How competitive would Tunney be against Liston and Foreman?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Melankomas, Nov 14, 2025.


How well does he do?

  1. He’d get destroyed

    6 vote(s)
    30.0%
  2. They’d go life and death with Gene

    2 vote(s)
    10.0%
  3. Gene would have his moments but the end result is very clear

    12 vote(s)
    60.0%
  1. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    How well would Gene do against these wee lads, even in a losing effort?
     
  2. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    He'd last a few rounds but eventually be caught and kod.
     
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  3. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Member Full Member

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    I agree he’s a runner so he might be able to last a few rounds. Foreman would literally be charging after him and be raining down blows. Be hard for Tunnh
     
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  4. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak banned Full Member

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  5. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 OFFICIAL THREAD DIDDLER Full Member

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    Oh that fancy city lad would've been wishing on fight night that he’d stayed in the cozy comfort of his home.
     
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  6. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

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    They are too much man with too much tan.
     
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  7. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Foreman no chance at all. Liston a slim one. It is worth mentioning that Liston had his jaw broken and had a loss to a career LHW.

    Excuses...3...2...1...
     
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  8. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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  9. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Was Gene better than Jimmy Young? I think movers like Gene were trouble for big George and even though Jack Dempsey dropped Gene, Dempsey was fast and punched in bunches. Liston would be on the chase but Marty Marshall 179lbs went 10 with Sonny in 1956 and so did 196 lb. Eddie Machen in 1960 - Tunney's heavyweight resume is thin, but his quality resume is thick. Tunney had speed of hand and foot and some power so I would not sell him short.
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
  10. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I've never understood how people think Tunney would be blasted out by Foreman ?

    Are we ignoring the fact that a former Light Heavyweight in Peralta went 20 combined rounds with Foreman ? Who has pretty much identical height and reach attributes to Tunney ? Not to mention Peralta weighed under 200 pounds in both fights with Foreman ?

    A skillful mobile durable boxer like Tunney would definitely give Foreman stylistic problems for sure and he wouldn't be blasted out early like alot of people claim IMO.

    Foreman historically never thrived against boxer types.
     
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  11. Bronson666

    Bronson666 Member Full Member

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    I think he does better against Foreman. Jimmy Young had Foreman befuddled, Tunney wasn't too much smaller than Young and he was a better boxer IMO. Tunney isn't going to go in there like Frazier or Noton to trade with him. He's going to fight a very defensive fight and survive to the end if he doesn't get caught with anything too big. I think Liston would do a better job of walking him down, out-jabbing him and stopping him in later rounds.
     
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak banned Full Member

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    OK, so Liston in his 9th fight against the Tunney in his 9th fight who fought 0-3 George Lahey is the honest way to frame the bout you suggest.
     
  13. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Maybe George Lahey vs. Marty Marshall is the thread to make
     
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  14. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak banned Full Member

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    There isn't enough room on the ESB server!
     
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  15. SwarmingSlugger

    SwarmingSlugger Active Member Full Member

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    Tunney due to his style would have a good shot. Neither Liston or Foreman cared to fight boxers.
     
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