June 1978 Caesars Palace Las Vegas, Ken Norton defending his WBC Heavyweight title against Larry Holmes. Ringside sat former Heavyweight Champion 81yrs old Gene Tunney. After the main event Holmes vs Norton, Gene Tunney was interviewd ar ringside, and asked his opinion of the two fighters Holmes and Norton. Tunney replied, "Jack Dempsey would have knocked them both out in the first round"....
That's what I tried to explain to the classic forum geeks many times. Former era champions very regularly disrespected current area champions. Its NOT proof of a weak era. It's been happening since 100 years.
Lol at everyone chastising Tunney. Pool old man was probably onto something! It's not like he saw Dempsey fighting in the flesh, as well as Holmes, to make such a comparison.
100% this. Heck, listen to the prior generations tell it, and boxing has been dying since it started.
Absolutely.. The fighting Marine would have taken both of them on in the same night and made them feel a pile of wet towels !!!
Gene was a classic fighter from the old cloth. We have no choice to admit that what he says is the truth.