Better Chin: Dempsey or Marciano ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by he grant, Jul 23, 2009.


  1. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Based on record, level of opposition, ect ... your thoughts and why ...
     
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    So hard to say...i have a feeling it might come back to how you feel about a certain first round knock out...Dempsey showed astonishing punch resistance against Firpo, who could hit. Marciano was never really hit that hard, I don't think, but then he was never really hurt that much either. Very difficult shout, i'd be cautios of coming down firmly on either side.
     
  3. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Hard to say who had the better chin. I always say, chins are best tested when they are hit by big punchers who scored clean power shots.

    Dempsey fought better punchers, so his chin is more proven than Marciano's. Normally more proven is better, but Marciano went down far less than Dempsey did. The choice is not easy.

    I would lean toward Dempsey simply because he proved he could take a clean shot from a power hitter in Fripo.
     
  4. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Who was the biggest punchers Marciano fought? Walcott and Moore ?
     
  5. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not sure if I'm too impressed with Dempsey's punch resistance against Firpo. Most of the time Firpo landed anything big, Dempsey was hurt.

    He did show a granite chin against Sharkey though, who was an underrated puncher.

    Carpentier stunned him with a right hand and a couple of uppercuts but Dempsey recovered well.

    Marciano's chin:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tgv5rzKMn4
    2:25
     
  6. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Neither was invulnerable. Both had awesome willpower and recovery power though.
     
  7. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Agreed...depends on whether one places stock in the Fulton KO being legitimate or not. I'm on the fence here.
     
  8. The Wanderer

    The Wanderer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I'd probably be slightly on Marciano's side, because Dempsey often seemed more hurt than I can ever recall Marciano being when hurt/knocked down.

    Not a certainty, but that's the way I'd lean.
     
  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Yes, and both floored him. Walcott had Marciano in some real trouble in round 11 of their first fight.

    Rocky had a good chin, but his stamina and heart were even better.
     
  10. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Rocky never fought a huge heavyweight hitter like a Liston, Forman, Lewis, Tyson or Shavers. We know his chin is damn good based on the level he fought. We don't know if it is Holmes-like, Ali-like or Chuvalo-like ... we do know he did get hit ...
     
  11. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Dempsey got knocked out cold by Fireman Jim Flynn. Fireman Jim ****ing Flynn. Flynn was a journeyman even in his prime, he was in his late 30's when he KO'd Dempsey and Dempsey was only a year away from his prime. That's a terrible knock on his chin unless some more evidence shows up supporting the dive theory.
     
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I would tentativley say Marciano despite the fact that Dempsey fought more punchers.

    Both these fighters have excelent chins but I think that Dempseys chin gets oversold somtimes because:

    A. His defence was such that he rarely got hit flush.

    B. His recuperative powers were such that he often seemed in control of a fight when he was hurt.

    That is not necisarily to say that Dempsey was easier to stop but if you ask me who had the better pure cinder block hanging under his skull I suspect that Marciano did.

    Just my best speculation.
     
  13. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    Yeah, he showed an amazing chin against an underrated puncher with a whopping 25% KO percentage.:nut
     
  14. Dempsey1238

    Dempsey1238 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    And Sharkey did have Dempsey hurt in round 1, and staggering around.
     
  15. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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