Tunney vs. Beterbiev

Tunney is too smart, too well conditioned, and too cagey to lose to Beterbiev. There are very few people his size or smaller in history that I would confidently pick over Tunney. Guys like Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, and Spinks have a chance. Beterbiev doesn't. I had Artur winning the first fight with Bivol, but, it was damn close. And, he lost the second fight fair and square. I know he is getting older, but, with the exception of Gvosdik, his competition in the pro ranks has been pretty weak. And, with so few fights to go on, I just can't pick him against a battle seasoned ATG like Tunney.

 

I would be very interested to see how Tunney deals with Beterbiev's leaping left hook. Not to mention his physical strength and ring cutting ability. We all know what a shot Dempsey was able to do with these attributes.

I know a lot of good modern guys get overrated here H2H whilst active but, going against the grain, I honestly think this is a scenario where the stylistic match up really suits Artur. At his best he is very, very good at tracking down centre-ring boxers and imposing himself on them. Gene was a good mover but nothing excessive - he focused more on counters and dominating the ring space with his high IQ. I think stylistically a pure mover like Pastrano would be much more trouble for Artur, but then I'm one of the few who think Gene is a bit overrated here H2H.

 

According to the ringside report, "Tunney gave Greb as thorough a beating as he has ever received" in the 5th fight, with Greb shelling up and stalling for much of the fight. There was even the rumor that Greb asked Tunney to not KO him. Now, this was not the best Greb, by a long shot of 6 years, and a Greb with only sight in one eye. I don't think a 6th fight would be in anyone's interest, or prove anything, as Greb was essentially shot himself.

As for Gibbons, being 100 fights into his career and 34 years one can reasonably assume he was not in the pink of his prime. His manager Eddie Kane was urging him to retire before he got hurt and the press seemed to agree with the decision. As to Tunney's handling of Tommy no small part of that was due to the hot lights in arena, and the younger Gene handling that element better than the (for the time) ancient Tommy. That point was brought up consistently in the contemporary reporting.

 

I don't buy into the evolution thing as much as some do.. IMO Tunney easily looks good enough on film to be able to compete today... & considering he beat some of the greatest fighters of all time in Greb, Dempsey, Gibbons, Loughran etc I'd take Tunney.. he has a better resume P4P & a was supreme tactician who mastered the ring.

 

Tunney looks good, looks fast and agile, on film because all the film is him facing past-it fighters... Dempsey, Gibbons, Carpentier and white dope Heaney. Every action is in contrast, painted to the background, to these depleted entities.

He never stepped up to quick twitch fighters like Tut Jackson, Kid Norfolk, Battling Siki, Tiger Flowers or god forbid Harry Wills.

 

Tunney is underrated and I'm a big Beterbiev fan so I might be biased but I feel like the educated pressure would get to Tunney and Beterbiev would win a close decision, similar to the first Bivol fight

 

Beterbiev stops Tunney, he is above average strong for his size and Tunney would not be able to keep up with that pace.