Where would Tunney be ranked as a heavyweight in the 70s?

I don't think he beats Quarry. I think he has real problems with Chuvalo. The rest were scrubs. (Sorry, Boone). I'm sure he could get ranked at some point, in the lower portion of the top ten. But he gets exposed... badly... by any of the top tier guys, and even second tier players like Lyle.

 

Tunney wasn't much smaller than Jerry Quarry

 

He was under 180lbs for the vast majority of his career as it was and would have been capable of making LHW for longer than he did, if not throughout his entire career.

With advancements in making weight, the larger HWs of the 70's and the LHW title being more prestigious than in his own day, I suspect he'd have spent much of his career at LHW had he fought in the 70's, though wouldn't rule out him stepping up to HW at some point, either towards the end of his career or sporadically like Foster.

 

Tunney was over 190 when he beat Dempsey. He was Patterson sized.

 

He was under 190lbs both times vs Dempsey, actually, but close enough that I'm splitting hairs.

As I said, he weighed under 180lbs for the majority of his career as it was.

I suspect Patterson would have spent most of his career at LHW too, had he debuted in the 70's.

 

What if we made him a black guy who avoided white opponents?

 

Guess we’ll never know

 

I am going to go with no.

He was ultimately a selfish man, and he would want a shot at the title, and failing that lucrative fights.

Both of these outcomes woudl depend upon him meeting black opponents.

 

is there a top boxer George Foreman defeated? Not Ali, not Young. I feel Tunney was faster, better skilled, better conditioned and equally durable as Young. It’s styles. Foreman never beat a top level boxer in his career.

 

Yes, Schulz, Yes, Moorer, Yes, Stewart. Yes, Cooney, Yes Cooper, Yes, Qawi. Yes, Frazier., Yes, Lyle. Yes, Norton. Yes, Peralta. All would beat Tunney at the sport of boxing.

 

try again, boxer

 

He wouldn't beat Norton either.

 

Ali, Frazier, Norton I agree .. I think he had a huge shot against Foreman.

 

An arm puncher whose footwork looks fast because he only faces honkeys?

You got me there, fella!