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The biggest chins in boxing – part one

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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.


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.

Munguia gave his all against Canelo, but it wasn’t enough.
(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)


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.

Steve Collins attacks Chris Eubank during their fight on September 9, 1995 (Holly Stein/ALLSPORT)


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.

Frankie Randall


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.

David Tua (Al Bello/Allsport)


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.

Roy Jones Jr

Roy Jones in great shape. Photo: Holly Stein/Allsport


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.

UNITED STATES – JANUARY 15: Heavyweight boxing: George Foreman (right) in action, punching against George Cooney (left) at the Convention Center, Cooney’s last fight as a professional, Atlantic City, NJ, January 15, 1990 (photo : John Iacono/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set number: X39332 TK1)


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.

Micky Ward

Marty Rosengarten

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Chris Billam-Smith: The story so far

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IN many ways, Chris Billam-Smith embodies the relentless work ethic and obsessive attention to detail of a professional athlete.

Reaching an elite level in his chosen sport is most often a thankless and ruthless task, reserved only for those who are willing to make extraordinary sacrifices to realize their burning desires.

And yet, clearly, the arduous process involved in becoming a world champion – fulfilling a childhood dream – is not lost on Billam-Smith, someone who is passionate about maximizing his potential.

While other fighters resent the process – the long sets, the strength and conditioning, the making of weight – the WBO cruiserweight champion from Bournemouth is the opposite.

In fact, he not only embraces the labor-intensive side of his training, but also takes pride in knowing that when all is said and done, there will be no stone left unturned, and no sleepless nights spent thinking about what could have been done differently.

And this is what primarily focuses the professional athlete’s attention; focusing on the fact that reacting to failures and therefore always finding room for improvement is often the key to success.


Chris Billam-Smith – local hero and powerful world champion

Before his professional debut, Billam-Smith was, by his own admission, a solid if unremarkable amateur.

However, despite the lack of pedigree attached to his name, the south coast technician was able to attract the attention of esteemed trainer Shane McGuigan, who, along with his father, Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan, decided to take a chance on the unproven youngster.

But really, from the McGuigans’ point of view, there was no risk at all. In any case, they had seen enough of Billam-Smith’s sparring sessions with former super middleweight king George Groves to know that, in time, their investment would be rewarded for his persistence.

And so, with an experienced team at his side, the Briton took nine victories on the compact indoor track before rising to the next level to face domestic rival Richard Riakporhe.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 20: Richard Riakporhe punches Chris Billam-Smith during the WBA Intercontinental Cruiserweight title fight between Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe at the O2 Arena on July 20, 2019 in London, England (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

His lack of experience in the heat of battle had no bearing on his performance, however, as Billam-Smith, who ultimately lost by a hard-fought split decision, gave an account of himself in which he demonstrated his incredible stamina and unwavering determination.

And that’s what eventually made him famed: a fighter who, although not the most talented, will always put on an awe-inspiring spectacle.

Indeed, this reputation was only strengthened when Billam-Smith won his first belt, stopping the brave but circumscribed Craig Glover with a brutal fifth-round finish for the Commonwealth title.

Dominant wins over Nathan Thorley and Vasil Ducar then preceded his clash with Tommy McCarthy, the European champion and close friend of former two-division king Carl Frampton.

However, with the deep-seated feud between Frampton and the McGuigans taking center stage in the build-up, Billam-Smith was forced to deal with more pressure than he perhaps expected.

Nevertheless, the fan-friendly operator handled the situation with a high degree of professionalism, resulting in a widely controversial split decision, and less than a year later, he put on a much more decisive showing in the second meeting.

By this point Billam-Smith had quickly developed a devoted fan base and on his next appearance he was given the opportunity to stage his eagerly anticipated homecoming to Bournemouth.

Not only did the rising contender put on the first-ever televised boxing show in a seaside town, but the main event – a compelling 12-round fight against Isaac Chamberlain – left fans yearning for even more action in the evening.

Needless to say, Billam-Smith did not disappoint. After extending his undefeated record with a knockout over Armend Xhoxhaj, the local hero scored his first shot at the bull’s-eye in a world title fight against his former stablemate Lawrence Okolie.


Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith argue in Bournemouth (Luke Walker/Getty Images)

And while he was undoubtedly preparing for the toughest test of his career, the end goal – a clash at the Vitality Stadium, home of his boyhood football club – provided, to put it mildly, enough motivation.

