Holyfield vs. Mercer - Chin

Mercer had the better chin. Holyfield was super durable but his chin gets a little over rated sometimes. He was wobbled and dropped on numerous occassions and should rank just below Mercer, McCall, Chuvalo on chin.

 

I rate Mercer a slightly better "chin", but stood too erect.

Holy move his head better, or better hand defense, so
some of the blows were deflected or softened.

IMO.

 

I don't think Mercer was ever floored in his prime during the early 90's. Lewis couldn't even wobble him in 96. Holyfield was stunned and floored by Cooper and Bowe in his prime.

 

P4P, Holyfields chin is probably on par with Mercers.

 

Mercer had the better chin, even in 02 when he fought a offensive prime Wlad, he still took some serious shots before having the fight waved off. There was times during that fight where Mercer would shake his head at Wlad after taking a straight right full blast to the face, him and Sam Peter took Wlad's punches the best.

 

Both had incredible chins, with Mercer having a truly elite chin.

Holyfield may have been dropped and hurt a few times, but his chin is proven beyond doubt. Look at the punchers he fought (all of whom hit him solidly at least a couple of times) and look too at the way he could absorb a beating. Considering the wars he fought, anyone with anything other than a really good chin would not survive.

Mercer was a piece of iron in his heyday. The shots he shrugged off from Morrison were huge and it was almost comical the way he stoicly took them without changing expression, and despite his shortcomings in other areas, Morrison could bloody well hit.

 

Mercer had the better chin, but remember Holyfield moved up from cruiser.
P4P they're fairly equal I'd say.

 

It's been a few years since i saw it, but indeed i remember thinking he quit (despite not doing bad), due to constant rabbit punching and no warning from the referee. It shouldn't count against his chin, which was an all time great one.

 

Mercer. His chin was utter granite.

 

It's funny, considering the huge bombs Mercer took without flinching from so many, that Holyfield was able to discombobulate him with one short left.

Holyfield bowled Bowe over in much the same way of course...I think the Holyfield short left is an underrated weapon.

 

mercers is close to lamotta in my opinion. holyfield had a very good chin but it cannot be considered in the concrete league of hagler and jake