To Have or Have Not: A Look at the Need for a Strong Chin in Boxing!
By Tony “The Fighting Writer” Luis
One of the most often used phrases in boxing is, “man that guy’s got a great chin”, or, “dude’s got a glass jaw”. For a new fan being introduced to boxing, what does that mean? Having a good “chin” in boxing is referred to a fighter’s ability to absorb a hard punch and recover quickly. “Glass jaw” on the other hand, is the opposite. When you smash glass, it almost always breaks. So when a fighter is prone to crumbling, the moment a hard punch hits him, he develops a reputation as a fighter with a “glass jaw”. It has long been a mystery and subject of much debate. Why are some fighters so resistant to punches, while others are not? We all train the same. We all harden our bodies and prepare for every possible scenario, mentally and physically. Yet, the moment certain fighters are on the receiving end of a hard punch, game plan goes out the window and the fight changes, or ends. Most recent example of this was Canelo Alvarez-Amir Khan on May 7.
For 5 rounds, Khan was boxing beautifully. Working behind his jab and employing good movement and angles, he was out-speeding and largely befuddling the much larger and stronger Canelo. But in round 6, much like the tortoise and the hare, Khan got comfortable, and the slower Canelo caught up to him. Canelo found his money punch and that was all she wrote. One punch changed the whole fight and erased all the good work Khan had done.
There have been many fighters in history with “glass jaws” that still managed to win world championships and carve out a legacy for themselves. Thomas “Hitman” Hearns would be the most popular example. The “Hitman” won world titles in 5 weight divisions. His tall, lanky frame and tremendous power allowed him to move up over 50 pounds in his career and still compete at an elite level. His resume becomes really impressive when you think of not only the guys being bigger and stronger each time he moved up, but also his severe handicap. That chin. That defect! It let him down in some of his biggest fights. When a boxer with a weak chin accomplishes as much or more as a boxer with a strong chin, it makes you want to applaud him even more. There is much more pressure on the boxer with the “glass jaw”. He can’t make mistakes. As we saw with Canelo-Khan, Canelo could afford to make more mistakes then Khan and lose rounds.
His chin could withstand Khan’s punches and he had the magic eraser to break Khan’s. For 5 rounds, Khan was perfect. He had to be. Canelo made plenty mistakes, Khan only had to make one. It cost him a win. It’s almost unfair. Khan sure looked like a Middleweight on May 7. He packed on the muscle and didn’t lose much speed. But you can’t pack muscles in your chin. Or can you?
Many theories have been raised as to what makes a good chin. Some say it’s genetics. A magic ingredient in your gene pool. You either have it or you don’t. If you don’t, tough bananas, keep those hands up! But there’s another theory. Last year, I had the pleasure and honor of eating lunch with fellow Canadian and real-life Rocky, George Chuvalo. I asked him his personal feelings as to why he was so impervious to punishment in the ring. Though it was mere speculation, he attributed it to his thick neck muscles. He dedicated a lot of time in the gym to various exercises strengthening his neck. His other answer was he kept that damn chin down!
I think it’s a combination of all theories mentioned. Speaking from personal experience, Chuvalo’s advice hit home for me. I rededicated myself to neck-strengthening exercises in the gym and I have felt the difference in my punch resistance. Maybe it’s a placebo effect or maybe George was on to something, or maybe it’s both! All that said, a stronger neck will make your head more resistant to suffering whiplash from a punch. Whiplash causes a fighter to lose consciousness. So if you can find ways to minimize that, like building a strong neck, you’re on a good path. Another way to avoid losing consciousness and protecting that chinny-chin-chin, is keeping it down! Tuck that little guy up against your chest, move that head, and keep those hands up! Another way to prevent getting knocked out is to work your butt off in the gym. When a fighter gets tired, his flaws begin to show.
He’ll make more mistakes and leave himself open for punches. He won’t anticipate the punches coming at him because he’s focused on catching his breath. The punch you don’t see hurts much more than the one you can see. Because if you can see it, you can avoid it. So get in shape, and stay in shape! Don’t go into a fight worrying when you’ll start gasping for air.
In conclusion, there is not one magic answer or one word to explain how one can develop or improve his “glass” jaw. A combination of elements play a factor. Genetics, technique, strength training, and conditioning. And if none of those are doing the trick, I suggest ballet! Where one can hold their head high with no worries of repercussions!
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