|41
|{{yes2}}Win
|35–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Horace Robinson
|{{abbr|RTD|Corner retirement}}
|8 (10), {{small|0:01}}
|Jun 3, 1978
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|40
|{{yes2}}Win
|34–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Stan Ward
|{{abbr|MD|Majority decision}}
|10
|Sep 14, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, [[Paradise, Nevada]], US}}
|
|-
|39
|{{yes2}}Win
|33–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Joe Bugner]]
|SD
|12
|Mar 20, 1977
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|38
|{{no2}}Loss
|32–5–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]
|UD
|12
|Nov 6, 1976
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[San Francisco Civic Auditorium|Civic Auditorium]], [[San Francisco]], California, US}}
|
|-
|37
|{{yes2}}Win
|32–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Kevin Isaac
|TKO
|7 (10), {{small|1:14}}
|Sep 11, 1976
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Utica Memorial Auditorium|Memorial Auditorium]], [[Utica, New York]], US}}
|
|-
|36
|{{no2}}Loss
|31–4–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[George Foreman]]
|KO
|5 (12), {{small|2:28}}
|[[George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle|Jan 24, 1976]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For vacant [[list of NABF champions#Heavyweight|NABF heavyweight title]]}}
|-
|35
|{{yes2}}Win
|31–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Earnie Shavers]]
|TKO
|6 (12), {{small|0:47}}
|Sep 13, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|34
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–3–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Muhammad Ali (boxer)|Muhammad Ali]]
|TKO
|11 (15), {{small|1:08}}
|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Ron Lyle|May 16, 1975]]
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Las Vegas Convention Center]], [[Winchester, Nevada]], US}}
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|For [[list of WBA world champions#Heavyweight|WBA]], [[list of WBC world champions#Heavyweight|WBC]], ''[[list of The Ring world champions#Heavyweight|The Ring]]'', and lineal heavyweight titles}}
|-
|33
|{{no2}}Loss
|30–2–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]
|UD
|10
|Feb 11, 1975
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[International Center Arena]], [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], US}}
|
|-
|32
|{{yes2}}Win
|30–1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Al Jones
|TKO
|5 (10), {{small|1:43}}
|Dec 13, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Municipal Auditorium (New Orleans)|Municipal Auditorium]], [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], US}}
|
|-
|31
|{{yes2}}Win
|29–1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Boone Kirkman]]
|TKO
|8 (10), {{small|2:02}}
|Sep 17, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Seattle Center Coliseum|Center Coliseum]], [[Seattle, Washington]], US}}
|
|-
|30
|{{yes2}}Win
|28–1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jimmy Ellis (boxer)|Jimmy Ellis]]
|UD
|12
|Jul 16, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|29
|{{yes2}}Win
|27–1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Oscar Bonavena]]
|UD
|12
|Mar 19, 1974
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|28
|{{draw}}Draw
|26–1–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Gregorio Peralta]]
|{{abbr|PTS|Points draw}}
|10
|Nov 17, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Frankfurt]], West Germany}}
|
|-
|27
|{{yes2}}Win
|26–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Larry Middleton
|UD
|10
|Oct 31, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Baltimore Civic Center|Civic Center]], [[Baltimore, Maryland]], US}}
|
|-
|26
|{{yes2}}Win
|25–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jürgen Blin]]
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|1:01}}
|Oct 4, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|25
|{{yes2}}Win
|24–1
|style="text-align:left;"|José Luis García
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|1:01}}
|Aug 15, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|24
|{{yes2}}Win
|23–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Lou Bailey
|UD
|10
|Jul 3, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|State Fairgrounds International Building, [[Oklahoma City]], [[Oklahoma]], US}}
|
|-
|23
|{{yes2}}Win
|22–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Wendell Newton
|{{abbr|SD|Split decision}}
|10
|Jun 11, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], US}}
|
|-
|22
|{{yes2}}Win
|21–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Gregorio Peralta]]
|UD
|10
|May 12, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|21
|{{yes2}}Win
|20–1
|style="text-align:left;"|Bob Stallings
|UD
|10
|Apr 14, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Harry Adams Field House]], [[Missoula, Montana]], US}}
|
|-
|20
|{{no2}}Loss
|19–1
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jerry Quarry]]
|UD
|12
|Feb 9, 1973
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Madison Square Garden]], [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]], US}}
|
|-
|19
|{{yes2}}Win
|19–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Larry Middleton
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:34}}
|Dec 9, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|18
|{{yes2}}Win
|18–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Luis Faustino Pires
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|2:55}}
