Staredown

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by la-califa, May 13, 2009.


  1. la-califa

    la-califa Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,292
    53
    Jun 12, 2007
    Is the staredown a lost art? Who were some of the most intimidating Staredown artists in Boxing?
     
  2. smitty_son408

    smitty_son408 J ust E njoy T his S hit Full Member

    6,030
    12
    May 3, 2008
    Primo Carnera
    Mike Tyson
    Thomas Hearns
    Wilfred Benitez (see Leonard & Hearns fight)
    Marvin Hagler

    There's many others but can't think at the moment
     
  3. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

    38,034
    91
    Nov 10, 2008
    Hagler is my definitive most scary stare ever that man makes me scared thinking about it.

    im not sure who has a good staredown its definitly not Tyson Fury he just screws up his eyes
     
  4. kosaros

    kosaros Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    26,593
    5
    Jul 21, 2008
    Foreman deserves a mention.
     
  5. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

    38,034
    91
    Nov 10, 2008
    what about Louis or Monzon with that cold stare that sends a chill up your spine
     
  6. Renofan

    Renofan Member Full Member

    484
    0
    Sep 25, 2005
  7. Jear

    Jear Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,720
    12
    Jul 27, 2004
    Foreman
    Hearns
    Liston
    Lewis
     
  8. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

    38,042
    7,558
    Jul 28, 2004
    I've noticed in vids that Monzon really play the staredown game that much and didn't bounce around and engage in all that prefight warmup stuff that other fighters indulge in...he and Louis were like reptiles almost, very cold blooded and emotionless in there. All the more puzzling regarding Monzon, as he was such of an out of control monster outside the ring.
     
  9. FromWithin

    FromWithin Living for the city Full Member

    2,538
    0
    Feb 22, 2008
  10. anarci

    anarci Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,237
    64
    Jul 21, 2009
    Benitez
    Hearns
    Duran
    Tyson
    Liston
     
  11. ramalinga

    ramalinga Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,229
    8
    May 7, 2007
    Vitali looks like a psycho in the staredown as well, all that educated classy - guy stuff goes out of the window
     
  12. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

    38,042
    7,558
    Jul 28, 2004
    With the exception of Sonny Liston's classic staredowns and George Foreman's epic staredown against Ken Norton, Wilfred Benitez's staredown with SRL is my favorite...it's the most creative, inventive staredown in boxing history. Benitez was so cool..his brand of arrogance I really enjoyed..he was slightly shorter than Leonard, so to compensate for that, he tilted his head back slightly to in effect, be looking DOWN on Leonard..even if he lost the actual fight, he won something IMO with that staredown.
     
  13. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,604
    290
    Apr 18, 2007
    Johnny "The Heat" Verderosa had huge vacuous eyes and an open mouthed uncomprehending gape which made him look like he wasn't playing with a full deck, and didn't know what he was doing, the appearance of a cuckoo. When he made eye contact with an opponent, the message he sent was, "Who are you, and what are we doing here?" Without a doubt, he had the absolute weirdest stare I've ever seen. Within his crazy eyes, one only saw chaos. Intimidation and menace is one thing, but that doesn't entail fear of the unknown. (He'd enter the ring to the sounds of AC/DC, singing and dancing along to the lyrics, not seeming at all focused on the match about to take place.)

    Robert Mullins was 24-0-0 and a promising rising contender when Verderosa met him for the vacant USBA super featherweight title. John's stare freaked him completely out, and destroyed him. As soon as the bell rang, Mullins charged out of his corner, attacking wildly and hysterically, but he couldn't match Verderosa's hand speed. Less than 30 seconds after the bell rang, Mullins lunged, leaving himself wide open. The Heat leaned back and crashed across a right which put Mullins out and ruined his career.
     
  14. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

    38,042
    7,558
    Jul 28, 2004
    Verderosa also pretty much ended Sean O'Grady's career too didn't he?
     
  15. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,604
    290
    Apr 18, 2007
    Yes, he retired O'Grady. Sean delivered some hard shots to John over the first couple of rounds, but to no effect. Verderosa had slowed down some since putting on weight after Mullins, but he essentially steamrolled O'Grady into submission when round four unfolded.

    If I were to ever meet Sean, the first thing I might ask him is what it was like to look into those eyes. (Of course he got the nickname, "Bubblegum Bomber" by casually blowing and popping a wad of gum in the face of some poor sap who was trying to stare HIM down. O'Grady's nonchalant gesture of dismissal has been reported as being as psychologically damaging to his opponent as Verderosa's stare was to Mullins.)

    Between Verderosa's wins over Mullins and O'Grady, he was unceremoniously steamrolled himself by Boza Edwards. He got under Corny's skin in a way that was not at all advantageous, and Boza Edwards loaded up on every shot en route to a rare easy televised win. (Corny also blew out Melvin Paul in a broadcast bout. Episodes like this make me wonder just how necessary it was for him to go to war as frequently as he did.)

    O'Grady was Verderosa's last big win, at just age 25. (Strange to think that he was actually two years older than Sean.) The Heat was never defeated at 130, and probably should have stayed at that weight. Even then, it's not likely that he ever could have progressed beyond his USBA championship, but he might have held that through a few more title defenses. All in all, he had a decent career though.