Pitbulls are "especially bad" in a fight because they don't react to pain the way most dogs do (often, it does vary in individual dogs). They know something hurts but it's not a reason to stop doing what they wanted. The ones I've known often overcompensated for that, once they figure it out in puppyhood, and were especially gentle and considerate.

I had a bluetick / border collie hound that had the same oblivious reaction to pain; she got tangled in an electric fence once and chewed the wire through before i realized what was happening. Then went on to catch her rabbit.