|Oct 28, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|17
|{{yes2}}Win
|17–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Buster Mathis]]
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|2:58}}
|Sep 29, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|16
|{{yes2}}Win
|16–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Vicente Rondón]]
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|1:41}}
|Jul 11, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Mile High Stadium]], Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|15
|{{yes2}}Win
|15–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Mike Boswell
|TKO
|7 (10)
|May 25, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Omaha Civic Auditorium|Civic Auditorium]], [[Omaha, Nebraska]], US}}
|
|-
|14
|{{yes2}}Win
|14–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Mel Turnbow
|TKO
|4 (10), {{small|2:59}}
|May 10, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Las Vegas, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|13
|{{yes2}}Win
|13–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[George Johnson (boxer)|George Johnson]]
|KO
|3 (10), {{small|0:31}}
|Mar 25, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Denver Coliseum|Coliseum]], Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|12
|{{yes2}}Win
|12–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Chuck Leslie
|TKO
|2 (10), {{small|1:47}}
|Jan 22, 1972
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|11
|{{yes2}}Win
|11–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Bill Drover
|KO
|2 (10), {{small|0:45}}
|Dec 18, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|10
|{{yes2}}Win
|10–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Jack O'Halloran]]
|KO
|4 (10), {{small|2:15}}
|Nov 26, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|9
|{{yes2}}Win
|9–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Joe E Lewis
|KO
|3 (10)
|Nov 10, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Silver Slipper (Las Vegas)|Silver Slipper]], Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|8
|{{yes2}}Win
|8–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Manuel Ramos (boxer)|Manuel Ramos]]
|UD
|10
|Oct 9, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|-
|7
|{{yes2}}Win
|7–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Eddie Land
|TKO
|7 (10)
|Sep 1, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|6
|{{yes2}}Win
|6–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Frank Niblett
|KO
|9 (10)
|Aug 11, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Silver Slipper, Paradise, Nevada, US}}
|
|-
|5
|{{yes2}}Win
|5–0
|style="text-align:left;"|[[Leroy Caldwell]]
|{{abbr|UD|Unanimous decision}}
|5
|Jul 24, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Playboy Club]], [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]], US}}
|
|-
|4
|{{yes2}}Win
|4–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Edmund Stewart
|TKO
|2 (6)
|Jul 16, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Sunnyside Garden Arena]], New York, New York, US}}
|
|-
|3
|{{yes2}}Win
|3–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Gary Bates
|KO
|3 (4), {{small|2:20}}
|Jun 19, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Sahara Tahoe]], [[Stateline, Nevada]], US}}
|
|-
|2
|{{yes2}}Win
|2–0
|style="text-align:left;"|Art Miller
|{{abbr|KO|Knockout}}
|5 (6)
|May 22, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|[[Matthews Arena]], [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], US}}
|
|-
|1
|{{yes2}}Win
|1–0
|style="text-align:left;"|A J Staples
|{{abbr|TKO|Technical knockout}}
|2 (6)
|Apr 23, 1971
|style="text-align:left;"|{{small|Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, US}}
|
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Boxrec|id=226}}
*{{IMDb name|id=3975543}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-text|style=background:#C1D8FF; font-weight: bold;|text=Amateur boxing titles}}
{{s-before|before=[[Earnie Shavers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States national amateur boxing heavyweight champions|U.S. heavyweight champion]]
|years=1970}}
{{s-after|after=[[Duane Bobick]]}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-before|before={{nowrap|[[Thrilla in Manila|Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III]]}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The Ring magazine Fight of the Year#1970s|''The Ring'' Fight of the Year]]<br />{{small|vs. [[George Foreman]]}}
|years=1976}}
{{s-after|after={{nowrap|George Foreman vs. [[Jimmy Young (boxer)|Jimmy Young]]}}}}
{{s-before|before={{nowrap|Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III}}<br />{{small|Round 12}}}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The Ring magazine Round of the Year#1970s|''The Ring'' Round of the Year]]<br />{{small|Rounds 4, 5 vs. George Foreman}}
|years=1976}}
{{s-after|after={{nowrap|[[Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks]]}}<br />{{small|Round 15}}}}
{{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyle, Ron}}
[[Category:Boxers from Denver]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Heavyweight boxers]]
[[Category:Boxers from Ohio]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dayton, Ohio]]
[[Category:Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers]]
[[Category:American male boxers]]
[[Category:American people convicted of murder]]
[[Category:American sportspeople convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Deaths from digestive disease]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]