Gene Tunney 6'1 190lb This content is protected vs George Foreman 6'3 220lb This content is protected
Gene would pick up his share of the spoils for the first two or three rounds. Once George starts cutting off the ring on him though,there's only one outcome. Foreman by middle rounds tko. Tunney did n't have the eccentric defensive ability that Muhammad Ali had.
Gene T. might fluster a green '70 or '71 Foreman in a 10 rounder, but '73 and '74 Foreman would be too strong and powerful and would eventually hunt Gene Tunney down for the stoppage win in about 7 or 8 rds... FOREMAN!:bbb MR.BILL:hat
Foreman was 6' 4" tall in his prime... I'm sure of that.... I have a pic of Foreman and Ali in ring center getting instructions from Zack Clayton and you can see Foreman is a **** hair taller than Ali... Now, the 1980s and 1990s chrome dome version of Foreman might size up at 6' 3" tall.... Who knows?:huh MR.BILL:hat
Without any intentions of making audacious claims it feels as though Tunney must be dealt with a bit harshly when hypothesizing his chances against Foreman; purely because of the era/size differential. When one recollects how Tunney willed himself though blood with Greb or scraped himself off the canvas against Dempsey it's difficult to see him get splattered, even if he is facing Foreman. The danger of facing a fighter so physically ominous need not be emphasized, but George is not going to like Tunney's style one bit; he was no light-tapping runner, there was a sturdity about him, an assertiveness and adaptation that out-and-out refused to be dominated. Tunney's actual heavyweight pedigree may be disputed, but as a head-to-head proposition he is a formidable obstacle. Foreman may win this one, but he will do so through frustration, moments of exhaustion and near ruin. Nobody is going to walk through Tunney.
Foreman was a monster puncher ,but had zero head movement, he proved to be extremely vulnerable to straight punches ,especially the right hand . Tunney had a very quick accurate right, fantastic foot work,and the discipline to box to win . He could give Foreman a hell of a lot of problems,and might even sneak a dec here, if George gets frustrated ,and shoots his wad early.
Tunney is the type of fighter that would trouble Foreman. Gene was in the mold of ALI and Young and had Ali's power at least. Tunney may get hit and hurt but he showed a resilience vs Dempsey and Foreman did not have the speed or combo ability that Jack Dempsey had. In a 12 rounder I can see Tunney UD in a 15 rounder, Tunney could stop him. Foreman always had a punchers chance like he did vs Young but I think if Gene gets shook he could ride it off and take George DEEP
