Which Heavyweights fall from Rocky's right?

I wonder if having a bigger neck really plays a part in punch resistance. By rights it should, but then how does one explain Moorer's monstrous 19" neck yet his distinct lack of real punch resistance?
I haven't checked but I think he had a bigger neck than either McCall or Mercer, two guys with notably iron chins.

Overall though, I agree that a bigger body is more capable of taking punches than a smaller one, and capable of sustaining more damage overall. No argument there as far as I'm concerned. I do think the size difference would have to be substantial for any tangible results to show though.
On the other hand, there are so many variables to taking a good punch that size is but one of many factors.

 

Could be, yeah.

 

Here's a clue for those staring at the measuring tape, a chin has a lot more to do with anticipation, relaxation and mental strength than how many inches your neck is around. Sure, there is a physical component... And bigger generally (please catch that last word) does equal punch resistance but it's a complicated amalgamation... especially when the guys throwing the punches are also giants.

 

Primo Carnera had heart and a very strong and large man but I would not call him Iron chin, Willard was also a very Big man and strong but Jack Dempsey all but destroyed him in a round....In present day we have a giant named David Price 6"7 250 but I would not say he takes a punch better than Dwight Quawi 5"6 or other well known shorties....

Masters & Johnson did a test on ***** size & height and they said the smallest was on a man 6"ft and the largest was on a man 5"7, I think its also hard to look at a body type and say this guy can or can not punch or this guy can take a punch...one look at Mark Breyland and you may think this guy has zero power but he was one of the hardest hitters in the amateurs

Cant always judge a book by its cover and you can always judge a man by putting him on a scale

 

It's funny that when Elroy is put on the spot he completely ignores the question and resorts to teasing and name calling. Size in the heavyweight division doesn't guarantee having a good chin, the same goes for punch power. Maybe there is some science to it but we haven't figured it out yet, fighters are born with those traits.

 

What really has to be explained is why for decade after decade not even one 6' 6" guy was very good.

There is nothing to explain about why some big guys failed, but why did they all fail to dominate an unlimited division against men much shorter and lighter if they naturally take punches better and hit harder. There was a lot of money on the table for them.

 

I don't think that the skillset of the bigger heavyweights has changed at all to be honest.

I just think that we have had better talents to work with.

I would say that Primo Carnera acomplished as much as was possible with his natural talent forexample.

 

I think that Carnera fought as you describe in the Gains fight,but by the second Sharkey fight he seemed very fluid and mobile,and made excelent use of distances. At this stage, I am not sure that Manny Steward could have added much to his game.

 

Chin is more about anticipation than actualy absorbing a good shot.

Bigger men might take longer to react under fire but if they can cancel out a smaller man's work if they are good enough.

 

I shudder to think what future dicta will be like once all we "nostalgists" are no longer around to defend a more reasoned--and accurate--point of view.

"Chin" is a complex amalgamation; a bigger, shredded body will not automatically mean better punch resistance for the head. A bigger man such as Valuev can more successfully keep his chin away from punches, but that doesn't prove a thing here.

Edward Morbius's question stands: in an unlimited weight division--in eras when boxing was a much more popular sport--why didn't the best trainers tutor the biggest guys they could find and make them gold-mine heavyweight champions? Because size matters, but it's not the only thing.

Once the size factor is defeated, thus exposing the chin, I see big heavyweights today such as Lewis, Grant and Wlad being destroyed as readily as the giants of the past such as Willard, Carnera and Simon. Yes, the former were hit by bigger men, but the size and weight differences protecting the latter were greater, yet they still fell--Willard from the first bomb from Dempsey, and was effectively left useless within three minutes.

The problem today is Joe Louis is not around to solve the Klitschko's stilted style and shatter the myth of their indestructability.

As sheer size and athleticism go, the great Wilt Chamberlain (7'2", 275 lbs) wisely decided against challenging Muhammad Ali (6'3", 215 lbs). Unlike some Internet warriors today, Wilt knew that, once exposed, his head could readily be turned to mush by an élite 200-pound fighter, no matter how big he was.

So, yes, in Walcott's very shoes, today's giants would go just as well.