What makes for a good "chin"?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017.


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  1. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Why, exactly, is it assumed as a matter of course that a heavyweight can take better punch to the jaw than a middleweight? You may think the answer is obvious, but unless and until you have spent many years questioning the obvious, your opinions are not your own but a mere in inheritance like your eye color. Also, the reasoning that leads to an answer is often far more illuminating than the answer in itself.

    I have my own hypothesis, but I first want to see some of you present yours.
     
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
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  2. mark ant

    mark ant Canelo was never athletic Full Member

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    Firstly a heavier man will not take a hard bare knuckle punch better than a lighter man, it`s a knuckle that bruises bone changing the impact compared to a bigger mass impact that the kung fu slap of the gloves adds to a punch, two things that help to a punch, a think neck can absorb impact better heavies tend to have thicker neck muscles which is why Floyd used to lift weights tied around his head using his neck muscles to lift hence building neck muscle mass, Floyd got a good beard. Another thread mention Tommy Hearns a great puncher known for his suspect chin, but one guy mentioned Hearns took Barkley`s punches better at light heavy in his 2nd loss to Barkley because hec built his thin legs up, Hearns legs were weak as p..s vs Hagler, your legs are the first to go when you take a good one to the chin, a sturdy pair of legs could absorb the impact better.
     
    mark ant, Sep 24, 2017
    mark ant, Sep 24, 2017
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  3. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    "Firstly a heavier man will not take a hard bare knuckle punch better than a lighter man, it`s a knuckle that bruises bone changing the impact ..."

    I would expect that body blows are also considerably more punishing in a bare knuckle match.
     
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
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  4. Pat M

    Pat M Well-Known Member Full Member

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    If a person throws punches with a bare knuckle there is a big chance that the hand will suffer more injury than the part of the body it hits. A fist wrapped with gauze and tape is a hard, solid weapon. The wrapping and gloves protect the hand allowing the fighter to throw hard punches and even with the wrapping and gloves, injuries to the hands happen. Wrapping and gloves are not there to protect the person getting hit, they are there to protect the person doing the hitting.
     
    Pat M, Sep 24, 2017
    Pat M, Sep 24, 2017
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  5. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    On the skull, yes, on the rib cage or abdomen no. I speak from experience, if limited experience. I know what it's like to punch someone both in the face and on the torso. The former is like hitting a large coconut wrapped in a bath towel, the latter is more like hitting a large sack of flour.
     
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
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  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    No, size alone does not make a good chin.

    James Toney probably had a better chin than Wladamir Klitschko.

    Paulino Uzcdun probably had a better chin than Primo Carnera.
     
    janitor, Sep 24, 2017
    janitor, Sep 24, 2017
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  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    It's a combo of a lot things, some already mentioned. A lot of it is good vision and anticipation, knowing where the punches are going to be coming from and not getting surprised. Also, and more importantly, its proper mental strength. Some guys just will themselves to stay in the fight, others are looking for a way out.

    That said, a truly soft beard can just be neurological. The sweet spot on your chin grows over time with too many battles.
     
    Seamus, Sep 24, 2017
    Seamus, Sep 24, 2017
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  8. ticar

    ticar Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Strong and thick bone structure helps, especially the jawline.

    Look at McCall, Chuvalo, Brewster... those guys had huge, wide jawlines.
    And a short, thick neck like Mercer's helps also.
     
    ticar, Sep 24, 2017
    ticar, Sep 24, 2017
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  9. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
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  10. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    I think size must make for better chins ceteris paribus, but I think it stands to reason that it scales with size less than punching power does, because the size and strength of the muscles of the neck that stabilize the head appear to vary less with overall size than other muscle groups, and part of it is surely the neurological threshold at which the brain shuts down, which is unlikely to have any correlation with size whatsoever.

    If I'm underestimating how much of it is "biomechanical", then it would seem to follow that there is a huge untapped potential for fighters to increase their punch resistance while adding very little body weight just by doing exercises that target the trapezius and sternomastoid muscles. But something tells me if it made that big a difference someone else would have figured this out long ago.

    This suggests to me then that chin is more dependent upon neurology than biomechanics, but each step in this logic is I'll admit a bit wobbly...
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
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  11. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    jaw size (Eubank Sr).
     
    Bulldog24, Sep 24, 2017
    Bulldog24, Sep 24, 2017
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  12. Perry

    Perry Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Anticipation which allows one to roll with blows rather than take them full force.
     
    Perry, Sep 24, 2017
    Perry, Sep 24, 2017
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  13. Sting like a bean

    Sting like a bean Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Maybe I'm splitting semantic hairs but when I think of chin I think of the raw ability to absorb trauma without impairment. What you're describing would fall more under the heading of defense, at least to my way of thinking.
     
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
    Sting like a bean, Sep 24, 2017
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  14. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Stout neck, Lamotta, Duran ,Ali
     
    Reinhardt, Sep 25, 2017
    Reinhardt, Sep 25, 2017
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  15. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    How many sons of great boxers especially heavyweight boxers become great successful boxers themselves?
     
    JackSilver, Sep 26, 2017
    JackSilver, Sep 26, 2017
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