I was reading something a couple of days ago comparing Greb and Robinson and it got me wondering how Ray would have fared in a 15 round fight with Tunney at 175. Any opinions or analysis on this one?
Tunney beats him. Robinson couldn't even beat Maxim at 175. ..... I know, I know ... " It was the heat, the heat that did it !" :-(
Robinson took Maxim to school. :deal My gut instinct is to choose the bigger, superbly skilled man in Gene Tunney. Greb's win(s) over him are regarded as they are for a reason. Robinson could completely bewilder opponents, but he was much more selective and didnt possess the whirlwind, non-stop attack of Harry although he was exceptionally more powerful. Tunney had an incredible ring IQ, fine jab, great footwork. It's a stretch to envision Robinson outboxing Gene Tunney; he'll need to be in attack mode most of the time and rely heavily on his speed and reflexes. It's definitely conceivable for Robinson to hurt him and land the more meaningful shots, but I can't give it more than 50/50.
You never know with Robinson but Tunney has massive size and weight advantages. Robinson's 1 fight at the weight is against Maxim where he suffered from heat exhaustion or punching himself out against the bigger man. He was ofcourse completely outboxing Maxim though, which in itself shows some good form. Tunney also lost to the smaller Greb, so it's certainly with in the realms of possibility that Robinson could do what Greb did For the record Robinson was willing to fight Archie Moore at LHW, but Moore turned down the offer demanding 50% of the purse as LHW CHamp. That would have been a fascinating fight So first instinct is to say Tunney but thinking about it longer Robinson is certainly a very live body and despite being smaller is P4P likely to be a better boxer than Greb so certainly a very live body
Personally I'm not sure about Robinson lasting the distance against Moore let alone winning the fight.
It was clever of Maxim to stage the fight in different arenas, one that was sweltering hot for Robinson and the air-conditioned one for himself.
Maxim confined himself to sand bagging Ray's body and conserving energy , he fought a smart fight but was out boxed comprehensively. Ray the smaller man, did nearly all the work, and moving around . Tales that Maxim planned to "come on late " are B .S .imo ,he was lapped in some rounds,and on the way to a unananimous dec loss. Tunney beats Ray ,and its not close, I give him a real shot at stopping the Sugar Man, he had underated power, and the speed to deliver it.
Tunney would totally outclass Robinson at 175. Out boxing on his way to a wide UD and maybe even a late stoppage if he really turns up the "heat".:hey
Yes HoI : In a 15 round fight Gene Tunney wears down the frailer Ray Robinson and most likely stops him in a later round...Tunney was too big and strong for Ray Robinson...And Tunney was a VERY punishing hitter, so unlike Joey Maxim who Robinson chose as his ONLY LH opponent, cause Maxim didn't hit any harder than some MWs of his time...One other point: If Ray Robinson truly wanted to pull a "Greb" and tackle Archie Moore he could have had that fight ...If Ray had confidence in beating Moore, he and Archie could have met in the middle...I recall the scuttlebut of that time implying that scenario...Comparing Ray Robinson to Harry Greb who's ability to tackle bigger LHs and even heavyweights was legendary...Robinson though the greatest all around fighter of alltime in my opinion , was not as rugged as Greb, who roughed up heavier men though outweighed 15 and more pounds...He loved fighting the "big boys", because of his great hand speed and ability to scoot away from danger, when necessary...Greb as Tunney wrote, "was never in the same spot for more than a second"...So elusive was Greb, thus negating his heavier opponents weight advantage...You can't hurt, what you can't hit... So,I believe that no MW ever would spot Gene Tunney 15 pounds and beat a Gene Tunney, except a Harry Greb, whose peculiar style and ruggedness and stamina, made Greb the exception to the rule...Cheers.