Good Luck Knocking Down Today’s Boxers With Iron Chins

Unleashing hellacious punches isn’t enough to reach the top of the boxing world. When you get in the pocket and have power coming back in your direction, I would think most boxers would prefer to have a strong chin to keep them in the fight. When a fighter starts to decline, online boxing news generally shows it is because their ability to take a hit starts to wane.

But maintaining that durability is easier said than done. Boxing is a thankless sport that sees fighters absorb thousands of punches to their heads over their careers. Many boxers who have long, successful careers, like Floyd Mayweather Jr., develop strong defensive skills that limit how much they get touched up by their opponents.

There are plenty of fighters competing today who are willing to take risks because of their trust in their chin. If fighters can ignore the pain in their body and wade into the pocket, they are dangerous to anyone who is willing to step in the ring with them.

Some fighters just have the natural ability to absorb damage before delivering shots of their own. Everyone involved in the sport has to be a little crazy to participate in the carnage. But here’s a look at some of the fighters with the best chins still actively competing in 2024.

Don’t Mess with Canelo

Canelo Alvarez has earned too many awards to be listed fully in this article. But one of the things that the Mexican star has to take pride in is how his durability has made him a star. Despite being stung against the ropes a few times, Canelo has never been knocked down in 65 professional fights.

Being able to stay in the fight has enabled Canelo to reach great heights during his boxing career. The latest trending boxing news shows that Canelo has held world championships in four different weight classes. He unified two of those three championships. Even at age 34, Canelo is still ranked in the top five in the pound-for-pound rankings for best boxer in the world.

If Canelo wants to continue fighting, his strong chin should help him be able to fight until he’s 40. Canelo is also willing to bounce between weight classes. He has even gone up to light heavyweight. No matter what level Canelo fights at, he always seems prepared for the war that lies ahead.

Usyk is a Tough Customer

Oleksandr Usyk briefly became the first undisputed heavyweight champion in over 20 years last May when he beat Tyson Fury in a split decision. At some point during the fight, Usyk suffered a broken jaw. Despite his pain, Usyk was able to keep battering Fury and even scored a knockdown of his own in the eighth round of his win.

Having a strong chin at heavyweight is a must. Fighters at the heavyweight limit fight with tremendous power. It only takes one shot for an entire fight to change. While Usyk has fought most of his career at cruiserweight, the Ukrainian was well prepared to go up in weight and take on the best heavyweights in the world.

With wins over Anthony Joshua and Fury, Usky’s 22-0 record has him on track to go down as one of the best heavyweights in history if he can keep on winning. 

Prospect of Saudi Money Keeps Golovkin Interested

Two years out of the ring hasn’t prevented Gennady Golovkin from training hard. While Golovkin has been away from boxing for two years following his loss to Canelo, a boxing update today shows that Golovkin wouldn’t mind coming back to the sport.

Golovkin never officially retired. During his more active days, Golovkin was lauded for his ability to take a punch. In 45 professional fights, Golovkin never found himself on the canvas staring up at the arena lights. Golovkin claims to have never been seriously hurt during 345 fights that he’s had during his lifetime.

Golovkin may end up being lured back to the ring by the solids. GGG also likely would like to end his career with a win instead of the disappointing loss to Canelo.

Shakur Stevenson Trusts His Ability

Shakur Stevenson wants the chatter surrounding his ability to stop. Following a few underwhelming championship fights, people want to see the WBC lightweight champion test himself against a power puncher like Gervonta Davis. Stevenson hasn’t really faced a test to silence his doubters yet.

Stevenson is 22-0 in his career and has never been knocked down. However, Stevenson has primarily fought a safe style during his last two title fights. It is good to have a defensive posture, but boxing fans are hoping to see Stevenson get into deep waters to find out what he is made of.

Ruiz Isn’t an Easy Man to Move

Anyone following Anthony Joshua in the latest boxing news knows about Andy Ruiz. While Ruiz’s upset victory over Joshua came five years ago, it is still hard to imagine the circumstances of that seismic change in the heavyweight division. Ruiz wasn’t considered a serious challenger to Joshua, who was being pushed toward a potential fight with Tyson Fury at the time.

Instead, Ruiz’s ability to take power punches set the tone for the fight. Ruiz took Joshua’s best shots and eventually found an opening to score a knockdown of his own. Ruiz would win the fight via seventh-round TKO and claim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.

While Ruiz’s title reign would be short, Joshua won the rematch via decision five months later, but Ruiz had established himself as one of the toughest heavyweights in the world. Despite fighting 38 times as a professional, Ruiz has never been knocked down.

Even in the dangerous heavyweight division, where any shot landed could be the last one, Ruiz has gone the distance 15 times. Few men have the power to trouble Ruiz. Even the ones who do have that horrifying power would need to create the perfect window to put him down.

Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.

By Dean McHugh.