Who had the better chin, Leonard or Duran?

The old porcelain poop chute eh hahahaha.

Appreciated the laff, Eddie, JT

 

leonard doesnt have an outstanding chin

shook up badly early in his career, by Geraldo, Duran, Norris, Camacho, Howard

once a bad chin always a bad chin

Duran wins easy in this non contest

 

It is hard to say Duran was hard to hot cleanly he was a master at rolling with, controlling range and slipping punches one of the few times he was hit cleanly was Hearns...Leonard had a good chin and was not near the slippery fighter Duran was but his feet were good....P4P not sure if I could say maybe Duran

 

Hi JC. The ability to take a good shot to the rumphole is oft overlooked but has been an integral part of fighting since the Roman days. Indeed, one of that era's most celebrated gladiators was well known for his duodenal durability, he is still revered to this day.

Oh yes. They still talk about old Ironanus.

I'll get my toga. Taxi for Ezzard.

 

Duran without a single doubt. If not for his KO loss to Hearns I'd single out his as the most proven chin in HW history. The punches he took from Barkley, particularly the one in the 8th but there were many, is the craziest thing I've ever seen in boxing.

No way Leonard could have taken those punches.

 

Dura

 

I don't think you can say Duran was more slippery. That right hand Duran was hit with by Hearns, with the jab to the body before, Leonard did not fall for. Or Benitez.

 

Both had great chins. Most people's picks come down to -as usual - who they like better

 

Pretty accurate but if were seriously answering I'd give an edge to Duran. Both guys were pretty terrific on defense and hard to hit .. putting aside Hearn's greatest performance by far Duran went toe to toe with the best fighters in the world from 135 to 168. Leonard's chin was also very good but he excelled by his exceptional defensive speed.

 

Tough one to call and you could make a decent argument either way. I think they were both great but could also show frailties.

Of the top of my head I can think of these occassiosn when they were dropped, stopped or buzzed:

Roberto Duran

Hurt badly of Hearns then KOd with follow up
Dropped by Buchanan but seemed more flash than a hurtful KD.
Stopped by Joppy was past his prime
Knocked down in the first in two.consecutive fights v DeJesus
Knocked down by Hernandez past prime.

Ray Leonard

Knocked down by Hearns twice
Knocked down by Lalonde
Hurt by Hagler in the fifth?
Knocked down by Howard
Stopped by Camacho/Norris - both past prime/shot.
Knocked down by Eklund was more of a push/slip.

I'd probably edge it to Duran slightly but no doubt both could take a good shot. Leonard was never knocked out the way Duran was near to his prime but he was also dropped more frequently overall. I wouldn't argue too much with someone picking Leonard.

 

As far as actual ability to withstand a punch, I'd say Duran. Leonard had other advantages though which are often overlooked factors toward "chin": 1) faster reactions, making it more difficult to hit him solidly, and 2) better balance than Duran (and just about everyone else also) which really helps a lot to avoid getting knocked down.

 

Two fighters who could really take a punch.

Duran probably edges it overall but Leonard in his prime had excellent punch resistance. He took a fair few full in the face from Hearns in their first fight and didn't even flinch. He got tagged by Duran properly in the second and his legs wobbled but he stayed upright.

Anyone, even a fighter with a usually robust jaw, can be knocked out by a perfectly timed punch (just look at Duran against Hearns or Fullmer against Robinson) but the ability to take a punch is often reflective of a champion's heart and that's what Leonard displayed in both of those fights.

 

what about duran geting put to sleep though

 

Let's Do the math and take your bias out of the equation.
Leonard had about 38 fights and was dropped 9 times. Duran had well over 100 fights and he was only dropped 5 times.
It's not really that close

 

Not at all. Do the math. They fought basically the same people.