Gene Tunney vs Max Schmeling

Tough call.

Schmeling had by far the deeper heavyweight resume and he probably had the best single win overall.

There might be circumstantial evidence that Tunney was better head to head.

 

Schmeling is more than due to have a good bite at this assignment but the pivital problem he has here is that Tunney was no sucker with a keystone constitution. Further, when he samples Schmeling's best we are at history's mercy to proclaim Tunney's resistance and a knockout is likely Schmeling's best chance here.

When we think of fantasy fights it should be done so that both combatants are at their respective peaks both physically and bringing into account their overall experience.

With that in mind it is difficult for Ted Spoon to digest a capable Schmeling getting the better of a charged, 190lbs, 1926 Gene Tunney. We are again at history's mercy to put a fair wager on a Marine unanimous decision. Schmeling was essentially a harder punching, but lesser model of Tunney. Chin, straight punching and adaptability will smooth this one out for him.

 

I rate Schmeling higher and pretty clearly. I don´t rate h2h though. I think h2h Tunney would rank higher.

A h2h match-up between both is 50/50. Both are among the cleverest hws to lace them up. Both would come in perfectly prepered for the other one. Style-wise I think Tunney has a slight advantage, he could make Schmeling lead and outbox him. But Schmeling wasn´t too bad when he did that. Very even fight.

 

I don't think that they were particularly similar.

In fact I find it hard to name any fighter who was particularly like Schmeling stylisticaly.

Schmeling was more an event than a style.

 

I like Tunney to outspeed Schmeling.

 

I don´t think Tunney was faster than Schmeling.

 

He certainly had more footspeed.

 

Tunney is signifigantly faster than Max. There is no question. In terms of foot speed and movement. Even handspeed. I think Max has the edge in technique, skills, power, and defense.

 

"Max has the edge in . . . defense"

I don't think so. It is always much harder to hit a moving target.

 

Tunney's fast feet may have made him just as difficult a target to hit. However Max Schmeling's lean back, right hand protecting his cheek and weaving around his torso was more "pure" defense. The same kind of way Winky Wright has better technical defense than Roy Jones.

 

Tunney was much faster and would have stayed away from Max by using that speed along with his boxing skills to win by a decision.

 

Tunney had speed AND defense, technique and skills. Add to that the better chin. The only category Max trumps him in is power.

 

Yes, I agree, I thought about that after posting but was too lazy to edit. However, I don´t think Tunney had better handspeed.

Nah, I disagree. They are very close, about even in those categories.