I think that de main part of LaMotta's "health, longevity and success" were dives that he took and that some (like Satterfield maybe) took against him
watch briscoe v antuofermo, briscoe takes much fewer shots than it looks and all while coming foward. shame he got robbed
This thread got me thinking: which at least decently defensively skilled ATGs didn't roll with punches? Can't remember seeing Tyson doing too much of it. Skilled at slipped and ducking, but when punches did land they often landed flush. A bit the same with Hagler, I'd say.
My old fella always said "you don't block punches, you slip them," I don't really think there is a massive difference between how well fellas of different levels take a punch. It's all about skill level and the top fighters can just avoid taking them shots flush and can do it against a higher level of opponent.
Tyson rolled with the uppercut, but you're right about most other punches. If he failed to slip them, he tended to take them flush on. Frazier provides a similar picture defensively, in this regard. Though he, too, had instances against Ali where he attempted a basic version of the roll.
Jake LaMotta got hit clean a lot but he probably did roll a little better than given credit for. He tucked his chin well but the fact that he had one of the hardest head of alltime can be discounted. One thing LaMotta did have was ring intelligence. He knew how to set traps, play possum whatever you want to call it. He saved his title one night but setting a trap. The kind of skills you can only develop by fighting a lot. Jake LaMotta was also fukin nuts. That didn't hurt either.