Not Really

Cassius Clay was certifiable 'Nuts', but Charles 'Sonny' Liston was not in the least bit intimidated by him.

95% of that stuff was 'choreographed' for the Press.

Larry Holmes definitely 'psyched out' Muhammad Ali before their match. Muhammad knew he that was going
to get a beating, and he knew that there was no way in Hell that he was going to win a 'single' Round, let alone beat Larry.