Meeting Okolie, a prolific knockout artist, obviously came with a lot of pressure. But pressure, as The Gentleman often points out, can be a privilege.

And so, after knocking down his opponent three times, the significant underdog secured a monumental majority victory – albeit in a somewhat gritty affair – and snatched the coveted WBO belt from his former sparring partner, becoming Bournemouth’s first world champion since Freddie Mills.

It is also possible that this night will never be equaled. Still, not willing to sail off into the sunset, Billam-Smith later defended his brilliance against seasoned veteran Mateusz Masternak before rematching Riakporhe at Selhurst Park, where in his second fight at a Premier League stadium he put in a much more convincing performance show. revenge on the Londoner.

Now the 34-year-old is preparing to fight WBA cruiserweight world champion Gilberto Ramirez in a mouth-watering unification fight. But regardless of the result in Saudi Arabia this Saturday, Billam-Smith’s story will always be defined by his mental determination, perseverance and, no doubt, unwavering passion to eliminate the competition through tough work.

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Jaron “Boots” Ennis is not expected to move up to 154 pounds just yet

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JARON “Boots” Ennis’ performance last Saturday night was met with criticism from all quarters because we all know that the IBF welterweight champion is capable of winning in a much more attractive and convincing manner.

Firstly, Boots’ defense was completely inadequate and mentally he just seemed out – probably frustration caused by the expectation of a quick KO and the lack of guidance from his father/corner, Derek “Boza” Ennis.

It is worth noting that Boots did not score a knockout in his first fight with Karen Chukhajian or, why insist on one now?

Bozy’s advice to “get him out of there” always seemed confusing. Chukhadzhian lost decisively, but Boots’ performance wasn’t entirely dominant. Chukhadzhian won several rounds and responded with significant punches.

Fighting at an angle, Chukhajian time and time again he clipped Boots with pointed shots and consistently turned around to start casting from a novel angle, with great volume.

Boots is a capable defensive player, although there were clearly holes and Chukhajian showed the world where Boots is ultimately vulnerable.

And while the Philadelphia hometown hero retained his belt, and the victory is undoubtedly a victory, it is critical for the 27-year-old world champion to fix how he handles the pressure from busy high-level fighters, which is an achievement of the highest order. regarding cornering directions before moving up to 154 pounds.

An alternative game plan that would befit Boots when facing sluggers who prefer boxing in the pocket is literally energetic footwork: compact steps after holding to get out of reach while taking advantage of his long reach. With a reach of 74 inches, consistent toe-to-toe combat seems completely unnecessary.

Ideally, you’ll achieve one last decisive victory, presenting much-needed improvements to both the media and fans. It’s not realistic to shoot for a knockout against any opponent – just fight astute, make every quick decision with intention and strive for victory.

For Boots, as for any fighter, moral failure is mentally similar to justifiable failure, and it’s certainly not the right place to start when heading into a division full of agile, heavyweights.

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Caleb Plant focused on modern life development and boxing

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WHEN Caleb Plant returns to the ring on Saturday night for his first fight in 18 months, he will do so under pressure unlike anything he has ever felt in his decade-long professional boxing career.

The 32-year-old has not boxed since the fight of the year with David Benavidez in March 2023, which he lost by unanimous decision, and one of the reasons for his absence was the change of the PBC network.

But in his absence from the ring, his daughter Charly has grown from a baby into a toddler who spends time in the gym, Plant says, during every sparring session. And on Saturday he will take part in a real fight for the first time.

“She’s in the gym with me almost every day and every time I spar, so there’s not a lot of extra pressure, but I have to put on a show for her,” Plant says with a smile.

“This will be her first fight in the building. We have compact headphones for her if it gets deafening, but this will be her first fight.

The moment will be especially meaningful for the Tennessee native, who has spoken openly about the tragic loss of his first daughter, Alia, who suffered from an unknown disease that Plant said caused 150 seizures a day. On January 29, 2015, at the age of just 19 months, Alia died in her mother’s arms.

Plant was then 5-0, 3 KOs, and in the nine years that followed the tragedy, he won world titles and emerged as one of the leading figures in American boxing. Plant says two-year-old Charly doesn’t leave home for training camp and is always present at his sessions.

