Tyson's chin

Long time no see, Big Jake. How is Canada?

 

Some disgreements with the list.

Max Baer was only knockout one time, and that was at Joe Louis. I would indeed put Baer over Tyson chin wise. training habits, boxing, ete goes to Tyson, but as far as chins, Baer has it.

Louis had a underated chin imo.

 

Tyson had a good chin

 

You're confusing durability and chin (ie. ability to take a punch.)

By the way, he wasn't KO'd 5 times. He was legitimately KO'd versus Douglas, stopped by Evander, KO'd by Lewis (and even then he was not out cold as you can see as he checks his face for blood) more or less quit vs Williams (sitting on his backside while being counted out, completely conscious) and quit v McBride.

That's two KO's, not five. And both resulted after sustained punishment.

 

Tommy the Hat.

How can you claim that Max Baer and Jim Braddock definately didnt have as good a chin as Tyson?

Braddock was only KO'd once and dropped once.

By Joe Louis.

Maxie was only KO'd once and dropped once.

By Joe Louis.

Braddock was known for having a chin.

Baer was known for having a chin.

 

True, Baer had a stout set of whiskers.

 

Let me reiterate:

Thing about Tyson's chin is that any short comings that people may see have more to do with his style than his durablity. Ali backpedals so if he's hurt or really stunned he can retreat temporarily so he can regain his composure, Baer- same thing, Tunney- same thing, Holyfield- same thing Mercer same thing- infact with Mercer if you look at his bout with Evander in 1995- it was the first time in Mercer's career that I truly felt that if Evander pressed the action harder he would have stopped Ray in that fight. Mercer pretty much had the fight in the bag but coasted in the final stretch not because he was gassed but because he was hurt and he knew that he wasnt clear headed enough to play offense so he did his best to retreat even tackling Evander at one point to buy as much time possible hoping he'd regain composure. Everyone says Mercer had an Iron Chin but this is a clear example where Evander hurt him and he never recovered so he BACKPEDALED to clear his head. He compromised his offense but he stayed upright because he couldnt take more.

Brewster is seen as an iron chinned fighter but in his fight with Sergei Lyachovich there moments in the fight in which a stoppage could have occured but because he finished the fight (albeit with a detached retina) they say he has an ironchin. Why'd he finish the fight (you got it) he backpedaled. Tyson never did.


Tyson on the other hand fights one way, forward. If he's hurt he doesnt backpedal or use the ring to clear his mind. It was not in his style. Perhaps it would have helped- frankly it would have meant that Holyfield I would have ended up in the cards or possibly the Lewis fight (although I tend to believe that Mike didnt have the stamina for 12 at that time). Taking this into account, it should be acknowledged that Tyson's come forward motion ocassionally amplyfies the impact of the blows that he takes. And that he doesnt retreat when he's hurt which is why he doesnt recouperate well.


The way I see it, of all the lineal Heavyweight Champions I believe shot for shot Tyson may have very well had the best chin.

 

Tyson did have a great chin.

He was never ko'd by a single blow.

Lennox Lewis who as we know is a giant of a man, very strong and a great puncher had to hit Tyson with everything to get rid of him. Also if you look at the Tyson v Lewis fight, in round 8 Lewis has to actually lean on Mike to get him to the floor for the final count.

Tysons chin is grade A solid.

 

Chin + Defense = invincible juggernaught

He lost his defensive skills, but maintained the chin. That was evident as he was no longer the amazing fighter he was in 1987, but still managed to avoid ko.

 

great assesment. but you also forgot to mention what the years of abusing his body with drugs and not training properly

 

Tyson had a great chin, he just didn't have the heart to back it up. The fights that he was stopped in his peak years, were fights that he was wore down in and they were against good punchers. I know that it took Lennox Lewis about 8 rounds of flush right hand bombs to finally stop a shell version of Tyson.

 

Tyson had a good chin, but never won a fight he got knocked down in...

 

True. So isn't it fair to say that his chin was great but his durability wasn't?

 

That was an absolutely grotesque beating.The Lewis fight absolutely finished Tyson off.It would have been merciful if Lennox had lowered the boom around the 4th or 5th round.
I noticed afterwards in interviews,that a slight slur had entered Tyson's speech.

 

No, it's fair to say you'd have to absolutely beat the **** out of him to get him down.