At 200lb+, who beats Tunney? Great fighter, but I want to knock his ass out of my HW list. How many of these beat him, and who? Langford Charles Schmeling Norton Sullivan Young Witherspoon Lyle Douglas Ibeabuchi
Tunney would outbox Schmeling for a close decision Tunney-Charles is close but I give the Charles the edge as the Cobra beat better fighters and was a better puncher Sullivan? Hard to say, he was mainly a bare knuckle boxer. IMO Tunney outboxes him I think Langfords pressure and power would break Tunney down, Langford by decision or late stoppage Young? Close, I think Tunney will work the body and outslick him IMO Norton wears Tunney down. Tunney does not have the power to keep him away IMO Ibeaubuchi breaks him down as well. Tunney can't keep him away Witherspoon is too strong, too powerful' Tunney beats unmotivated Douglas, but peak Douglas is too good So to sum up: Langford UD 15 Tunney Charles UD 15 Tunney Tunney UD 15 Schmeling Norton UD 15 Tunney Tunney UD 15 Sullivan Tunney UD 15 Young Witherspoon tko 14 Tunney Tunney UD 15 Lyle Tunney UD 15 Douglas, Tokyo Douglas UD 15 Tunney Ibeaubuchi tko 9 Tunney
The most likely candidates for me would be: Charles Norton Witherspoon Douglas Tokyo version Langford & Ike might catch him.
I'd like to see Tunney against Schmeling, as I think that Max would outwork and outland him. Did he ever struggle against good outside boxers?
Tunney never faced someone as big and powerful as Baer, so who knows? Neither as Uzcudun for that matter. Schmeling beat Uzcudun twice and most reports say that he should have won their third fight too. Hamas loss was avenged in brutal fashion by Max. Gene's HW resume is incredibly thin and his top wins in this division aren't even close to best Schmeling performances. Maybe had he fought much more time at that weight, he would have got more losses. Beating Dempsey was quite an accomplishement but Jack was way past his best at this point. I wouldn't be surprised if Schmeling would have beaten this version of Dempsey.
I could see Langford, Charles, Schmeling, Young (if he’s in shape and focused), and Whiterspoon (if he’s in shape and focused) having a good shot. Ibeabuchi was very durable and he did stop Byrd, which was impressive, but it isn’t enough for me to see him beating Tunney, who twice the fighter Byrd was. Also, ibeabuchi’s inexperience would really start working against him in the later rounds against a clever guy like Tunney. Lyle is too one dimensional and would get toyed with. Douglas and Norton would put up a good fight in the early rounds, but I see them walking into a trap in the later rounds and getting stopped. I’ve never seen Sullivan fight, so who knows how he’d do.
Langford - Hard to tell. Sam could be inconsistent at heavy but I am leaning slightly toward peak Sam catching Tunney over 15. This is more a hunch than anything. Sam KO13 Charles - Charles had an impressive run at heavy. Ezz UD15 Schmeling - I think Tunny could have Max chasing him and make him eat enough to get the decision. Gene Dec 15, Norton - Tunney doesn't have the pop to upset Kenny and Kenny is just too much man. Ken KO10. Sullivan - Who knows... I am going to assume that a Fancy Dan like Gene wins this. Gene Dec15 Young - This one could go either way IMO. Witherspoon - Timmy KO 8. Lyle - Ron KO11 Douglas - Buster KO9 Ibeabuchi - Ike KO6
Two of Schmeling's fights with Uzcudun were against the 34/35 years old version .Uzcudun was not a noted puncher apart from his win over a past it, and from the film rather reluctant Wills , his stoppages were over 2nd raters. Tunney's resume is thin, but Baer wasn't hard to out box, Braddock and Loughran did it ,I'd say Tunney was better than either.
Yes and he shoule have won both of these fights. Uzcudun wasn't a huge puncher, but he was powerful and heavy man (above 200 lbs). Tunney didn't face anyone as strong as him. It's all true but Loughran and Braddock had one common thing - they were quite durable at HW, especially Braddock. Tunney faced one puncher in his HW career who was past his prime and he got knocked down.
Gene would win some and lose some. Langford, Witherspoon and Ibeabuchi would have a good chance. I'd favor them. Tokyo Douglas on that one night. I'd pick Gene most other nights. Charles, maybe. About 50-50. I'd pick Tunney to have a good or even chance against Schmeling, Norton, Sullivan, Young and Lyle.
