After coming up against many durable opponents during his career, George Foreman once named the man who had the strongest chin of them all.
‘Big George’ is often credited with being one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, winning a version of the world championship on two occasions throughout his storied professional career.
His crowning moment came in January of 1973 when he stopped countryman Joe Frazier in the 2nd round of their clash in Jamaica to capture the undisputed heavyweight championship in emphatic fashion.
Foreman’s second reign as world champion began 21-years after his first when he dethroned WBA and IBF title holder Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever, a record that remains unbroken to this day.
In a feature with The Ring Magazine, Foreman gave a surprising answer when revealing the fighter he faced with the best chin, naming the incredible durable George ‘Scrap Iron’ Johnson.
“I hit him so often that I damaged my hands in that fight. He had taken “Smokin” Joe Frazier the distance and had the best chin I’d ever come across. They stopped the fight but I couldn’t get him out of there cleanly. I still haven’t knocked him out (laughs).”
Foreman faced Johnson in the 20th contest of his professional career in May 1970, stopping his countryman in the 7th round of their showdown in California after he sustained a nasty cut over his left eye.
Despite suffering 27 defeats during his career, Johnson proved to be a durable opponent for a number of world class heavyweights, facing the likes of Ron Lyle, Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier prior to his retirement from the sport.
