Gene Tunney vBob Fitzsimmons 15rds Prime For Prime

It wouldn't happen, neither would the occasion for the judges to announce a decision.

 

Tunney definitely elected to mix it up with most opponents who were smaller than him, and some that were bigger than him.

Would he be sufficiently mindful of Fitzsimmons power to fight like he did against Dempsey?

That is the question.

 

I always felt Tunney gets too much credit for boxing on the back foot. He could just as readily get involved in an inside toe to toe battle.

That being said what I see of Fitz doesn't tell the story of greatness. It doesn't tell the story of a man capable of beating Tunney.

Tunney ko3.

 

Although Fitz seemed tough as teak he hit the floor plenty of times, and Tunney had decent power to go with his boxing skills,I think he could definitely stop Fitz.
Like has been said if Tunney sticks to his boxing it could be a pretty routine win, but Fitz would be dangerous every second that he was in there.

 

I think some are selling Fitzsimmons a bit short. He defeated his share of very fast fighters.

Among the are Jim Corbett, Joe Choynski, and Jack O'Brien. There are films that show the speed of the fighters.

Jack O'Brien might be the best pure runner type in the history of the division. I have 50 minutes or so of him vs Burns. Burns could not catch him. Yet Fitzsimmons stopped him at age 41!

So perhaps it comes down to Tunney's durability. He has only floored once in his career by Dempsey's best-filmed combination and had no issues moving at a fast pace for 15 rounds.

But could Tunney take Fitzsimmons body shots or hook? If you know that, you know the winner of this fight!

I tend to doubt Tunney would win via KO. Fitz took many punches from people who hit harder than Gene. If you take out Jeffries, Fitz went from February 1890 to July 1905 without being stopped. 15 years...pretty amazing when you look at the punchers and bigger men he fought.

Most historians alive who saw them both in the ring or on lost films felt Fitz was better.

 

Late-round stoppage for fitz... if Fitz can remember to go to the neutral corner since his career was before the rule.

 

Because that was his natural style.

Our understanding of Tunney’s style is distorted by the Dempsey fights, because they are the most frequently shown, but they are not representative of his usual approach.

The Carpintier fight and the Heeney fight are much more representative.

So I think there is a legitimate question whether he abandons his usual style, for this unquestionably dangerous, but significantly smaller fighter.

 

Hopelessly optimistic.

 

Is Tunneys usual style the way he fought Dempsey?

This is the way he needs to fight against Greb.

 

Actually it's the opposite, hopelessly pessimistic.

 

OK

Which fight makes you think that a prime Fitzsimmons is likely to be stopped within three rounds?

Which fight makes you think that Taunney is likely to stop any live opponent within three rounds?

 

The fight against Corbett. The man I see doesn't live up to the stories I've read.

The fight against Dempsey. The man that toys with such a ferocious fighter would have little trouble toying with a SMW hero of mine.