What do Gene Tunney and Manny Pacquaio have in common?

This is silly ****.

Tunney fought all time greats in Dempsey (x2), Loughran, Greb (x5), Tommy Gibbons and Carpentier, in addition to very tough assignments in Houck, Delaney, Johnny Howard and the like. What the **** does it matter that these fighters were white, black or yellow? It's not as though African Americans have some magical abilities unpossessed by other groups. The five fighters I mentioned which represents 10 FIGHTS (fully 1 in 7 fights of his career) are all time greats, at least one is in the running for being the greatest fighter of all time. His resume is exceedingly strong.

The black fighter I hear brought up as him ducking, Godfrey, had lost to Sharkey, fouled out to a couple other guys, KO'd by an aging Langford and Norfolk. He was not a necessary step to reach Tunney's goal of getting the HW title and retiring. Tunney did finish with 70 fights. It's not like he had to search for every culdesac along the route to the ultimate goal. He was on the home stretch.

 

Mendoza is not critisizing Tunney. He is a huge Tunney fan. He must have snorted a some Yipp to have gotten the balls to post a thread like this.


As for George Godfrey. You broke down his career very poorly seamus. Godfrey is an egnima..but the man was also a superheavyweight with devastating power, fast speed, and good skills when allowed to fight with the cuffs off. Many of his losses(especially the DQs) were when he was on the cuffs. I think it's ridiculous you bring up Godfrey's knockout losses to Langford and Norfolk, which happened in Godfrey's first 5 career pro bouts!

There is a reason Godfrey made the hall of fame!!


If you want I have a lot of articles on Godfrey. A lot.

 

There is also a possibility George Godfrey may have knocked out Sam Langford


“George finally stopped the veteran in three rounds in Burton, IA, but none of their matches really showed the two in fair comparison, for Langford was far past his prime, while Godfrey was still climbing.- Aug 17 1921 Covington Riverside Athletic Club

 

Pac actually did.

 

Unlike someone I know, both, when matched with a bigger, past-prime ATG, actually won their fights.

 

You got me there, should have fought Guzman though :twisted:

 

I've read my share of articles on Godfrey, always would be willing to read more.

He soaked a lot of leather from Dempsey as a sparring partner. He was a fouler and clincher extraordinaire from most of what I've read, also. A bit inconsistent to say the least.

I am curious why his prodigious size matters all of a sudden when in many discussions previous I have been informed that various 180 pounders would punch holes through various 230 pounders?

Anyways, in regards to Godfrey being the a necessary stepping stone to Tunney's supremacy, Rickard himself ranked Godfrey below Wills, Gibbons and six others as late as 1925. Why not should we ask did Tunney refuse to face Renault, Weinart or Firpo?

 

Tunney's heavyweight resume could have been more extensive. I have a hard time rating him highly at HW off his two wins over Dempsey, but I do think he had the ability to beat most of the heavyweights of his era. Greb did, so why not Tunney.

 

I am not saying his heavyweight resume is the end-all be-all. However, his overall resume is fantastic, though.

It's obvious that he was 65 or so fights into his career and was making a charge to the HW title before he retired, thereby finding the shortest route to his goal. No need to make unnecessary stops along the way.

 

From 1924 on...George Godfrey issued challenges to Wills almost daily. Rollo Wilson known as the "Dean of the black press" was heavily critical of Wills for not accepting George Godfrey's challenges.

In fairness to Wills, he was the # 1 contender for 7 straight years and deserved a direct shot at dempsey...but it would have nice to see Wills fight Godfrey anyway.

 

And Shannon Briggs is constantly issuing challenges to both Klit's.

Wills was looking for the next rung up the ladder not down. And Godfrey should have learned how to make it through a fight without a DQ.

 

Was Shannon Briggs rated highly by Ring Magazine and every newspaper out there?

Is Klit brothers being heavily accused by the most major boxing experts/newspapers out there for not accepting briggs challenge?


I think it's a bit different.

 

When Godfrey was young. There are also reports Godfrey dished out a bit of punishment to Mr. Dempsey himself.

 

Most of it was probably below the belt, to the back of the head or the kidneys.

 

Godfrey probably taught Dempsey those techniques, which he used effectively against Jack Sharkey in round 7