FANTASY FIGHT: Rocky Marciano vs Gene Tunney (15 Rounds/Poll)

Tunney continues to be the most overrated heavyweight in the history of the division.

Oh, he's smart, because he doesn't hold a book upside down.

Oh, he's fast, because the film of him is against washed up guys and zero black guys.

Oh, he's a precursor to Ali because he's a waterbug.... but one who never faced a Foreman or a Frazier.

He's the champion of Capture the Flag, a precursor to Roy Jones and Mike Spinks.

 

Marciano's relentless pressure wins.

 

He was also quick as **** according to pretty much everyone whose seen him, maybe Harry ****ed some dude’s mom and hed disagree but the overwhelming OVERWHELMING consensus was that Greb was a speed freak as well.

 

He put his hard hat on every time out. I'll give him that.

 

Hi David.
Welcome to the forum, nice to have new members, hopefully we will get to know more about you and your knowledge of our beloved sport, plus you make me feel young !
Mike.

 

Dempsey was terrible at cutting off the ring. He just blindly followed Gene eating jabs yhe whole fight. Marciano was better at tracking an opponent than Dempsey.

 

Both bouts were fought in 20 foot rings which was a typical ring size for that era and much harder to cut the ring. Marciano fought in 16-18 foot rings. For his bout with Cockell a 20 foot ring was specified and Marcianos management fought hard for a smaller ring which they were successful.

 

and don't forget , he didnt know a jab from a cross ..

 

I like Tunney . Too fast and well conditioned .. a very interesting match up of terrific fighters of comparable size ..

 

Another banger.

I'm going with Rocky. Relentless assault wins the day. Hey, Dempsey finally caught up to Tunney and knocked him down.. long count? I think Rocky catches him late, after being down on the cards.

 

I agree 100% In a way it's the argument that Harry Greb might have a chance against him.

 

Also it is pretty obvious that comparing a long pretty moribund Dempsey who lost most of his foot speed is a terrible comparison to something like how he Dempsey rolled Willard.

 

Hi Mike. Thanks for the welcome. Marciano's the first Heavyweight Champ I remember clearly while he was still fighting. I remember some of the lighter guys from those years. I saw many of the previous ones on film before the internet. If Marciano was fighting at his normal real weight today I guess he'd be a Cruiser because I think he was pretty drained for the actual weigh-ins he had. The Dempsey Tunney beat was not the Dempsey who beat Willard for several reasons. I doubt if Tunney was ever better than when he beat Dempsey. Young Marciano would have presented himself in ways Tunney couldn't have handled at any age. Yep. Boxing is my beloved sport too. Good to meet you. Catch you later Mike.

 

Hi David.
Thanks for your informed and polite response, am in full agreement with your thought process, nicely laid out, by the way, you are not to know this for obvious reasons but Marciano is the most divisive HW, and maybe even fighter, on the forum, some see him as a rubber stamped ATG, others, and there are plenty, view him as nothing more than a swarmer ( dislike this term ) who did nothing but beat up old men, some see him as a lock for a top 10 place, others way down the rankings, and during my time here, never the twain have met, myself and the forum in general, will am sure be interested on your thoughts regarding Rocky, and both his peers, and his place in the pantheon on HW greats.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.
Mike.