What makes a good chin?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, May 22, 2020.



  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Because of all the arguments over who's chinny and who's not, let's define what a truly good chin is, or at least levels of it, so as to provide some understanding on the subject:
    In my opinion, the truly toughest were the ones who could take endless punishment and barely blink (Chuvalo, Basilio, Saad Muhammad), and the ones who got up from devestating knockdown/ knockdowns (Archie Moore, George Foreman, Larry Holmes). One misconception is that if you get knocked down easily, or at all, that you can't take a punch. Not necessarily true. Many people cite Patterson, but in this case it was Floyd's state of vulnerability early on and constant movement that often got him floored easily and more than once early in fights. However, Floyd often got up to prove he could take a punch by stopping Ingemar Johannson after being floored twice or by getting up to give Quarry two tough fights after four knockdowns. While Floyd was certainly no Chuvalo, he could take a punch. Another misconception is that tough fighters don't get knocked out. That's not true either. One common example of this is Norton. He lost to Foreman by TKO 2, Shavers KO 1, Cooney 1. Despite being past it vs. Shavers and Cooney, and whether or not you believed he froze up or not, Norton was also a vulnerable fighter early in a fight, and getting knocked out by some of the hardest punchers in the world doesn't make you chinny. Norton waged some incredibly tough wars with Ali, Young, Holmes, and Cobb, and never went down. Not big punchers yes, but still dangerous fighters. But Norton did excel against once big puncher-Quarry. In round 3 Quarry unloaded a barrage of power shots both to the head and body, and Norton remained cool, never really appeared hurt, and won two rounds later.
     
  2. Rico Spadafora

    Rico Spadafora Master of Chins Full Member

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    You can’t train a Chin.
     
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  3. Rilz

    Rilz Ball don't lie! Full Member

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    Well first you have to start with good head
     
  4. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I agree, in part, except that SRR and Ali used to take punishment in order to prepare themselves for tougher fights. I think I know what you mean by not being able to train a chin, but what do you mean? What about Tommy Morrison? He looked chinny against Mercer and Bentt, but looked kinda' tough against Hipp and Ruddock imo.
     
  5. Scar

    Scar VIP Member Full Member

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    A fighter with a bad chin will always have to protect it or he's getting clocked and put to sleep. There's no way around having poor punch resistance sadly. Slight improvements can be made, but nothing beyond that.
     
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  6. Rilz

    Rilz Ball don't lie! Full Member

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    My comment is in regards to the thought that you can't train a chin. I think that is only true to a certain extent. A few examples.
    Let's say you are not properly as fit as you could be at your preferred weight, you better believe that chin would be a whole lot better if you were in peak fighting shape.
    If you fight in a divison too small for your frame, then moving up will almost certainly improve your chin.
    Finally, I know that it is not a cure all and won't turn a bad chin in to a good one, but I am a believer that neck exercises can assist with the ability to absorb a punch.

    With all of that said, can you train a glass jaw to be iron? Absolutely not, but in my opinion you are able to improve your chin through training and being in the right weight class. You aren't going to go from Amir Khan to GGG by training only though. The majority of it you are born with, but there is a tolerance for +/-.
     
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  7. Jackomano

    Jackomano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    This. A lot of guys weaken themselves by trying to fight in lower weight classes when they shouldn’t and also by not being in shape consistently. But, the worst thing a lot of guys do is dehydrating themselves and rehydrating for fights.

    I’ve seen my fair share of fighters, who started believing they had a poor chin and poor durability overall, but when they stopped dehydrating themselves and and started training properly they could suddenly take a punch.

    The other thing is fighters not doing roadwork, which is crazy. When fighters follow the rule of 3, which is getting in consistent roadwork, eating real food (not shakes), and staying within 3 lbs of their fighting weight year round the fighter will be as strong and as durable as they can be come fight time.

    Everything else is down to using the right strategy, which is what camp is supposed to be for instead of using it as a weight loss camp, since even the most durable fighter can still be beat like a drum if they don’t use the right strategy.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2020
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  8. BELLERS

    BELLERS Active Member Full Member

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    Isn’t it linked to the brain ?
    A punch on the jaw wouldn’t put someone ‘to sleep’ surely.
    Our bodies are controlled by our brain. If a punch hits a certain spot, the effect must travel to that lump between the ears, which then triggers a reaction, the legs to wobble, a sleep induced KO, etc.
     
  9. ertwin

    ertwin Active Member Full Member

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    I always felt that their is somewhat a connection between intelligence and chin.
    Those guys that just move forward and eat everything everything you throw at them often times dont seem to be the smartest ones
     
  10. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Not quite sure but here's a pic of a factory which is a veritable production line for them

    This content is protected
     
  11. Johnny_B

    Johnny_B Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Your neck acts as a shock absorber, so the thicker your neck is, you have an edge from the get go. By thick necks I mean those with muscle mass and wideness, not those that are thick due to layers of fat.
    But, apart from the genetic advantages, you can also train your neck and jaw muscles. Dempsey was one of the first ones to do that.
    Prime Tyson also used to do it.
     
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  12. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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  13. DirtyOldTown

    DirtyOldTown Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Why do so many Mexicans have good chins then? I think it's because the Mexican style makes young fighters used to taking punishment and they can handle it a lot better when turning pro.
     
  14. Olu G. Rotimi

    Olu G. Rotimi The Right Honourable Lord President of the Council Full Member

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    Best chin is the one that does not get hit.
     
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  15. escudo

    escudo Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Paragraphs please.
     
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