The Real reason why fighter's Feared Tyson, and not because of his Physicality

[Abe Attell]

Great quote from Steve Lott:

"How hard you punch is not as important as not getting hit, that's the most important thing in the world...Cus D'Amato devised a style that consistently moved a fighter's head...when moving their head it put them in position to throw a punch back at the same time the other guy was punching...Mike was such a master at doing this that after 1 or 2 minutes of Round 1, the other fight would try it again, throw his best jab, miss Mike entirely, get hit with a tremendous punch and in the fighter's mind he said "what the heck was that, I don't like that, let me try it one more time"...he would throw his best jab, miss, get hit with a tremendous shot back, BAM! and right here he stops throwing punches, he says, "That's it, I can't win"

.................................................

You see, it was not that Mike was "Physically intimidating" (like so many unknowledgeable writers that have never fought before like to think), but it is the other fighter's feeling psychologically inferior to Mike's talent that makes them stop fighting, causing them to lose.

How come Mike was never intimidated by bigger guys, I mean he was under 6 foot and was outweighed in some of his fights

The fact is, it doesn't matter how big the gun is, the fact that you can't dodge a bullet is a scary thought

[abdiel2k3]

nah sry buddy
cuz yrs later when the head movement faded
the power remained

[Abe Attell]

it is not always about the power...take for example Ali vs Liston: Liston wasn't able to hit Ali like he wanted to, Ali kept avoiding Liston's punches and throwing his own that would bother Liston till he finally had enough.

Even Mayweather is feared, and it is not because of his power.

Remember Ray Leonard vs Duran? same thing as Ali vs Liston


Of course power helps, but not being able to fight back is much more draining.

For the talent part, Tyson's ability to throw combinations with such speed and accuracy was also included in the intimidation, which is what I stated above: that it was not looking at Tyson's muscles, but watching Tyson's display of incredible skill


Fighters didn't fear Tyson as much as when he was in his prime of display with Rooney; after prison he would be beaten many times because all the top fighters new they only had to worry about his power, and not his once incredible ability to box like an elite fighter...hell, even Tyson knew this

[Hitman18]

Pretty much a boring opinion thread rather than a statement, fact, question or theory thread.

[Tong Po]

Tyson nuthugging. I thought that went out of fashion a couple of months back?

[Southpaw Stinger]

nah sry buddy
cuz yrs later when the head movement faded
the power remained

And years later he was not nearly as successful.

[abdiel2k3]

And years later he was not nearly as successful.

called age buddy
happens to all types of fighters

[+= El Jefe=+]

i think he intimidated his opponets be knocking them the **** out................




seriusly i think he was physically gifted, with speed and power a conbination that you dont quite see often, i mean the man could puch, and his speed and head movement were unatural for a man with his weight and muscle size, like you said not being able to hit him got into fighters heads, but so did knowing that he could send you to the canavas with anyone of his punches....

[Southpaw Stinger]

called age buddy
happens to all types of fighters

Yeah he was old in his mid 20's...

[Abe Attell]

Tyson nuthugging. I thought that went out of fashion a couple of months back?

Just bringing it up because so many people are quick to use (and still use) the lame excuse that the reason why Tyson won all his matches were because he intimidated his opponents because of his physical stature, instead of realizing it was the skill that deterred them.

How many times do you hear this, "Tyson was just a bully, when somebody finally decided to punch back he lost"

That is why you were quick to judge the post by saying I am a "nuthugger" instead of actually trying to think about it. This natural response continues to be used by those that follow the crowd.

If you need further explanation, it stands for all fighters that are or will be wrongly judged