'Iron' Mike Tyson's reputation as one of the most feared fighters ever is well-established. He burst onto the scene in 1985 and quickly became the most formidable fighter at his peak. Tyson knocked out Trevor Berbick in just two rounds to become the youngest heavyweight champion in 1986. He didn't stop there, unifying the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles at the tender age of 21 years and 1 month.
Tyson's aura of invincibility lasted until 1990 when Buster Douglas shocked the world by defeating him. Despite this setback, Tyson's legacy as a ferocious fighter remains intact.
However, Leonard believes there's one man who tops even Tyson in the intimidation stakes. In a YouTube interview, Leonard said:
"Roberto Duran, he was more intimidating than Mike Tyson. Like at the press conference he was staring me down, he pushed me, he shoved me, he kicked me, he cursed me, he cursed my wife, although it was in Spanish no translation was really necessary. When I first met him he was so nice and then all of a sudden I said 'who is this guy?'"
Leonard's assessment comes from first-hand experience. He and Duran engaged in a fierce rivalry that spanned nearly a decade. Their first bout in June 1980 saw Duran defeat Leonard for the WBC welterweight title.
The tables turned just five months later when Leonard stopped Duran in the eighth round of their rematch, famously known as the 'No Mas' fight. Their trilogy concluded in December 1989, with Leonard retaining his WBC super-middleweight title via unanimous decision.
Leonard's words paint a vivid picture of Duran's intimidation tactics, from aggressive stares to physical confrontations and verbal abuse. The stark contrast between Duran's initial friendliness and subsequent hostility left a lasting impression on Leonard.
This revelation from Leonard adds an interesting perspective to boxing history, suggesting that sometimes, the most intimidating presence in the ring isn't always the biggest or most physically imposing fighter.