Was Tom Gibbons near his best when he fought Tunney ?

Looking at a few old newspapers, there were some writers who were saying Gibbons was an improving fighter later in his career, and they cited Tommy's increased punching power and aggressiveness as evidence.
His fight with Kid Norfolk is lauded by some, although I've also heard rumors Norfolk tanked it.
Generally, in the few articles I've read, Gibbons is still rated very highly and not considered washed-up in 1924 and '25, and is seen to be closing in on Dempsey, and given a chance of doing better against Jack in a rematch.

Or was that just hype ? Was Gibbons long past his best, and Tunney caught him on his way out (as is often assumed) ?

 

Gene was all scared of prime Tom Tom. Read his books Arms For Living and A Man Must Fight.

 

Gibbons was clearly far from his best, but still I fancy a force to be reckoned with.

 

Tunney was scared of Dempsey too having nightmares of him, but Greb said on the fight 'I was offered the job of sparring, I turned it down knowing I would be stealing his money, no preperation would help Dempsey beat Tunney' (I'm paraphrasing this quote from memory)

Fans often take fear as an admission a boxer isn't good enough to beat an opponent but many times a boxer maybe scared only to completely dominate. Its a natural human emotion

 

Gibbons was past it but he was still recognized as a top contender for the heavyweight crown. Wills had turned down a fight with both, so Tunney vs Gibbons was an obvious match to make. Tunney picked apart Gibbons in such fashion that one has to wonder whether even a prime Gibbons could have gotten anything done against Tunney.

Tunney had an answer to every move Gibbons made, countered with combinations of punches, outsmarted and outboxed him and beat him up to the body.

 

Tunney also said that he was more worried about taking on Tommy Gibbons than he was about taking on Harry Greb, before he had met either. When Greb beat Gibbons he thought that all his christmases had come at once, because he would have to fight Greb instead.

We all know how the fight turned out and I doubt that he could have done any worse against Gibbons.

It should also be noted that Tunneys idol was Mike Gibbons, who he claimed to have moulded his style on more than any other fighter.

 

Tunney was a ferocious fighter in this match, those who think Gene a safety first type...jab, jab, cross and move should see this match. Tunney was murder to the body.

 

He was well past his prime. His win over Norfolk was legitimate but Norfolk was well past his best as well. Tommy had promised his wife he would retire after the Tunney fight win lose or draw. The old adage goes that if a fighter is talking retirement hes already retired and isnt going to give 100 percent.

 

I can understand that, maybe he watched Gibbons give Greb a big beating, saw he was bigger, more powerful and Greb being the smaller lighter hitter, it makes sense. Obviously hindsight is 20-20, wonder if he underestimated Greb

What do you make of the Greb quote on Dempsey-Tunney? It sounds like he called it right, but on the other hand he was friends with Tunney and may have had bias and not wanted to help someone beat up his friend

 

Yep. That's an adage I completely agree with.

 

Those he picked Gene first, Greb recanted as the fight got closer and picked Dempsey to beat Tunney.

 

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAIBAJ&dq=greb picks dempsey&pg=4933,2264853