Do you think Tunney deserves the criticism for not fighting Wills and Godfrey?

He was trying to get the Wills fight at one point and Wills turned him down thinking, rightfully, that he had already done enough to deserve a shot at Slacker Jack.

 

The man fought Harry Greb four times. I give him a lot of slack.

 

For reasons already outlined, no. Most people like to nominate Holmes but Tunney is my pick for the most under-rated Heavyweight champion of all-time.

 

Sorry, to clarify I was saying people usually call Holmes the most under-rated champion but I’d go Tunney.

A man after my own heart, I see - Davout, Lannes, Ney, Suchet…it’s all gravy you can’t go wrong with any of those fellows.

 

No Dempsey deserves the criticism for avoiding Wills. He did not fight for the title for 3 years and withdrew from an agreed upon title shot with Wills in 1924.

Tunney on the other hand became champ right before Wills lost to Sharkey and Uzcudin. Tunneys title defenses were also determined by eliminators and tournaments. He didn't choose his opponents and wasn't avoiding anyone. If Tom Heeney seems like a random final opponent for Tunney today thats just how the cookie crumbled.

I don't think Godfrey was in the mix at this point. I also don't think "mandatorys" and "voluntarys" existed yet.

The idea Tunney had a short resume is based on wanting to see him fight 30s stars who were around when Tunney retired. In 1928 Tunney and the public didn't have our perspective. Tunney at this point was probably considered both the HW and LHW GOAT. He had a list of victories that included Dempsey, Gibbons, Greb, Loughran, Delaney, Carpentier, Heeney, Battling Levinsky, Ermino Spalla, Weinart and Risko. He had also beaten every fighter he'd ever stepped in the ring with.

 

I honestly don't know enough behind the scenes historically as to why they never fought but I do feel that Wills was already getting old by 22 - 24 and Godfrey seemed to have a very spotty career ... knowing the sport there are a dozen reasons ...

 

His legacy is fine right where it is

 

Harry Wills was 37 and shot when Tunney won the title.

From the point Tunney won the title, Wills lost his next 3 fights.

The winner of the Dempsey vs Sharkey fight was always going to be the most deserving challenger for Tunney's first defence.

Tunney defended vs Heeney in July 1928. In February 1928 the ring magazine ranked Heeney at #4 and Godfrey at #9.

In his only fight between Feb and July 1928, Heeney beat #7 ranked Jack Delaney, whereas Godfrey lost to Johnny Risko and the unranked Larry Gains. Heeney was a far more credible challenger than Godfrey.

Tunney clearly doesn't warrant any criticism for not defending vs Wills or Godfrey.