Hearns and M Spinks

Sorting out the true answer to that question takes some contemplation. Just before Hearns, it was truly believed he did have an ATG chin. Between Montreal and Hearns-Cuevas, Jose was considered to have a better chin than SRL, as Cuevas had not been seen even getting wobbled as Ray was by Duran's hook in round two.

It does need to be conceded that there was a limit to the extent it was tested, despite his lack of regard for defense. Decent punchers like Gray and Ranzany only lasted a couple of rounds, and those who lasted longer were not in the same class of power as Hagler opponents Briscoe, Hart, Minter, Obel, Lee, Sibson, Scypion, Duran, Roldan, Hearns and Mugabe. Factoring in the level of Pipino's competition combined with his lack of defense, a 9 on the chin scale would not be irrational, an 8 would be conservative. Maybe an 8.5.

Marcos Geraldo was knocked out 21 times in his career. But from March 1977 through Hagler in May 1980, his chin looked as good as that of anybody in the business. He took everything SRL, Marv and the lethal LoCicero could dish out, and he stopped LoCicero in ten for maybe his biggest career win, right before Hagler. Later, he stopped one punch knockout specialist David Cabrera twice, and retired George Cooper not long before the match with SRL. When he was on, his chin might have been rated a 10. (It is also suspected by some that Geraldo took more than a few dives in his career.) Cuevas was certainly more consistently sturdy until Hearns than Geraldo was through his early career.

 

I think Tommy was the bigger puncher. More big knockouts over ATG fighters. Spinks did not have those knockouts over ATGs.