“He runs around the gym and when I’m sparring he shouts, ‘Go, daddy!’ Good job, daddy! or he walks around and says, ‘Revenge trip,'” adds Plant. “It’s great fun, I love it. There’s nothing better than being a dad.

“I’m not a fighter who would have a problem putting my hand in the cookie jar or anything like that. I like being around my family, my wife doesn’t disturb me and I don’t have any distractions at home. Whether I’m at camp or not, I’m home and able to spend time with my daughter.

“I don’t do all the chores with her that I do outside the camp; [wife] Jordan is really progressing and managing most, if not all, while I’m training, but I still get to spend time with her throughout the day. I love being a dad, it’s great fun. I have a wonderful child who rarely whines or cries. He’s a really cold kid who’s always in a good mood, which makes life easier.

“Every morning he tells me and my wife, ‘I want to go to the gym, I want to go to the gym.’ I will leave and go to the gym and soon they will be behind me. He comes to all my sparring sessions. He says, “I want to go to the gym, spar with daddy, box with daddy, usk usk!”

Sometimes when I’m sparring she’ll say, “Daddy punches, Daddy punches,” so she knows what’s going on. She knows what’s going on.

Now she will have the opportunity to see her father in his real workplace for the first time, but the undefeated Trevor McCumby desperately hopes that this moment will be an unhappy one for the Plant family. The 31-year-old Glendale, Arizona native is 28-0, 21 KOs, but has never boxed longer than 12 rounds or fought anyone of Plant’s caliber. Therefore, its width is as much as 9/1 in the case of some bookmakers.

However, Plant’s favorite not only didn’t disrespect McCumby, he felt “personally offended” by his opponent’s decision to accept the fight at all.

“My coach was right,” Plant begins. “If he was that confident in his abilities, he wouldn’t have waited until he was 28-0 to escalate his effectiveness. Most players do this beforehand. I advanced with only 17 fights to fight for the world title as an underdog. Not many people do this, but most people raise the bar before 28-0. If he was confident, why would he wait until now?

“So in terms of me always taking it personally, I always have to compete eventually. Do you think I’m up to the task? Do you think you’ll go against me and take care of things? This won’t happen. I take it personally. I take it personally that he called me a quitter too.

“He said, ‘Caleb is giving up, we’ve seen this before,’ and that when our fight gets hard, I will find a way to give up. I felt offended because you could ask any boxing fan in the world and the last thing they would tell you is “Caleb is giving up.” I don’t know where the fuck he got that from, but we’ll find out on the 14th. We’ll see who leaves then.”

Despite this insinuation from McCumby, the truth is that any questions about Plant’s heart were emphatically answered in his last appearance, when he persevered until the final bell despite receiving shellac blows at times against Benavidez at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas. It was the type of fight that can change a fighter forever and was the epitome of courage that boxing fans will never forget. But, unsurprisingly, 22-2 Plant doesn’t look back positively on that night.

“Even as an amateur,” he says. “One thing my dad always told me was that he never cared if I won male athlete of the night, and he never wanted me to win fight of the night. Me and David won Fight of the Year, but obviously you don’t want to be in too many of them because that means there was a lot of action and it was a close fight. If necessary, I’m ready to go out there, I’ve proven that, but the goal is to go in there and win easily.

“The only fight I focus on or care about is the one in front of me. It’s one fight at a time, September 14th, get to work. I know I have some gigantic fights ahead of me and I’m ready to take them.”

David Benavidez and Caleb Plant

But first, he has to draw the line between having the longest break from the ring in his career. However, he assures that he has not grown vintage on the shelf and Saturday evening will be the culmination of the most successful training period of his life.

“There were times when the break seemed to go by slowly, but now that I look back, like most things, it actually went by quickly,” he adds. “Time flies when you’re having fun.

“I have been very busy and after today’s sparring I have done 359 rounds since my last fight. Of course, I’m very busy, even if you haven’t seen me. I’m crazy acute right now, I’m in crazy good shape and this is the best I’ve ever done in camp, the sharpest I’ve ever looked, and the most complete player I’ve ever been. He comes from sparring, just like me. But I’m almost to the point where I haven’t left everything in the gym, so I feel really good for this fight, I’m extremely confident and I’m excited.

“Of course I like training, but I do it for the glory. A warrior lives for one reason only: to fight, and he fights only to win. Training was fun, but I want to get out there, under those lights, and do what I love most.

And for the first time he will do it under the supervision of his youngest fan.

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