Billy Conn vs Gene Tunney

Wait til you read "When Pittsburgh was a Fight Town". He's covered

 

I'm still looking for picts of Pittsburgh fighters circa 1896-1940s for my own book. So if you know anyone who has any :good

 

In the film clip showing Harry Greb training for his epic bout with mickey Walker at Phil. Jack O'Briens gym in NYC 1925, Red Mason is seen assisting Harry Greb...Greb at this time shown playing handball, sparring with the 50ish O'Brien was several pounds overweight just before the weighin...So Greb was forced to run around Central Park TWICE, in the July heat with only orange punch to swig...And he came into the ring at 158 lbs, old and creaky and still had the stamina to kick the hell out of the prime powerful Toy Bulldog...Amazing young man was Mr. Greb...

 

Have to go along with Tunney by UD, what with his size, speed and being able to think on his feet. Billy was no slouch in these departments either, and it would be a really good fight. At first I thought it might be a chess match, but Billy liked to brawl so it would have plenty of action.

 

Conn by UD. He could box and brawl. I don't see what advantages Tunney has. Plus Conn was more battle-tested than Gene. He was thrown into the deep end early in his career and didn't miss anyone. Tunney was very careful in his opponent selection and made many demands to give himself every conceivable advantage. I don't respect him even half as much as I do Conn.

 

I think the weight matters...At heavyweight I'd favor Tunney. He would have been stronger and experienced. Tunney put all the pieces together at heavyweight. Tunney's bodypunching at heavyweight could really trouble Conn. At light heavyweight I'd go with Conn because as strange as this sounds this might turn into a more of a fight than people realize...Conn wouldn't be at much of a strength disadvantage here...and he would be the more experienced operator at this weight.