Gene Tunney: Is he a top 10 ATG heavyweight?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by JAB5239, May 21, 2011.


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  1. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    NY Times, March 26 '61.


    Billy Conn only made 2 or 3 defenses of his LHW title before vacating it, but he is generally considered a fixture in that division's top 10.

    Fidel LaBarba retired and vacated his flyweight title without ever making a single defense of it.

    Marcel Cerdan died without ever having made a single successful defense of his MW title.
     
    My2Sense, May 30, 2011
    My2Sense, May 30, 2011
    #241
  2. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Congratulations!!! Somebody willing to do the research and make a stand!!

    Next question....Is it arguable that none of these fighter belong inb the top 10 of their respective divisions? This is a difficult question for me to ask because I DO rank Conn in the top 10 at 175. Cerdan I don't,....and I am not familiar enough with the flyweight to comment on LaBarber.
     
    JAB5239, May 30, 2011
    JAB5239, May 30, 2011
    #242
  3. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    How in the world is Heeney a more valuable name on Tunney's resume than Patterson on Liston's?
     
    JAB5239, May 30, 2011
    JAB5239, May 30, 2011
    #243
  4. Zakman

    Zakman ESB's Chinchecker Full Member

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    Lower reaches of the top 20.
     
    Zakman, May 30, 2011
    Zakman, May 30, 2011
    #244
  5. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    Now this is what i would call overating!
     
    BlackCloud, Dec 29, 2016
    BlackCloud, Dec 29, 2016
    #245
    mcvey likes this.
  6. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    Liston's people via Jack Nilon offered Johannson £1000,000 to fight Sonny in1962, he turned it down,and tried to get a fight with Archie Moore.
     
    mcvey, Dec 30, 2016
    mcvey, Dec 30, 2016
    #246
  7. Combatesdeboxeo_

    Combatesdeboxeo_ Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    no
     
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Dec 30, 2016
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Dec 30, 2016
    #247
  8. Hookandjab

    Hookandjab Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Yes, maybe the best.
     
    Hookandjab, Dec 30, 2016
    Hookandjab, Dec 30, 2016
    #248
  9. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    Oh dear..........
     
    BlackCloud, Dec 30, 2016
    BlackCloud, Dec 30, 2016
    #249
  10. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    BlackCloud, Dec 30, 2016
    BlackCloud, Dec 30, 2016
    #250
  11. Hookandjab

    Hookandjab Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I see. Jimmy Young beat Foreman and, arguably, Ali, but Gene couldn't. Billy Conn beat Louis for 12 rounds, but Gene couldn't. Marty Marshall beat Liston, but Gene couldn't. An over the hill, 190ish Walcott almost beat Marciano, but Gene couldn't. Oh dear .....
     
    Hookandjab, Dec 30, 2016
    Hookandjab, Dec 30, 2016
    #251
    louis54 likes this.
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I would rank him behind Ali.







    About 30 places behind Ali.
     
    Seamus, Dec 30, 2016
    Seamus, Dec 30, 2016
    #252
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  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    So you pick Tunney to beat Liston? Because middleweight Harry Greb beat Tunney and Liston couldn't? See how stupid
    this analogy is?
     
    mcvey, Dec 30, 2016
    mcvey, Dec 30, 2016
    #253
    Sangria likes this.
  14. Hookandjab

    Hookandjab Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Tunney wasn't a heavyweight when Greb beat him. Liston was a heavyweight when Marshall beat him
     
    Hookandjab, Dec 30, 2016
    Hookandjab, Dec 30, 2016
    #254
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    No he is not a top ten heavyweight, but it might be that he chose not to be!

    Nobody took his title off him, or scared him into retirement.

    He chose to retire at his absolute prime, when he was considered unassailable.

    Had he chosen to hold onto the title until somebody took it from him, his ranking might have escalated rapidly!
     
    janitor, Dec 30, 2016
    janitor, Dec 30, 2016
    #255
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