Rate their chins- Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis and Bowe.

I voted for Holyfield, taking in all his other intangibles that helped make his chin what it was. First off his chin by itself is a rock! Everyone he fought pretty much got there flush with their best shots. Second was his unbelievable powers of recovery, see the Cooper fight for a perfect example of this, stunned and froze with that right hand, down, back up taking punishment and then turns it in an instant back in his favor.
Toughness/Desire/Heart/Guts/Warrior

#2 Tyson, Tyson probably had the best chin of all four if we are talking about just taking and being able to absorb a great shot, Prime Tyson would take flush shots and never even hardly flinch. But prime Tyson also was hard to hit, coming in low bobbing and weaving, couple that with the fact that he'd jump on you early and either stop you before you could land flush on hin or he'd hurt you enough to put you in survival mode. He was very tough early in his career he took a BEATING before being taken out by Douglas. And also took some huge shots from Ruddock. Post Holyfield 1 Tyson had a lot of dog in him, wanting to quit when the going got tough often. I'm not sure if that guy was always in there or if he only surfaced post prison when he claims to have lost his desire to fight. But what we all witnessed later in his career is enough for me to place him behind Holyfield in the chin Department.

#3 Bowe, Bowe was tough as hell and would not quit. One only needs to watch the Holyfield wars or the Golota fights to see Bowe had tons of heart.

But...... I also witnessed Bowe dropped with one single shot from a Holyfield who only minutes earlier looked a shot fighter. Of course this was pre Tyson so Holy clearly had plenty left but on this night looked done.

I also remember Tyrell Biggs (a faded Biggs) really shaking Bowe with a left hook.

Herbie Hide also rocked Bowe badly.

And of course Golota dropped him twice in fight #2, but to Bowes credit he kept getting up and trying.

#4 Lewis, Lewis was really only laid out once vs Rahman. Yes McCall dropped him again with one shot but Lennox was standing and the ref stopped it. Who knows what might have happened if that fight was allowed to continue. But I also saw Lewis rocked in other fights vs Briggs, Mercer, Klitschko. Lewis also took on many other huge punchers like Ruddock, Morrison, Tua and they never touched him. His chin is not nearly as bad as many say, but there is a cost to be stretched out with one punch so I'd have to place him 4th here.

 

Holyfield 9.5
Tyson 8.5
Bowe 8.5
Lennox 7

Thats how I rate their chins on 10 point system

 

Tyson
Holyfield
Bowe
Lennox

 

Tyson showed he had the best chin out of these heavyweights because Tyson came forward towards danger at all times; he didn't try to win on points, he went for the knockout at all times thus exposing himself to big punches at all times, he took hellacious punishment in each of his significant losses and continued to throw dangerous punches right until the end.
Tyson never lost a decision because to beat him you had to destroy him, he was never going to sit back and coast when he was losing, or try to survive to go to a decision, he was a true kill or be killed fighter.

 

All had good chins. I'd put it Holyfield, Tyson Bowe (who had better recovery power than Tyson, but I rate that in a different category than raw chin) and Lewis. I think Lewis has an underrated chin, but can't see how he's not last on this list, even though I'd pick him to bet any of them.

 

Your descriptions are perfect

 

well, amongst them, holyfield was the smallest man to go round and round with the super-heavyweights

 

Tyson had the best chin, but Evander recouped best. Lennox had the worst chin of all.

 

Holyfield edges Tyson.
Bowe and Lewis is pick em

 

Holyfield and tyson both had unbelievable chins, bowe is second to them.

Lewis clearly behind them as far as punch resistance

 

it is a tough one. Holyfield recovered well. Tyson did not. Mike took it well until he just collapse and was knocked out. But I doubt Mike gets staggered by Bert Cooper. Mike had a great chin, what he did not have at the end of his career was great defense. Once a guy found a key to Mike he kept on hitting him. Mike had no other options. Evander was more versatile than Mike.

 

I was about to say Holyfield but then I remembered him getting floored by John Ruiz and having to hold on like a ***** for dear life for a whole round in order not to get totally knocked out and changed my mind.