Holmes vs Norton - What Gene Tunney said!

Gene was a pretty smart, astute guy in his prime...I attribute some of his latter day comments, especially on that night of the fight, to old age, bad health, and a history of alcoholism.

 

He just witnessed one of the best heavyweight fights ever, two top notch fighters going at it, fighting their hearts out for fifteen rounds and the only thing he has to say is "lol Dempsey KO1".

Distasteful, insecure, delusional.

 

Gene was half right. Jack would have demolished Norton in one. Because of styles, Larry would have been difficult.

 

After JLJ, I thought Dempsey wrote-off mixed race fights?

So, I assume you are speaking of the pre-JLJ version.

 

When you put it like that it does sound harsh


Does anyone know what Tunney said about other champions that came after him? I'm curious if he was always like this, or if it was just Holmes and Norton.

 

Jack Dempsey might just have knocked out Norton in the first round.

Holmes would have lasted longer, but it would not have been apparent how good he was at that point.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

 

And Norton might have cleaned the floor with Dempsey as he did with Quarry.

Reality is a wonderful thing.

 

Because it kind of is.

Not only was it completely random, as the interviewever simply wanted his opinion on the fight, but it was also completely disrespectful as he insinuated that both of those guys were srubs in comparison to the champions of old.

But yeah, I guess it's just the ramblings of an old man.

 

So the best ****ogy that you can find to suggest that he might beat Dempsey, is a win over an empty shell of Jerry Quarry?

You are almost making Tunney’s case for him here!

 

Isn't it funny that he also particularly says "Dempsey KO 1."

Not like "Fighters in my time were better." Or "I coulda beat em."

But rather Jack Dempsey KO 1. lol.


This is like Lewis at 90 years old. All of his peers have passed. His time is coming to an end. He is watching a fight between two great heavyweights of the 2040's. And at the end of the fight Lewis simply says "Tyson woulda knocked em out in 1." And walks away...

 

Good point.

Tunney doesn’t seem to have especially hyped up fighters from his era other than Dempsey.

I remember him once saying that Tommy Gibbons was better than Ezzard Charles.

Most of his comparisons favouring fighters from his own era, including himself for that matter, are similarly conservative.

Make what you will of that.

 

Tunney didn't think Clay would handle Willard

[url]https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19701031&id=nStSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pHUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3582,7438723&hl=en[/url]

 

His prediction regarding Frazier was spot on though!

 

Great post, thanks for the link.

Willard a bit of a stretch but overall I respect his opinion. He was correct about the Frazier fight.

 

Gene was 81 at the time (almost 40 years ago); 81 years old NOW is a lot different than 81 years old THEN.
Not to mention talking 50 some odd years era difference.