Should people with shorter necks take punches better than long necks?

[SoldierOfPeace2]

I am wondering if you have shorter neck which means you are most likely a shorter person should u take punches better than a long neck person

[abracada]

I am wondering if you have shorter neck which means you are most likely a shorter person should u take punches better than a long neck person

My guess is that the length of neck has zero importance in punch resistance

[Redd Foxx]

Doesn't work that way.

[them_apples]

the thing is, if you don't see a shot and aren't flexing or bracing for the shot by biting on your mouth piece - then the structure of your neck and head won't do much since its basically like getting sucker punched. you are at the mercy of how well your brain is cushioned within your skull. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with how thick your neck is.

I think from a leverage point of view though taller thinner faces don't seem to take as good of a shot. I don't think heads scale in weight classes either. You got guys who are taller or bigger at 147 with small heads and jaws, and you got smaller short guys with thick broad faces and "hard" looking heads. They might have similar level chins but if one guy is getting hit by welterweights and the other is getting hit by featherweights then its obvious who is going to be labelled "iron" chinned.

That being said physical aside, the fighter that sees the punches coming will almost always be considered a fighter with a good chin. DLH for for example seemed to be in constant state of biting on his mouth peice and always seemed to take a good shot.

I think certainly some fighters have rugged harder heads, either genetically or maybe from just how they fight, maybe a mixture of both. You look at guys like Basilio, Lamotta, Walker, chuvalo and even robinson, they all seemed like they had really hard heads - its used to be the first measuring stick in boxing if you could ever make it as a fighter.

[DugzBoxing]

Depends on having a large Adam's Apple or not lol

(Direct blow to the neck would be fatal)

To make your head/neck more durable you can do neck exercises.

[GelfSara]

the thing is, if you don't see a shot and aren't flexing or bracing for the shot by biting on your mouth piece - then the structure of your neck and head won't do much since its basically like getting sucker punched. you are at the mercy of how well your brain is cushioned within your skull. This doesn't seem to have anything to do with how thick your neck is.

Your theory if I understand it is essentially as follows: If we take two identical twin boxers and train the neck of one but not the other, the trained twin will be more difficult to hurt or KO only when both twins consciously brace themselves for identical punches; when hit with punches they don't see, both will demonstrate identical "punch resistance".

This theory is flawed for two main reasons. The more minor of the two is that effective training of the neck results in a heavier neck and therefore less acceleration of the head and neck when acted upon by identical outside forces. The more significant of the two reasons is that in daily life, including of course while boxing, the neck is not fully relaxed; the muscles of the neck are constantly contracting and relaxing in order to maintain desired head position. This activity--called "tonus"--generally is not something we are conscious of, but it does allow us to respond "automatically", as needed, to attempt to maintain homeostasis.

[OctoberRed]

No really, it could mean that you get more of a serious injury. Although Tyson and Tua were viewed as big punch resistant due to their short necks.

[KingHippo]

With all things equal, I assume a short stubby neck will absorb shock better than a long skinny one.

[OctoberRed]

With all things equal, I assume a short stubby neck will absorb shock better than a long skinny one.

Just like Tua.