Which fighter had the best psychological game ?

you cant deny phycologically Duran could phsyce anyone out just they way he act. He even looks scary now haha

IMO i dont think Duran quit against Leonard as a way out i think in his head Leonard was running from him and not fighting so if he wasnt going to fight Duran thought '**** him' and walked out and i believe in his head in that moment of time it was the most macho thing he could do.

i think his phycological warfare helped hm aginats Ray Leonard abit. As ray Leonard did plan to fight that way but use fmore angles and i think a combination of Duran annoying him and Durans style cut out those angles.

nothing would phsyce out Basilio though i bet if a bunch of elephants charged at him he would be as cool as the ocean breeze

 

Ali was King, his psychology ruined Liston, took 20 years for Foreman to recover and nearly 40 years on, Joe Frazier still has not got over it!

 

Neither has Ali and he never will, to be fair. He turned Frazier - always a hard man - into a relentless, furious machine. Ruined both of them.

 

Ali was ruined physically from the game no doubt and Smokin' Joe was a large reason for that. But Ali mentally is fine, but sadly Frazier has still to get over the mental scarring of the Ali fights.

Ali was pretty relentless with Frazier, even using the Uncle Tom comment, so it is understandable that a proud man like Joe, still struggles to this day.

 

I personally think that Frazier's bitterness mainly stems from what he sees as an unfair treatment by history. He just don't feel he got his due. The biggest insult to him isn't anything that Ali did, but rather that Philadelphia put up a statue of Rocky Balboa but not him. That's irony for you.

 

I think he got his due, after Ali, he is pick'em with Foreman as to who is best remembered in the Heavyweight division in the 70s. He was quite a big worldwide mainstream star, he has little to be bitter about, as far as fame goes.

 

Perhaps, but he seems to feel differently. The thing with the statue is a disgrace, though.

 

Who one-upped Ali in psychological stakes in his career ?? There were guys that got under his skin like Terrell but he dealt with him in brutal fashion.
Foreman, Liston and Tyson were guys who only had a psychological edge when they're opponents were clearly intimidated and frightened, Ali dealt with Foreman and Liston after he had led them into mental disintegration months before the fight. Ali would have done the exact same thing to Tyson because Tyson was of the exact same mentality of Foreman and Liston and the keyword is 'Fragile'. I laugh when i hear a mythical matchup between Tyson and Ali talked about like it would be just a test of skills between the 2. Whether Tyson was dealing with a '64 Ali or a '74 Ali, it wouldnt make a difference, 12 months before the fight, Ali would start the Psychological attack. He'd be going on TV and Radio slowly working away at the psyche of the bully boy, giving Tyson self doubt and subjecting him to personal attacks that he would have never experienced before.
By the time of the fight, Tyson would be so tight and so angry that he would be picked off by Ali, and Ali would slowly taunt him until Tyson totally imploded somewhat like he did against Holyfield. Tyson would either be schooled, KO'd or he'd try and get Dq'd ....
Holyfield and Lewis would give Ali a far better fight than Tyson because they are far stronger mentally ..

I'd say Duran's Psychological attack on Ray Leonard before '80 was another master stroke .. He got Leonard so pissed off that Leonard wanted to brawl and trade with him, therefore losing the fight.
I'd definately be interested in hearing other guys views on which other boxers have used psychological warfare to such great effect ..

 

You got a point, but my impression is that it is a little unfair to compare Tyson to Foreman and Liston. Sure, Big George and Sonny had typical bully personalities and weak psyches... whithin normal parameters. Tyson... I think he was in a league of his own.

I any case Ali would have had a field day toying with Mike's brain. I can imagine Ali running circles around Tyson, taunting him mercilessly, while Mike gets into fetal position and sucks his thumb :yep

 

Was this a planned strategy by Duran, or did he just went his dislike for Leonard spontanously? Has he ever mentioned which it was?

 

To a degree i understand why he quit; he thought so much of himself and thought he didn't need to bother with a "clown". Still, macho or not, quitting a fight because the opponent is taunting you is not a sign of a mentally strong man, in my opinion.

He didn't just lose the psychological game, he gave up on it. When he had Leonard beat, his opponent fought back bravely and did whatever he could. That's a strong mind.

 

Eubank was terrified of letting loose against someone who would be so "determined", because of what had happened to Watson. Good stuff by Collin's really.

 

Ok thanks for the reply Duran hater.

Kidding.