Is Mike Tyson's intimidating aura a real thing that helped him win fights?

Scared?

 

Quite possibly a few were by time Tyson had finished with em.. Scarred that is!

 

I'll never forget the look of surprise/fear on Larry's face when Mike surprised him in the first round with his hand speed. Though Larry landed some good rights (as testified by Mike himself), it was obvious he was worried far more than against Shavers (and this was over eight years after that, indubitably prime Larry, fight).

And Larry Holmes didn't typically get worried, at least not for long. I think it definitely hurt his performance; despite the fact of his age and ring rust LH was doing a fine job of tying Mike up. After getting freeked by Mike's hand speed, the (good) fight plan flew out the window...unusual for Larry.

Holmes to my memory never looked that scared before or after.

 

Tyson was something else back then

 

Yes but not to the degree that people think. In fact Razor Ruddock actually thought that Tyson was afraid of him.

 

Ruddock sure fought that way. Hard to forget the dug-in left hookercut, great punch.

 

Spinks, Alex Stewart, Smith, Seldon and Bruno in the rematch were scared for sure, you can debate about others (Holmes, Biggs etc.)

 

I think Biggs was terrified after the first round. His total abandonment of what was an excellent (potentially fight-winning) strategy was done out of fear imo.

 

Tyson was intimidating because he beat the **** out of everyone in tremendous style, he beat the **** out of everyone because he was a great heavyweight with speed, power and killer instinct. The intimidating aura was a byproduct of his skills in the ring. He relied on that aura post prison though, probably even won him a few fights he otherwise may have lost, or at least have been more difficult, Golota for instance.