I've heard any number of iron chinned fighters, from Chuvalo to LaMotta, say that the source of their toughness was their mindset. They believed themselves to be invulnerable and so they were. On the flipside, what "ruins" a chin? John Mugabi, David Izon... Some fighters seem to simply crumple from punches that they would previously shrug off casually. Is it the loss of that fortified mindset? Is it literal damage done to the body that it never recovers from? A combination of the two?
i think its the aura of invinceability in there mind has gone and feel they cant take punches aswell as they used too. i think its more of a confidence issue than physical
Chin is that crazy intangible rating that is nearly impossible to officiate. I'd say that one thing could be the mindset, or at least the way that the fighter perceives pain. You would have to imagine that chin is cultivated over a much longer period of time. I'd say toughness cultivates from a wild spectrum of life experiences. It's all in how you perceive your reality. What ruins a chin? The absolute proof that you cannot take a man's punch. This realization is enough to cause serious doubt in ones' ability. Mugabi took a load of punishment against Hagler while exhausting a lot of his heart. This fight was the first of a kind for Mugabi. Meeting a fighter that could equal him, and one up him. The result was an awesome slugfest that left Mugabi quite broken afterwards. The evidence was his fight against Hagler, and almost every single round holds that proof. That can break a man easily.
I dont think it is completely out of mindset.. Look at Larry Holmes, his chin was pretty average, but he was great at getting off the canvas and coming back to win.. Whether someone gets up or not, or wants to take more hits if possible, thats where the mindset mainly comes in.. I think it does play a part, but I wouldnt say it is the biggest part.
I've often wondered if it is similar to quarterbacks becoming more susceptible to concussions after receiving a couple. Psychology, will power, motivation all come into play. But there are times when someone is clearly not in complete physical control after being hit.
When a fighter trains he has to mentally prepare himself as well as physical. Roberto Duran is a classical point. He was always so Aggressive mindset he would or could not be knocked out in his priime by sheer will. Before the Hearns fight, he was looking down,fidgiting around, and wasn't into it as he usually was. Against Leonard Duran was banging his gloves together and glaring at Leonard. Hagler is another example, Against Hearns he was not going to be denied & took hellacious bombs from Hearns and kept coming foreward. Like someone said before mental confidence is the key. that is sooo true.
In the case of Amir Khan, apparently he was smoking a cigarette and it started raining. The cigarette got damp, drooped down, and connected with Amir's chin. He woke up four hours later, and has never been the same size. Legend has it this happened the night before the Presscot fight.
