You cannot learn how to take a punch. Warriors can be gifted with an iron chin or cursed with a glass chin. Throughout history, many of the greatest fighters of all time have relied on their toughness to overcome adversity and remain at the top of the boxing world.

Viewers were impressed by the speed, IQ and strength of many of the technically best boxers in history, but there was also something to behold when witnessing a punch that should have crushed anyone it hits when thrown so nonchalantly.

Recent history tells us this: viral reactions of disbelief on social media and the reaction to Gennady Golovkin effortlessly passing Canelo Alvarez’s right hand racket. Like everything in boxing, everything has its levels and the ability to make a shot is the same. In contrast, the same punch has previously decimated James Kirkland and Amir Khan in consecutive KOs this year.

With this in mind, I have highlighted 20 standout players who, in my opinion, had the most hard-wearing chins in history. This list requires extensive footage of each fighter, which excludes many old-school brawlers like Harry Greb and Jack Britton, to name a few. These were men who had gone through hundreds of 15- and 20-round bouts without stopping.

In the first part of a three-part series, let’s take a look at the first selection of fighters who were almost impossible to defeat.

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20) Canelo Alvarez – a chin that can withstand brutal punishment

As it stands, the Mexican superstar has never been dropped in a career spanning 66 fights and spanning 20 years. While Canelo’s fluid defense and instinctive ability to control shots have allowed him to withstand many of the shots he takes, he still has enough color without even being moved. From what I remember, he was only in trouble twice, briefly by Golovkin in their second fight, and as a teenager he broke down notably against Jose Miguel Cotto, coming back and winning in two fights.

Canelo’s consistent durability is more impressive considering the number of top fighters he has faced in the 154- to 175-pound weight range.

Golovkin and Kovalev are two of the most perilous knockout artists of their generation. Bivol was much bigger, and the likes of Jacobs, Munguia, Kirkland and Cotto had powerful fists.

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19) Chris Eubank – super middleweight king with a granite beard

Eubank, one of Britain’s toughest fighters, was stopped only once in 52 fights by the mighty Carl Thompson, who even stopped future heavyweight champion David Haye. His eccentricity somewhat overshadows the fortitude he possessed, but you only have to watch his fights against legendary fighters such as Steve Collins and Nigel Benn to see that Eubank was extraordinary.

He took Joe Calzaghe to the finish before the Welsh started to have stern hand problems and stopped all but one of their opponents. Eubank’s attack on the highly rated Michael Watson, who had so tragically turned the fight to his advantage, was perhaps the most dramatic display of his toughness.

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18) Julio Cesar Chavez – an iron man, described by Mike Tyson as one of the best of his generation

Chavez never took a step back. In his prime, the highly talented, relentless Mexican was as close to an immovable object as boxing has ever seen. Throughout 13 peak years of unparalleled greatness and dominance in the contemporary era, he remained both undefeated and on his feet before getting his first taste of the canvas against Frankie Randall in his 91st fight.

Like Canelo, Chavez was masterful defensively, but with such an aggressive style, he inevitably absorbed difficult punches. However, against big-name boxers like Edwin Rosario, they only seemed to fuel his vicious intensity after bouncing off his skull.

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17) David Tua – The Up-to-date Zealand left hook specialist faced the toughest punches

Considering the era in which Tua fought and his miniature, compact frame, it’s truly astonishing that in his 59-fight career, he only got to the deck once and was never stopped. Some of this may be due to his own bone-crushing power, stopping opponents before they can launch their own bombs.

However, Tua continued to absorb everything that Lennox Lewis threw at him, breaking the world record for most punches thrown in a heavyweight fight against the dangerously explosive Ike Ibeabuchi in a classic! Add in fights against Michael Moorer, John Ruiz and Hasim Rahman, and Tua’s chin rivaled many of the world’s top champions during one of the best eras in the heavyweight division.

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16) James Toney – Finding the chin of one of the defensive greats was a challenge in itself

James Toney is a freaking talent. A man who loved to fight in close combat and yet was never truly struck unscathed, from middleweight championship honors to heavyweight title fights. This was all down to Toney’s free-flowing defense, which was perfect for piercing, malicious close-up combinations. From clashes with the talented Roy Jones Jr and Michael Nunn to fearsome heavyweights Evander Holyfield, Samuel Peter and John Ruiz, Toney was never stopped in 92 fights.

Even as a shell of his former self, he had enough to avoid the force of punches from the likes of Lucas Browne and Denis Lebedev. Toney recovered from all three knockdowns of his career, which came against Jones Jr., Reggie Johnson and Samuel Peter.

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15) George Foreman – This returning king has taken an absurd amount of punches

While George Foreman’s hellacious haymakers cemented their place in boxing history, I always felt they overshadowed the punishment the great man could endure. In 81 fights at the age of 20 and 40 in two careers, probably the two toughest periods in heavyweight history, the great George was stopped only once. The stoppage in his match against Muhammad Ali in the iconic “Rumble in the Jungle” was due to exhaustion rather than impact resistance.

