The greatest chins in boxing are absolutely NOT the ones that don’t allow you to get dropped or hurt. In fact, great chins are a curse.
I always hear:
– Tex Cobb
– George Chuvalo
– Muhammad Ali — when he lost the fear of being hit and found he could absorb a harder punch than he originally thought.
Honestly, in terms of ability, a great chin will keep you in the middle of the road and your opponents in the fight..
The threat of being hurt forces a fighter to execute much sharper. A great chin is a terrible teacher. There is no corrective when you are wrong or make a mistake. Great chins teach you to disrespect your opponent and always remember that losses don’t have to come by KO.
Not getting hurt actually betrays the will to win. If you can’t get hurt, where is the sense of urgency that is so critical to a tight defense in a boxing match?
Who fights well when they are comfortable? The greatest fights happen when either fighter knows there is a significant chance they can lose or be hurt.
Boxing with a chin from Gibraltar offers too much security, therefore, it often gives way to passivity. You need a healthy dose of fear and respect.
It’s like being on the bomb squad deactivation unit, but you aren’t careful because you have no fear of being detonated. That’s kinda unhealthy — and no one wants to work with you.
What happens with an ironclad chins is, you actually allow yourself to be hit. (Placid, great chins lose more fights that way.)
Also, an opponent that has an impregnable chin has a fixed level of ability. When you move your head and don’t get hit, you create an opening to strike your opponent once you make him miss.
As a rock, you don’t — or can’t — develop the skills you need to win, should the fight go to a decision.
That’s why I say a reliance on your chin is truly overrated and ill-advised.
And of course, there are ALWAYS the exceptions… Iron chins that have always respected their opponent’s punch, even though they did take a great punch? Off the top of my head… Marvin Hagler. Salvador Sanchez. Carlos Monzon. Canelo Alvarez. James Toney. There’s more, if you care to create a list…
If you have a choice… and you don’t, opt for the 65-80% granite chin. The fact that you can be hurt creates a sense of urgency, you execute well under pain, and this allows you to generate more power yourself.
Yes, fear is fuel.
Great chins are for fans and spectators. As a fighter, you’d be well served to allow your fans to take the punch for you.
100%SILK