ATG LHW Tourney - Round 1 - Gene Tunney vs Roy Jones Jr

Tunney .. But both are overrated is the correct answer imo

 

I'd tentatively lean towards Jones on points. As I mentioned the other day in the Jones versus Archie Moore thread, most people tend to assume that it's a big puncher who will upset Jones and that he'll tire late in fights he's winning. But he was so dominant in his prime that you have to rely on fights which came when he was 35 or older to make those claims. When he was in his best years it was actually a more technical, skilled guy like Griffin who gave him his best fight, although I'll accept Jones was generally facing solid rather than concussive hitters at 175 (not because he avoided them - they just weren't around at the time).

Tunney was a great tactician and skilful, largely because he had to adapt his style and become more cerebral because of his persistent right hand injuries which reduced his raw punching power and made him more reliant on his boxing. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that he upsets Jones rhythm. Jones' head was an incredibly hard target to hit cleanly. Tunney had that problem with Greb early in their series, and on Benny Leonard's advice targeted the body instead and trying to muscle Greb in close. By the end of their series, Jack Kavanaugh's book (which I'd recommend) suggests that it was the body attack and smothering in close which gave Tunney the upper hand. Maybe, then, he could take away Jones' speed by employing these attacks and making it a stop-start fight.

But if we're assuming both are at their best, and if it does become a tactical fight rather than one decided by power, I'd take Jones. The quicker, more elusive man. Tunney was a great 175 pounder and there's no doubt his era contained more great names than Jones', and he has most of those names on his record, too....But if there's one criticism, it's that Tunney tended to face these guys at opportune moments for him. Loughran aside, a lot of his big wins in or around Light-Heavyweight came against guys when they were slightly faded and in patchy form, or when he outweighed them significantly.

Jones with a safety-first points win, maybe similar to how he beat Hopkins.

 

I won't vote here as I feel biased against Roy, but Tunney would be a very tough matchup against him especially in 15 rounder. Gene could use his bodypunching style to slow Roy down in first half of the career and winning second half, maybe even with late stoppage. At the same time, Roy's speed could be problematic for Gene's low guard. Still, Tunney's defensive movement was marvelous and I doubt that Roy would stop Gene - it's the most unlikely outcome to me.

 

This is a very good thread, it better than mine my friend.

 

Jones stops him. Too fast too athletic! Tunney has seen nothing remotely close to RJJ! Never even fought anyone of color!

 

Just feel black fighters generally known for being composed of more fast twitch fibers and feel this presents problems for someone with a low guard esp when going up against a modern day great!

 

This is bull****.

 

Not at 175lbs

 

Watching the Carpentier fight, I'm noticing Tunney gets hit by a lot of lead leaping overhand rights. A lot. I'm guessing Tunney wasn't all that hard to tag with unorthodox lead shots? If so, Roy and his infamous double or triple hooks will no doubt find their mark sooner rather than later. Tunney also lost to Greb and was dropped by the fast and explosive Dempsey. Im seeing a pattern. Tunney was a superb boxer but could get frustrated and nailed by fast unorthodox guys. If You did something unusual he might fall for it.

Jones by late round TKO.

 

I disagree with the result ,but think the post is excellent!