George imitated the Terminator on some occasions, especially in his older years, when he constantly marched through the powerful punches of the likes of Tommy Morrison, Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer. While Ron Lyle was able to temporarily knock down George in the greatest heavyweight fight of the 1970s, Foreman’s extraordinary recovery skills and indomitable will carried him through the unforgettable Yo-Yo fight.

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14) Micky Ward – the timeless “Irish” fighter could never give up on sending shots

Micky Ward epitomizes resilience. Not only because of his fighting style, but also his persistence in overcoming many setbacks before Arturo Gatti starts fighting. Micky had an incredibly grueling 48-fight career before he finally made real money against his biggest rival. During these years of relative obscurity, Ward took part in one of the most brutal fights you could ever want to see, the 2001 Fight of the Year winner against Emmanuel Augustus.

Ward’s unimaginable victory over Alfonso Sanchez came drastically after he suffered such a severe beating that commentators, who later came to worship Micky, heavily criticized him and consistently criticized the continuation of the fight. But it was the three wars with Gatti, considered the most brutal trilogy in boxing history, that cemented Ward’s legacy as one of boxing’s most courageous fighters. In 51 fights, including some of boxing’s fiercest, Ward was stopped only once, on cuts.

REJOICE! After weeks of relative composed, the novel boxing season is finally here. The last bit of customary season ending has finally passed and now the real battles can begin.

For those of you who check our main event schedule, you’ll know that there are a lot of major events on the horizon and coming up. So, without further ado, let’s now discuss these significant nights in the calendar as it looks like the year is going to end sturdy.

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September 14 – Canelo Alvarez vs. Edgar Berlanga, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

In this bleak era of Covid-19, when it was considered a crime to step outside the front door and fights took place in sterilized bubbles, Canelo Alvarez breathed much-needed air into fighting and kept the sport alive. Beyond the giants circling above, Canelo is a driving force in boxing in the post-Mayweather world, and we should appreciate him.

But Berlanga isn’t the Mexican’s strongest option, and this one doesn’t get the pulse racing. Mexico’s rivalry with Puerto Rico is generally thrilling, but it’s not about Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez or even Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Hector Camacho. and Berlanga has to show us something we’ve never seen from him before. He certainly promises a good fight, let’s hope he delivers one.

Grade: C

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September 21: Daniel Dubois vs. Anthony Joshua, Wembley Stadium, London

If promotional exaggerations are to be believed, approximately 100,000 people will be in attendance for this potentially thrilling shootout between world-class heavyweights. Anthony Joshua has carried a golden era of British boxing on his considerable shoulders, starting with Olympic gold, and his goal is to become a three-heavyweight world champion.

Bbucking the general trend, IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois has fought every fighter at the beginning of his career and is now reaching his peak at just 26 years aged. It’s a fascinating crossroads fight at the highest level, boosted by a brilliant season card at Riyad and a live performance from Liam Gallagher (who once stood behind me in the ATM queue at Finchley Road) for fans who missed out on those precious Oasis tickets.

Rating: A

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October 12: Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, Kingdom Arena, Riyad

This is probably my favorite fight on the calendar. Beterbiev’s bullet-destroying fists have broken the will of all 20 opponents he has faced so far, but the icy Bivol may just have the ring smarts to defuse the ever-ticking time bomb. Most people I talk to about boxing pretty confidently favor Beterbiev, so I’m in the relative minority supporting the composed Bivol.

The smoothest of operators, he fights at the opponent’s level and should raise his game accordingly. For 39-year-old Beterbiev, this may be a fight too far (even though we’ve been saying that for a year or two!). It’s a fire-and-ice clash with all the 175-pound belts on the line, and it will be fascinating to see how this matchup turns out. Riyad’s undercard features a galaxy of stars including Shakur Stevenson and Jai Opetaia, but it looks like the Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke rematch will steal the show.

Rating: A+

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October 26 – Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis, Co-op Live, Manchester

It seems like forever since the wily Catterall upset former Team GB Olympic captain Thomas Stalker in eight rounds to burst onto the scene (that was 10 years ago in October). His career has been sluggish, but after avenging his disputed loss to Josh Taylor, the Chorley man looks to be on the verge of another shot at the world title.

What better way to cement that claim than with a win over accomplished American and former two-time 140-pound champion Regis Prograis, who fits that bill perfectly. “Rougarou” has something to prove, having been outclassed by Devin Haney last time out, but he has real credentials and will sell the fight well. The winner fights for the world champion title, the loser returns to the pursuit group.

Grade: B

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November 15 – Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, AT&T Stadium in Arlington

Love it or hate it, you won’t be able to ignore it. This must-see event (free for Netflix subscribers) will be a huge success due to its curiosity value and unprecedented accessibility. One would hope that an eight-by-two-minute pro event would be an exhibition event, with a bit of grappling and showmanship, and no grave repercussions.

