Fighters who look the part, & ones who don't

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The earlier topic about fighters freezing before fights got me thinking what makes them freeze; sometimes I think the way the opponent looks is a factor

Some fighters/boxers look like hard b**tards, people like Tyson particularly, Bruno although always came across a nice guy you would've known not to mess with him, & Liston looked scary as hell

Some don't, one that always springs to mind for me is Darren Barker, if you showed me a picture of him & said he was an athlete & I had to guess which sport, the last would be boxing, I like him & he's a good fighter but just doesn't look like a fighter.

I always thought Hatton looked tough too, probably the flat nose & battered face but you can see a mile off he's a boxer, but then Calzaghe, like Barker is another who doesn't look like a fighter at all, even compared to most of his opponents he didn't look as ripped/strong

I remember in either Eubank's or Benn's book (can't remember which but think it was Eubank) says that they felt full of confidence until they got into the ring & saw Michael Watson who looked really pumped up & up for it & was ripped & really looked like he'd trained hard, obviously Eubank didn't freeze but a less mentally strong person easily could've, incidentally Eubank & Benn both looked the part I think & intimidated opponents, particularly Benn

How much do you think the way fighters look can intimidate opponents, or do you think the way they look doesn't make a difference as at pro level you know all about your opponent way before, not like it's the first time you've seen them on the night.

Dempsey had a certain "I'd be punching you even if they weren't paying me" look to him.

Duran in his prime looked like a complete head case. Definitely intimidated Leonard before the Brawl in Montreal. Leonard said as much in his autobiography and, as we all know, ended up fighting Durans type of fight.