British Chins: The Great Debate

[Jack Dempsey]

Its something thats always rankled me with the Americans, the perception of the British 'Glass chin' not helped by several high profile examples.

But what is our opinion, do we rank on the low end of the chin scale in world boxing, is there no LaMotta or Chuvalo amongst us??

Froch, Eubank and Woods all have solid beards but throughout history there have been title challengers that have helped the US perpetuate the myth of the British glass chin.

Im fascinated by the ability in boxing to take a massive shot, and like wise the ability to give one in return and how some fighters survive and thrive without the skills to do one or the other, what makes someone a ko puncher and what makes someone with a granite chin.

Do we as a nation have a deficiency in this department or is it just an indictment on the fighters who got title shots in the public eye, is it a proportional thing, whats your view?

[TBooze]

The more upright classic 'British style', leads to more 'accidents'.

But with a few freaks on both extremes, I think the ability to take single shots is over thought.

Providing you are not one of the individuals that has a shocker of a chin seemingly 'naturally', and you train properly, then you should be OK in punch resistance.

Perhaps because there does seem to of been more quality training in the USA than the UK in the last Century; the lack of top level conditioning rather than just having a 'glass jaw', showed up more in the UK fighters.

[Jack Dempsey]

Originally Posted by TBooze

The more upright classic 'British style', leads to more 'accidents'.

But with a few freaks on both extremes, I think the ability to take single shots is over thought.

Providing you are not one of the individuals that has a shocker of a chin seemingly 'naturally', and you train properly, then you should be OK in punch resistance.

Perhaps because there does seem to of been more quality training in the USA than the UK in the last Century; the lack of top level conditioning rather than just having a 'glass jaw', showed up more in the UK fighters.

Interesting stuff mate it cant be a national trait, and thats what annoys me with the Ynks

[rossco666]

buchanan and eubank had legendary great chins and we all know froch has an iron jaw. scott harrison had a great chin, im not sure if wayne mcCuloch was northern irland or not but he had a phenominal chin! we do have a few glass jawed mo fo's in our boxing history but what nation doesnt. its just being highlighted right now by enzo mac and khan.

[artful]

Our high profile boxers aren't tested as much as the other well known 'boxing' countries the 'levels' are different, our 'glass jaws' just get exposed on the world stage so it gets highlighted more.

[Boro chris]

I think its overly obsessed about by a bunch of homesick abortions in the general forum.

[China_hand_Joe]

Joe Calzaghe had the perfect chin.

(i) Ability to take long sustained punishment with any real effects showing

(ii) Defense mechanism - suspectable to occasionaly flash knockdowns (to espace real damage which migth follow from subsequent shots)

(iii) Fast recovery time from any knockdowns



Joe Calzaghe's chin was more practical than that of an Oliver McCall.

[Jon Saxon]

Mo Wilsons chin shits all over those guys chins.

[GazOC]

Wot TBooze said!

[Bill C84]

Some people just can't take a punch, don't matter where your from, it's nothing to do physically, its genetically I believe, you can do certain things like strengthen your legs or put a bit of muscle round your neck but It wont change the fact some people just don't hold a shot well.

[SuspiciousChees]

I don't understand how someone like Margarito can take such huge shots and not even wobble a bit? It took about 10 bombs from Mosley after 9 rouunds of murder to put him on the floor, and he got back up.

Look what one did to Mayweather.

[Strike]

There's also guys who had great chins but never won world titles and would be unknown outside of their home country. For us, a guy like Henry Warton is a prime example. Incredible chin, but never won a world title.

[Phill-Mitchell]

Look at khan as an example, had he been in America the chances are he would have been matched tougher early in his career and possibly not made it to world level. Sometimes we push guys with weakness because we want them to be the truth and they just aren't.

Americans do get better training too, that's just a fact, the classic "British styl" has been found wanting time and time again yet many British trainers are unable to think outside the box, and if they do they create a new style with deficiencies like the ingles.

The best two trainers we have are Robert mcracken and Adam booth because they have given their fighters training and styles that have maximised their physical abilities.

I wonder how good guys like Naz could have been with a world class trainer from the early days, and without being fed until their egos burst by the British hype machine.

This is why I hope our olympians go to America, better training, harder upbringing to steel them when they reach the top, and no silly hype from the press making them overrate their own abilities

[Boro chris]

Tbf I don't think the upright 'British' style is quite as prevalent as it was before.

[tyewil]

Originally Posted by Phill-Mitchell

Look at khan as an example, had he been in America the chances are he would have been matched tougher early in his career and possibly not made it to world level. Sometimes we push guys with weakness because we want them to be the truth and they just aren't.

Americans do get better training too, that's just a fact, the classic "British styl" has been found wanting time and time again yet many British trainers are unable to think outside the box, and if they do they create a new style with deficiencies like the ingles.

The best two trainers we have are Robert mcracken and Adam booth because they have given their fighters training and styles that have maximised their physical abilities.

I wonder how good guys like Naz could have been with a world class trainer from the early days, and without being fed until their egos burst by the British hype machine.

This is why I hope our olympians go to America, better training, harder upbringing to steel them when they reach the top, and no silly hype from the press making them overrate their own abilities

Just cant see any of them turning down the big money and easy route that will be offered to them here in the uk. Especially someone like big brother ogogo.

Would love to see american trainers, come this way to address the denfense problems that a lot of the top british fights seem to have