Tyson’s recent health problems should have been enough of a warning sign to cancel the fight (he is 58 years aged!), but as always, the dollar rules. Jake Paul has his limits as a fighter, but as a businessman and marketer he can trade with anyone. I think a lot of people in boxing probably resent that. This could very well work as a face-saving choreographic draw. The upgraded rating below is due to the great Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano rematch on the card, which will thankfully remind us of boxing at its best.

Grade C

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December 21: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury II, Kingdom Arena, Riyad

In the 1990s, substantial heavyweight fights flowed like fine wine. We were spoiled by the Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis axis and an intriguing supporting cast including Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, Michael Moorer, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer et al. But until May this year, there had been no undisputed heavyweight champion for 25 years, and too many major fights had stalled in an era of risk assessment and heightened politics.

Enter Turki Alalshikh and this significant injection of cash from Saudi Arabia. After years of posturing, the Usyk vs Fury fight finally happened, was raved about, and marked an significant chapter in boxing history, characterized by the shifts in dynamics that turn great fights on paper into epic ones in reality. Unless he was injured during the fight, the rematch agreed in the contract cannot be considered a spectacle. The virtuoso Usyk is a believer in repetition, but if we’ve learned anything about boxing over the last decade, it’s to never write Tyson Fury off.

Rating A+

Last weekend we saw three shows headlined by female boxers, something that would have been unheard of just a few years ago. The truth is that few female athletes attract immense crowds these days. For example, last Friday’s Dixon v Harper fight in Sheffield was for the world title but attracted less than 2,000 fans.

On the other hand, there are women who have a fan base that guarantees gigantic events and they pave the way for their lesser-known counterparts. Two of the biggest names in women’s boxing, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, made history as the first women’s fight took place in April 2022 at the legendary Madison Square Garden.

Their long-awaited rematch will be the co-main event alongside Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul on November 15. It hurts to know that these two pioneers will be sharing the stage with something that is ultimately just a gimmick. However, one can only assume that both will earn well and be exposed to a larger audience than ever before. The show will be part of the Most Valued Promotions (MVP) boxing partnership and will stream live worldwide on Netflix.

When a women’s fight is featured on the show, it’s often the funniest fight of the night. This has a lot to do with the structure of women’s fights: 10 rounds of 2 minutes each. This shortened format usually results in fast-paced and action-packed fights. While they may be more fun, some argue that elite women need more time to show their class. 20 minutes is just not enough.

Ultimately, women’s boxing is still a relatively recent sport and it would make sense to see progress in the way women’s fights are formatted. Why not try 10 x 3 minute rounds in championship fights? Amanda Serrano has been vocal about her desire to compete in the same format as her male counterparts, and last October she competed in the first-ever women’s boxing match played in a 12-round, 3-minute format. As a result, Serrano’s WBC title was not at risk as the sanctioning body refused to approve a longer format for women.

WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said two-minute rounds provide more action and excitement, while longer rounds can lead to dehydration and fatigue. The question must be asked: Are we sure the same applies to our male athletes? The tiny format makes sense to support women’s boxing build an audience. It cannot be denied that the fights of our players in the tiny format have gained recent fans of the women’s game. But isn’t change part of progress?

An extra 10 minutes in the ring means boxers have more time to finish off an injured opponent, they have a greater chance of scoring a knockout, and fighters can execute their game plan. Longer fights would suit more elite fighters like Serrano, Shields, Taylor and Mayer and give them the opportunity to showcase their skills and boxing IQ.

We have seen that women are not afraid to take risks and do everything in their power to make gigantic fights happen, often jumping multiple weight classes to do so. They don’t really have the luxury of sitting back and waiting for recent opportunities to arise. The biggest fights happen when competition is involved. Some are lucky to have these rivals; others are not so lucky.

Claressa Shields is arguably the greatest boxer of all time (two-time Olympic champion, five-time world champion and self-proclaimed “GWOAT”), but she lacks a worthy dance partner who can match her skills and personality. This means it probably won’t get the admiration it deserves.

The next program of the season in Riyad will feature women for the first time in history: Skye Nicolson vs. Raven Chapman. While I’m cheerful to see women’s fighting on one of the biggest shows of the year, I wonder why it took so long for women’s fighting to be featured on one of the season’s shows in Riyad?

Hasn’t the entertainment and quality provided by female athletes over the last few years given them the opportunity to be part of these great spectacles? Is this just a box-ticking exercise? Only time will tell.

We can only hope that over time the divisions will fill up and we will see more fights that will attract the attention of fans. While women’s sport still has a long way to go and patience will be needed to reach its full potential, it is also clear that there is a clear double standard at play here.

Men’s sports are judged by their potential, while women’s sports are judged by where they are today. We must continue to invest time and money in the grassroots roots of women’s boxing and promote representation at the highest level. Ultimately, the progress of women’s boxing reflects the progress of boxing as a whole.