Let's suppose Sharkey danced rings around Dempsey and won a wide, comfortable decision over the Manassa Mauler and got the shot against Tunney instead. How would this have played out for Tunney? Would he have beaten Sharkey, or would Sharkey have pulled the upset?
I put this at 60 /40 in favour of Tunney ,Sharkey allways found a way to eliminate himself ,when in line for a shot with Tunney,but on his night he would be an extremely tough fight for Tunney ,and virtually anyone else. Tunney wins a close but U dec.
Sharkey was good, but I think Tunney was better. I'd expect Tunney to outbox Sharkey quite comfortably. Sharkey would have his moments, but not enough.
Sharkey was a better boxer in some areas but not when it came to focus and grit. Tunney had it. Carpentier and Gibbons were competitive with Tunney early on but Tunney took over late. The same thing would probably happen here. Tunney takes over the fight in the late rounds and wins a decision. Sharkey did have a reputation for being a nightmare of light heavies but Tunney proved himself a great heavyweight.
Watching some films of Tunney of late,and he sure impresses me ,the more I see of him..Tunney retired in 1928 after koing,a real tough Tom Heeney...Already a millionaire,he hung up his gloves,hitting his prime. Except for his loss as a light heavyweight, by who else? but Harry Greb.Gene was never defeated...I think he wins a close dec. over a great prime Sharkey,because of Tunney's greater will...Added note Tunney vs Ali...Not sure of the outcome...
If Sharkey had managed to do that, then he wouldn't be Sharkey. One of Sharkey's defining characteristics is that he found a way to blow so many of his big fights. Either way, I'd favor Tunney to use his superior speed and footwork to take a competitive decision over Sharkey.
Hello Burt, hope all is well with you, Tunney is one of my favourite fighters to watch on film (think i might add that to that thread about the most impressive fighter to watch on film actually) - a beautiful fighter - and for someone not especially strong - seemingly in command at all times - he's one of those fighters who it's almost like you could press the pause button at any time and he'd always be in the perfect position no matter when you pressed it - if he'd have stuck around for Sharkey (or Schemling for that matter) I don't think he'd have left any room for argument - to perfect a boxer, and too good a boxer, if you know what I mean. Don't you think though Burt, it is curious how we always speculate in his favour when we consider Tunney prematurely abandoned 2 year title reign - but then so many penalise Dempsey for the fact that his title reign really only involved 4 active years? PS agree with you on the Tunney-Ali thing too (same goes for Ez Charles & Jersey Joe Walcott)
Rocky thank you,I'm feeling well..I'm lucky I have a great doctor who never has to operate...He touches up the X-RAYS....As for your speculating why today we criticize Dempsey for his short four year title reign,while posterity is kinder to Tunney,who retired in his very prime after only two years,is that Dempsey who was regarded as a "MAN KILLER",left after two defeats by Tunney,on a sour note, while Tunney ,was remembered as beating the Manassa Mauler, no mean feat...I like to use an analogy,if I may...When I leave a restaurant,I evaluate the meal by what i digested last,and that was a great cup of coffey...Tunney retired at his best and that was the last impression the boxing fans are left with, not the short two year reign...Methinks,Rocky...Not so Dempsey....
Tunney would have won by virtue of his superior focus and discipline. The erratic Sharkey closely approached Tunney in skills, but he couldn't match the man who beat Dempsey. In fact, the fights each man had with Dempsey sort of encapsulate the essential differences between Tunney and Sharkey, and why Tunney was better. I would pick Tunney to win a close 15 round decision over Sharkey. Tunney's accurate right hands would have been the key weapon for the Marine.
Jack would certainly have gone the distance with Gene, but there would have been no question about the outcome. I've always believed that if Tunney had gone on as long as possible that Louis would have been the man to eventually dethrone him, and that Joe would have had to go the distance to do it.
I would pick Tunney to win that fight by decision with his superior boxing ability, but I think it would have been a nice, competitive fight. When I say competitive, I don't mean a close razor thin fight. I just mean that Sharkey was good too and would hang in there. Tunney was far more scientific.
