Do you think having a granite chin is genetic?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by cyrax99, Jan 10, 2013.


Page 1 of 3
  1. cyrax99

    cyrax99 The Greatest Full Member

    2,304
    11
    Nov 10, 2012
    There has been alot of debate over time about what makes someone have a granite chin. Do you believe it's all/mostly genetic or that other factors are more important? Some commonly presented arguments outside of genetics for what makes a good chin are:

    1) Strong neck (trapezius muscles.) Many "granite chinned" fighters seem to have large necks, like Holyfield, Mercer, Hagler etc.

    I think this idea doesn't make much sense, because guys like Margarito and McCullough, some of the best chins of all time, had very thin necks. Both were very lanky fighters, and had much thinner necks than average for their weight class.

    2) Thick skull

    This I'm not quite sure on, since there isn't a collection of skull thicknesses to compare. Guys like Hagler and Holyfield seemed to have very big, thick noggins, but again guys like Margarito don't. Margarito had a very long, slender head, it wasn't round and thick like those two. Mosely didn't have a large head either, took a great punch.

    3) Conditioning (especially dehydration.)

    I think a fighter being drained DEFINITELY has a big impact on his ability to take a punch. Look at George Foreman's first career, where he had a whacky trainer who dehydrated him before fights. He still was solid, but was dropped multiple times. When he came back as an old man, where most fighter's chins start to fade, he was never dropped once, which I think in large part had to do with being properly hydrated. Water is part of the fluid that protects your brain, being dehydrated leaves you with FAR LESS protection for your brain.

    4) Finally Genetics. Many people think granite chins are a matter of being born with that asset. I tend to think this is true for the most part.

    I think granite chins are 75% genetic / 25% conditioning (mainly hydration)
     
    cyrax99, Jan 10, 2013
    cyrax99, Jan 10, 2013
    #1
  2. realsoulja

    realsoulja Boxing Junkie Full Member

    10,442
    295
    Jul 23, 2008
    Marvis Frazier had a shaky chin his fathers was a lot better.
     
    realsoulja, Jan 10, 2013
    realsoulja, Jan 10, 2013
    #2
  3. I am tyler

    I am tyler Member Full Member

    403
    1
    Nov 28, 2012
    Aspects are both physical and mental.
     
    I am tyler, Jan 10, 2013
    I am tyler, Jan 10, 2013
    #3
  4. cyrax99

    cyrax99 The Greatest Full Member

    2,304
    11
    Nov 10, 2012
    He was only knocked out by Holmes and Tyson (one of the hardest hitters of all time.)
     
    cyrax99, Jan 10, 2013
    cyrax99, Jan 10, 2013
    #4
  5. Withwhatsmine

    Withwhatsmine Boxing Addict banned

    5,520
    1
    Jan 10, 2013
    Mexican fighters have pretty much convinced me it's Mental, I don't think Khan is genetic I think he is just mentally week.
     
    Withwhatsmine, Jan 10, 2013
    Withwhatsmine, Jan 10, 2013
    #5
  6. PivotPunch

    PivotPunch Guest

    Yes it's almost completely genetic you will probably take a punch a little bit better if you train your neck muscles and don't cut to much weight to make weight but it's for the most part genetics
     
    PivotPunch, Jan 10, 2013
    PivotPunch, Jan 10, 2013
    #6
  7. phantasma

    phantasma Active Member Full Member

    523
    0
    Jun 28, 2011
    Wladimir vs Vitali, so no i dont think its genetics.
     
    phantasma, Jan 10, 2013
    phantasma, Jan 10, 2013
    #7
  8. nostir a

    nostir a Member Full Member

    348
    0
    Aug 6, 2012
    This content is protected


    another example of the neck point being false, brandon rios has a granite chin
     
    nostir a, Jan 10, 2013
    nostir a, Jan 10, 2013
    #8
  9. box4life11

    box4life11 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    13,614
    18
    Apr 5, 2009
    I think your born with it look at Matthysse and vitali two of the best chins right now
     
    box4life11, Jan 10, 2013
    box4life11, Jan 10, 2013
    #9
  10. jeffjoiner

    jeffjoiner Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    19,183
    5
    Jun 22, 2008
    Genetics definitely plays a part. I'm not sure how big of a part.

    Balance is kept in the inner ear. That has to play a part, as well.
     
    jeffjoiner, Jan 10, 2013
    jeffjoiner, Jan 10, 2013
    #10
  11. Cableaddict

    Cableaddict Boxing Junkie Full Member

    13,705
    292
    Jun 15, 2011
    Certainly a factor. Just look at Chavez Jr:


    Papa is known to have an unusually thick skull. (Google it if you don't believe this.)

    While senior also possessed excellent defensive technique, Jr most decidedly does NOT, yet he managed to defeat lots of hard punchers, simply because he has a granite skull.
     
    Cableaddict, Jan 10, 2013
    Cableaddict, Jan 10, 2013
    #11
  12. H .

    H . Boxing Junkie banned

    12,826
    3
    Jan 20, 2007
    not in elijah mccall's case apparently
     
    H ., Jan 10, 2013
    H ., Jan 10, 2013
    #12
  13. shaunster101

    shaunster101 Yido Full Member

    24,013
    16
    Nov 29, 2007
    Only if your father is an igneous rock
     
    shaunster101, Jan 10, 2013
    shaunster101, Jan 10, 2013
    #13
  14. mughalmirza786

    mughalmirza786 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,774
    0
    Oct 19, 2008
    This content is protected


    Look at how different their neck and skulls are especially the massively wide face and jaw of mccall sr.

    Antonio Margarito was always much bigger than his foes at 147 and brandon rios/chavez jr are examples of the same.
     
    mughalmirza786, Jan 10, 2013
    mughalmirza786, Jan 10, 2013
    #14
  15. Slickstar

    Slickstar Crisp This Full Member

    7,094
    5
    Apr 27, 2011
    There's correlation with points 1 and 2.

    Granite chins are often seen along with big block heads. Mosley, DLH, Chavez, Ali, etc.

    Then there are great chin fighters who don't have super big heads yet have large traps relative to the rest of their physique. FMJ, SRR, etc
     
    Slickstar, Jan 10, 2013
    Slickstar, Jan 10, 2013
    #15
Page 1 of 3