Best Staredowns of All Time

Some say stare downs mean little. I disagree. The winner of a stare down, if by big margin has the initial edge in the fight, and usually ends up winning. Imitation is a silent weapon in boxing. Some guys have it, other guys have issues dealing with it.

It's normal to have some fear before a fight, but controlling it is different issue. Fear when shown emboldens the other fighter, and if not handled correctly can make the other guy tight, and unsure.

Mike Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, and Sonny Liston used the start down to their advantage.

I don't think it means quite as much in the lower weights, but Duran's stare down was pretty good.

 

My word Foreman was scary.

 

I think it's being kind in hindsight; in the interview immediately after the fight, he was kind of dismissive of Frazier - when asked if Joe's left hook hurt him at all, Foreman replied, "That was his hook?"

 

Wilfred Benitez vs Maurice Hope, 1981.

 

Kind of a staredown, piggybacking on the Foreman saga ... after he KO'd Ken Norton, he went over to the corner where Norton was being helped to his feet - the stare he gave Norton looked like he was telling him, "Don't you EVER think about getting in the ring with me again!"

In interview a few moments later, he was a bit more gracious in victory, but in the heat of the moment, he was serious business -

 

How about the fact that Joe showed no trepidation and rematching with GEORGE! I don’t get the impression that Joe feared anything on two legs on earth! One thing I would like here is the conversation that goes on during the stare down. Frazier would smile and talk a bit when an opponent would try and intimidate him.

 

Joe Frazier was one of a handful of fighters I felt was absolutely fearless ... others may have covered it well, but it was often a facade. I think Joe Frazier always - always - brought it all into the ring.

 

I always liked the way Joe would bring up his chin to his opponent, very unafraid.