Besides Marciano which all time greats retired too SOON...

Gene Tunney 81-1-2 (48byKO)... depending on the source, but the bottom line is that he only lost once.

He retired at age 31. He had only lost once (decision loss to Harry Greb who he went 3-1-1 vs. lifetime) and he was never stopped. He went 3-0 (1) in HW World Title Fights.

Among others, he beat-

Tom Heeney KO11
Jack Dempsey x2 W10 x2
Tommy Gibbons KO12
Harry Greb x5 (L15, W15, W15, D10, W10)
Georges Carpentier KO15
Tommy Loughran W8
Battling Levinsky W12
Leo Houck x2 W10 and W6

I think Tunney had plenty of fight left in him. Had he not retired he would have most likely faced-

Jack Sharkey, Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, and Max Baer. He may have even faced Paulino Uzcudun, Ernie Schaaf, King Levinsky, and other tough HWs of the day.

How would he have done?

I think he still could have retired as HW Champ with just that one loss on his record.

 

Pretty Bold. I don't think their is any evidence Tunney is better than Sharkey and Schmeling as heavyweights.

 

Jemal Hinton looked like he was on his way to a World Title Fight but retired at 22-0 (17) for religious reasons. He held the WBC Continental Americas SBW belt and made 4 before vacating it.

 

Tunney was getting older though, and was pasting his peak, I pretty sure one of these guys would be the man to dethorn Tunney, my money would be on Schmeling.

 

Sharkey gave Dempsey and Schmeling problems but I think Tunney would have been able to outbox Sharkey in a close fight.

Schmeling and Baer were good fighters as well but I think Tunney was better.

Tunney had a great chin, good stamina, and he was a very technical fighter. Baer's only chance would be by KO and I don't see that happening.

On Schmeling's best day he was at the very most as good as the versions of Jack Dempsey who Tunney beat in '26 and '27... but not better!

Just my opinion on the subject

 

At 175lb..Yes. At heavyweight? we don't know. He only fought one puncher, who put him down for 14 seconds. He never fought a heavyweight above 203lb, and only had 10 fights at heavyweight. I would say his chin is unproven as elite against heavyweight punchers.

Yes and Yes. But so were Sharkey and Schmeling. Schmeling hit harder than Tunney too.

If an Old Jack Dempsey can get to Tunney's chin, Baer has a live chance. Baer was also 6'3 210lb, something Tunney had never seen before. Tunney had a style that allowed him to do better against smaller men, where he could stay on the outside and utilize his long physical advantages. But against men who are taller and longer than him, I think he will have a lot of trouble.

No Way. Jack Sharkey pounded the **** out of Dempsey for 6 rounds before dempsey illegally hit him with a shot to the balls(that should have got him DQed). Schmeling on his best day knocked out a prime joe louis, who is a far better fighter than a old jack dempsey. I think Schmeling knocks out a 1926 jack dempsey.

Just my opinion too

 

who knows? Sharkey should have fought Tunney in '27 like you said though.

 

Agreed. I favor Tunney slightly. It would have been a GREAT win for Tunney to have on his resume.

 

i read in an article written by tunney a few years ago that dempsey had some problem in his eyes and jack was afraid of going blind, not sure if its true or not.

 

Don't forget about Floyd Patterson. He was in his prime and a top contender when Rocky retired.

 

I think there's enough evidence that he's better than Sharkey but Schmeling...:-(

 

Prime?? Maybe?? Top contender when Rocky retired, Hell no. He was not even in the top ten by the time Marciano retire in April 27 1956.

I do have the Ring Mag that has the Rock's retirement. And they brought along the top ten on that list. Saw no Patterson. He was mention as a suppose champion to be, but he didnt do any thing to get top ten honors.

 

Yes..I did not forget. I feel his brawling style in 56 would have gotten him knocked out, even by an old marciano, who was just too strong, powerful, and experienced for floyd. Floyd would have his moments though with his dazzling speed/combinations. I like floyd over Marciano in 58.

Also..when rocky retired in April 1956..Patterson was not a top contender. In fact, I don't even think he was rated in the top 10.

 

I think Tunney would have defeated Sharkey and Schmelling but these two are as said before arguably superior fighters to the Dempsey that he did fight I would also think that they were better than any fighter he has on his resume. That said Tunney was no bum and would be a hard man to beat.

 

Why the Byrd loss ?
He should have retired in 1997, or 1999 at the latest, to have retained a fairly untarnished image on retirement.