Who was the scarier fighter out of the three at their peaks, Sonny Liston, G.Foreman or Mike Tyson?

"He ith the meanetht fighter who ever lived. Nobody wath more intimidating than Thonny Lithton, not even mythelf"--Mike Tyson.

 

Liston, obviously.

 

Golota was scarier

 

Liston

 

The first time I went to prison I adopted that whole Liston look to scare people off. People told me I looked at people "like I'd kill them just as soon look at them". This stood me in good stead....being a bulked out lifter helped, too lol.

I don't think I've ever seen a more terrifying gaze than the one Liston threw on people. Baleful is a great word for it!

 

Man…people looked physically ill walking in against Tyson and I don’t think I’ve seen so many fake knock downs and knock outs as against Tyson. I don’t think they were mafia dives guys were just scared. Liston had that affect we hear but not able to see it on film like Tyson.
Foreman was scary when you think about what he did and who he did it too. So much so people thought he was going to kill Ali. Literally. Think Tyson wins this overall though his legend still loves to this day although some think all three were feather fisted

 

I’d say both Klitchkos are underrated in the state down department. They both would look at opponents with the drago I will break you stare. Very under rated good mention

 

lol!!!!!

You rule, @Gazelle Punch

 

Wish I could take credit for glass city cobras awesome post

 

I think you'll find it was Mike Tython that said that.

Thtudy up, as Iron Mike Perry might say.

 

Although my vote is for Liston in terms of sheer pressure and intimidation when it came time for fighters to be face to face, Foreman had a different sort of aura.

Sometimes, he really wanted to kill you. Not just beat you up. And he has admitted this from his own mouth.

In fact Foreman's brother recalls that there was an opponent Foreman floored with a vicious shot, and the opponent who was no doubt shocked by the punching power asked him "are you trying to kill me man?!?". Foreman simply nodded without saying a word. Would you even attempt to get back up if that happened to you...?

Liston and Tyson were basically "you done messed up getting in the ring with me" attitude. They were both fairly easy going behind closed doors, friends and family have said. They only got aggressive when you angered them and could even be affable.

But with Foreman, something about his past just never went away. Whether it was the severe hunger, the shame of being a poor young man with no dollar to his name, constantly surrounded by violence and crime in a horrible city, it made him want to make something of himself. But he did so with the very animalistic mentality of not caring what he had to do or who he hurt in order to get there.

This is reflected in his fighting style of his early career where he would intentionally aim for the kidneys, the temples, the bottom of the jaw, the nose, the solar plexus, all vital spots to break a guy down and put them in as much pain as possible. And he would always make sure to put as much behind every shot as possible on purpose even if a guy was on the ropes and badly hurt.

What made it worse was that he just stared at you with either an apathetic, stoic look or a completely blank professional expression as he battered you into the canvas. Like he had just clocked in 2 minutes ago, frustrated that he even has to be there in the first place, and is now taking it out on you. In all the fights I've seen and still photos, I haven't found any where 70's Foreman shows any hint of joy, surprise, shock, rarely even anger. Even when he gets hit, his face rarely changes and he just goes right back to beating your ass. His opponents probably felt like they were fighting some sort of golem instructed to kill them.

 

Ewps, sorry @Glass City Cobra
I got my Gs messed up

 

It's hard to forget how horrifyingly cool George looked in between the Frazier I knockdowns. Like he was inhuman.

 

Who could possibly forget Howard Cossel going from being calm and collected to screaming ecstatically:

"I think he may have hurt Frazier--OOOH--DOWN GOES FRAZIER...! DOWN GOES FRAZIER...! AND FOREMAN IS AS POISED AS CAN BE IN A NEUTRAL CORNER!!!".

What a great choice of words. Cossel is underrated. Foreman was in his very first title shot against the scariest guy in the division, yet after scoring the knock down he just relaxed expressionless with his arms on the ropes, almost bored like he was smoking a cigarette on his lunch break.

 

I loved Cosell back in the 70s, he was one of the best parts imo.

There's also that LOOK he gave Frazier during the staredown. Frazier looked back damn mean himself, but George looked like the Reaper come to collect.