If Sharkey had managed to get to the end of the fight against Dempsey, got himself the decision and being the one to meet Tunney instead? Was Sharkey good enough to beat Tunney?
At his best Ferg, I think he would have a decent chance against Gene the dancin’ machine. Sharkey had a lot going for him but he wasn’t the most emotionally stable guy. Still, hypotheticals are meant to call in the best versions, so yeah, Jack has a very decent chance imo.
Me to, mate. But it depends on Jack, as you say. He's like the 1920 s version of Golota imo. He might have surprised us and taken it to Tunney and got himself a decision, Tunney wasn't far off retiring so maybe Jack gets him at the right time. Think it could have been a very interesting match.
Well if Sharkey had assumed the quiet man moniker rather than being the Boston Gob and talking to ref mid fight to complain he would have beat Dempsey. Would Tunney have wanted to defend against a up and coming fighter, 5yrs his junior who had just defeated Dempsey? If Tunney did fight Sharkey, i would favour Tunney to win, especially because as identified by Fergy and Pugguy, Sharkey was not emotionally stable.
The best Sharkey against the best Tunney is probably the best heavyweight fight you can make in the late 20s. Gene's the safer pick, but I think it realistically could go either way.
I think Tunney would fight Sharkey in the pocket as much as on the move. An aggressive, hitting performance, outworking his guy inside, making Sharkey pick unfortunate angles. He's the better technician and Sharkey won't like that feeling, he has a better jaw and throws faster hands - Tunney would only move to make Sharkey sad. Tunney would thrash Sharkey IMO. A very one-sided fight, though fascinating. Tunney was the best around by a mile.
If it is the best version of Sharkey at that time, I think it would have been closer than some expect, but I would give the edge to Gene Tunney.
I’m with you on this one, Tunney gets a reputation from the Dempsey footage from being more of a retreating bullfighter than he really was - he was plenty capable & willing to fight at close quarters throughout his career, only adopting a more cautious approach with the most feared Heavy who ever lived to that point in time. Tunney on points comfortably. He was far & away Sharkey’s superior.
Tunney left Dempsey swollen, black and blue both times. There were times when Tunney would briefly set and launch reasonably powerful salvos. Gene knew how and when to get on his bike but he also understood that serious and periodically executed offence was required to keep his opponents honest. He blended defence and offence very well. Still, I think a switched on Sharkey would’ve provided as a much sterner test than Demspey - whose all important legs were clearly gone - or, at least, certainly not what they used to be.
For Tunney - Dempsey one, I agree with you. For Tunney - Dempsey two, for rounds won, Sharkey probably does do better, but I do not see Sharkey knocking Gene Tunney on his butt for 14 seconds either. That 14 seconds long knockdown did as much (if not more) to cement Dempsey's long term legendary status as Dempsey - Firpo did.
