Boxing Talent: Training or Genetics

[rsl]

yea is there any real way to build up a chin?

I'm not really sure, but I see this with some Mexican fighters especially with Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya, while in their dressing room warming up and in between rounds I see Chavez and Oscar open up their mouths and do a biting motion rapidly, I guess its suppose to strenghten the jaw, I mean why else would they do it.

[loangunZ]

no idea maybe it was to loosen the jaw up or something

[FistoftheDallasStar]

Yeah, there are training techniques to make your jaw muscles stronger. Much like running building stamina. But the ability to take a punch varies from person to person which could only point to genetics.

[NAB]

Commentators always say that a boxers fitness helps them recover from punches - why would that be?

[FistoftheDallasStar]

Being in shape will make it easier to take punishment to a point. I mean a guy can be rocksolid in shape but if he goes in to a fight receiving more punishment than he is handing out he will more than likely lose. There is also skill level, heart and determination that would factor in there as well. Having an even combination of these things is what seperates average to below average fighters from the champs.

[NAB]

The ability to take punishment would probably cause a fighter to become punchy, I spose.