Most menacing boxer: Tyson or Holyfield?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Storm-Chaser, Dec 2, 2023.


Essentially, who was the more feared boxer in the ring?

  1. Tyson

    39 vote(s)
    100.0%
  2. Holyfield

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    They’re both intimidating. Especially to average nobodies like me. But Tyson would literally make guys shake in the stare downs
     
  2. Kid Bacon

    Kid Bacon All-Time-Fat Full Member

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    Holeyfield could be intimidating.
    Tyson was outright terrifying ... he got Michals Spinks soiling his undies.
     
  3. ikrasevic

    ikrasevic Our pope is the Holy Spirit Full Member

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  4. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Great stuff here , and a great way to look at the subject.
    Tyson created much more fear in his opponents, than Holyfield ever did....
    But no fighter ever seemed to put fear into Holyfield. Who always looked confident.
    Holyfield knew the secret to fighting successfully, and that is knowing how to control fear against any opponent, this made him a extremely dangerous man to face.
    Just like Ali.
    Because Fear in itself is not bad to have , and can be advantageous, not controlling it is......
     
  5. Marvelous_Iron

    Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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    Holyfield was more menacing in the ring with his counter punching and chin that could be a menace over the distance, Tyson was more destructive a destroyer rather than a menace
     
  6. Eddie Ezzard

    Eddie Ezzard Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Evander would.

    And after watching the rematch staredown, I think so would Mike.
     
  7. slash

    slash Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don't remember Tyson looking that scared. Holyfield had that fight won before the opening bell.
    Everybody was scared of Tyson, flat out, but Tyson was scared of Holyfield. That's interesting.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2024
  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    Not saying either really because who’d be afraid of all that money? Lol.
     
  9. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Tyson was clearly more intimidating to opponents. Opponents probably had plenty of dread about Holyfield -- I mean, you have a fight with him, you KNOW that **** ain't gonna be easy, you know that even if you end up winning, you're having a real rough night. But that isn't the same kind of fear they had for Tyson in his prime.

    To fans? I wouldn't have wanted to meet prime Tyson in an alley. There are stories (that he himself told) of attacking fans because they said things he didn't like. Holyfield, I'd have had zero fear of running into anywhere, I'd asked to shake his hand and take a pic with him.
     
  10. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Because Holyfield wasn't scared of him and he knew it. Goes back to the days of their Olympic trials. None of the HW's wanted to spar with Tyson. Holyfield -- a LHW then, so probably 30lbs-40lbs lighter than Tyson at that point -- promptly volunteered then immediately got into a war with him that the coaches had to break up.

    And now Holyfield was walking in as the bigger dude? Yeah, I can get Tyson being a bit afraid there.
     
    slash likes this.
  11. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    George Foreman, Sonny Liston and my boys Wilfredo Gomez and Salvador Sanchez were really intimidating too, Sanchez with that smile that oozed confidence...and Aaron Pryor pointing his first at you could be terrifying...I think he copied Apollo Creed.

    Tyson, however, wins this one hands down. Except maybe for Tony Tucker who was outboxing him before he broke his hand, and for Buster Douglas who seemed to be on a mission. most of his opponents melted before the first bell. I would have too. I'd be hiding somewhere in the hotel until security found me for that matter!

    (OH before someone thinks by my boys I mean they were my friends lol-I wish-no by that I mean I really liked them among the top of my favorite boxers list..in fact Gomez is at number 1 there and Sanchez in 5th or 6th)