More intimidating fighters: Liston, Foreman, or Tyson?

All three of them are probably the most intimidating heavies of all time in a physical way. Joe Frazier deserves an honorary mention too.

In a different way,Muhammad Ali warrants a shout. Not in a brutish way like those previously mentioned,but he could get into an opponent's head like no other and make them scared of looking a fool. The Liston bouts come to mind here in particular.

 

Liston, then Tyson, then Foreman. Right before losing, they each were considered invincible. It would be hard even for the brave men who participate in this sport not to be a little anxious.

 

Tough one. There was a cool article on Coxs corner listing Liston
as the most intimidating because he had better stamina than Foreman
and Liston. In other words maybe you could survive 6 or 7 rounds with
Tyson or Foreman and maybe survive to a decision but Liston carried
his power and pace all the way through. Id have to say Tyson because
he was so young, seasoned veterans shook by a 19 year old.
Very tough, how about Lyle? He clearly wasnt intimidated by Foreman
at the staredown.

 

Liston seems to have frightened a young Ali. It didn't hurt Ali's performance in the ring, but still. That's some pretty impressive intimidation skill.

 

One guy worth a mention is Sam Langford.

It is not entirely clear what his full MO was, but he seems to have regularly intimidated much bigger men.

 

His MO was probably the same as the men in the title -- hitting very hard.

 

Its hard to say who was perceived as the most intimidating because I wasn't alive at the time that these fighters were at their peaks. But the one I personally would fear the most would be a Young Foreman.

 

With good reason. He does look intimidating on film. I'm not sure exactly why. I think it's that calm confidence allied with aggressiveness.

 

Liston likely but all three were hardcore.

 

Looking at the eras Liston and Foreman came around when they were huge compared to most of the top heavies of their respective times. Liston was a unique looking personality and was a new era in big bad heavyweight champs.

Foreman was a near clone of Liston as far as personality and expression. But he was a bouncing ball of energy before and during a fight which lacked that ice cold emotionless intimidation Liston had.

Tyson was too me the most intimidating he was a smaller heavyweight built like a pitbull fighting in an era where prime Foreman would have been average in size. He walked around the ring reminding me of a tiger stalking back and forth waiting for his meal. Like a modern day Jack Dempsey.

The most intimidating performances of each was Liston-Patterson 1, Foreman-Frazier 1, and Tyson-Spinks.

The single scariest display of brutality that probably terrified more people than any one performance was just how brutal Foremans manhandling of Joe Frazier was.

 

Liston had the Jail rep and dead pan face which scared many ...not to mention Large muscles for the time

Tyson with the Jack Dempsey haircut, no socks and quick start...A Dempsey like meanness

Foreman had size and power but many remember him as the flag waving Olympic guy and nice guy

 

Good point about Joe Frazier.

He didn`t glare at opponents like Liston did but he used to grin at them. He would even grin during the fight after his opponent landed a good shot. Joe Frazier was such a natural warrior and loved combat so much that it was intimidating in a genuine way. In a 'this guy is crazy' way.

 

Foreman easily - had a near homicidal maniac personality in the 70s ,fella hated the world and even the press were scared to interview him.
Its amazing to see how hes turned it all around to become one of the great personalities of the world now .

 

So people bought that whole crazy wrecking ball mentality?
Was Foreman that unapproachable?

 

Not a heavyweight, but Barbados Joe Walcott seems to have scared people sh1tless!