MIKE TYSON only needed to wear a pair of plain black boots and shorts and perhaps a white towel over his bulging neck to terrify his opponents.
But the poor boxing souls having to follow in his wake have tried to up the ante to intimidate their opponents and win over fans.
Mike Tyson was so talented and so scary he could wear the most boring kitCredit: AFP – Getty
Sometimes it goes very right, sending chills around the arena and leaving a rival spooked just moments before the bell.
Other times it goes very wrong and the most feared puncher on the planet ends up blaming his glow-in-the-dark costume for his Las Vegas whooping and the loss of his world title.
Some outfits pay homage to a fighters heritage, some play up to their nickname or brand and others seem straight-up crazy.
So SunSport have collated a lockdown collection of fashion hits and misses.
Uganda’s ‘Warrior King’ took on some tasty lightweights but was never king of the jungleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
SHARIF ‘LION WARRIOR’ BOGERE 32-2
When you’re an unknown Ugandan lightweight looking to gain mainstream attention and a world title shot, what better way than wearing a dead lion on your back.
The snarling skinned beast Bogere adorns, while being carried to the ring in a cage, was allegedly killed after attacking a number of people in Africa.
Bogere, 31, has mixed with some strong lightweight contenders like Javier Fortuna and Raymundo Beltran but fell short of a world title
Bernard B-Hop Hopkins started his career as the terrifying ExecutionerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
BERNARD ‘THE EXECUTIONER’ HOPKINS 55-8-2
When the American carried on boxing into his forties, became boxing’s oldest ever world champion at 45 and only retired at 52, he was known as ‘The Alien’.
But in his more youthful days he adopted a more menacing approach and completed it with a fearsome mask.
The two-weight legend beat fellow icons like Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr and Winky Wright but was outsmarted by undefeated Welsh superstar Joe Calzaghe
But, when the American boxed into late forties and fifties, he became The AlienCredit: Getty Images – Getty
JARRELL ‘BIG BABY’ MILLER 23-0-1
When the giant Belize-Brooklyn boy was first introduced to British reporters, ahead of his planned 2019 bout with Anthony Joshua, he won us over.
His charity work back home and fun-loving toddler-inspired costume during his MMA days made great headlines.
But he then failed a long list of drug tests for a sickening list of substances, costing the dummy at least £6million.
Back in his MMA days it was more than Miller’s doping excuses that were full of dung as he wore nappies
HECTOR ‘MACHO’ CAMACHO 79-6-3
The fearless gladiator beat aging legends Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard and lost to superstars like De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez… and spiced up those fantasy fights with wild outfits.
The Puerto Rican’s 2012 funeral, after he was murdered in a shooting, descended into another battle as a couple of former girlfriends and his sisters went toe-to-toe at the graveside.
The southpaw led a crazy life and had the perfect wardrobe for it.
Hector Camacho led a macho life in and out of the ringCredit: AFP
REGIS PROGRAIS 24-1
The Louisiana ace lost a fight-of-the-year contender in 2019 when he battled Scotland’s Josh Taylor for the WBA and IBF super-lightweight crowns.
The masks New Orleans’ Prograis and his son Ray wore into the O2 ring were that of the mythical werewolf-like Creole creature that haunts the deep south.
But Taylor slayed the beast with a brilliant performance and deserved decision win.
New Orleans southpaw Regis Prograis taps into his Creole rootsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
GERVONTA ‘TANK’ DAVIS 23-0
Floyd Mayweather’s freakishly talented protege should have celebrated his slot on the undercard of his mentor’s 2017 win over Conor McGregor with a cool look and a title defence.
But the Baltimore bad boy missed the weight and lost his IBF super-featherweight title the day before the bout.
The softly-spoken star got the win but the blue-fur trim that shaped his get-up made bigger headlines, especially after he lost the most important item in any boxer’s cupboard, his belt.
Fans should not have been surprised as he turned up to his London fight with Liam Walsh, three months earlier, dressed as a bad Michael Jackson tribute act.
Gervonta Davis dressed like this after losing his world title on the scalesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But bad taste is Tank’s style as he has also paid tribute to Michael JacksonCredit: PA:Press Association
DEONTAY ‘BRONZE BOMBER’ WILDER 42-1-1
The 6ft 7in KO machine was the perfect clothes horse for LA costume designers Cosmo and Donato to dress for his ring walks – until he met Gypsy King Tyson Fury.
The American got away with a poor performance in their first clash but Fury knocked the 40lbs, LED lit, space-age costume right off the previously undefeated champion.
Wilder instantly blamed his battering on the weight of the gear, as well as a bicep injury and his trainer’s decision to save him. Maybe he will just wear a smile for the third fight?
The Bronze Bomber looked the part before his second bout with Tyson Fury but he was all style over substanceCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
TYSON FURY 30-0-1
Las Vegas was stunned into silence when the Brit giant, who had overcome depression and suicidal thoughts, was carried into the Wilder rematch to the sound of the haunting Patsy Cline song ‘Crazy’.
And, on first glance, his Stars and Stripes kit made him look more Poundland Prince than Gypsy King.
But as soon as the bell rang he looked a million dollars and ripped the WBC crown from Wilder’s grasp.
Tyson Fury has taken over America in his last few fightsCredit: Getty – Contributor
MICHAEL KATSIDIS 33-8
Seconds before Tyson Fury makes his ring walk, he copies inspiring scenes from the film 300, yelling “We are Sparta” at the top of his voice.
But Australian ex-lightweight champ Katistis went once better and dressed like the ancient warriors.
The rock-hard Aussie lost to Brits Ricky Burns and Tommy Coyle but beat West Ham’s Kevin Mitchell at Upton Park.
Australian warhorse Michael Katsidis channeled his inner SpartanCredit: AFP – Getty
DANNY ‘LITTLE RED’ LOPEZ 42-6
The Irish-Mexican-Ute Indian was a hero of 1970’s American boxing, after winning the WBC and Ring Magazine featherweight titles.
The traditional Native American headdress he wore to the ring was an unmistakable trademark.
And Lopez’s spine-chilling punch power won him legions of fans and 26th spot in the Ring’s respected list of the 100 hardest hitters.
Mexican ace Abner Mares seems to summon his inner demon for fightsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
ABNER MARES 31-3-1
British fight fans love watchin Derek ‘War’ Chisora transform into fight mode when he slides his Union Jack bandana over his mouth.
But three-weight Mexican-American champ Mares places a skull-designed mask so precisely around his jawline that it looks like we fans can see the skeletal inside of his face when he enters the ring.
Deontay Wilder’s trainer suggests ‘heavy’ ring walk outfit could be to blame for Tyson Fury loss
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
