Bob Foster vs. Gene Tunney

Tunney wins this one.A little better of a scientific boxer, significantly more durable, Gene would offset Bobs superior power and reach with his jab and footwork.Tunney by unanimous decision, but not without having to endure some bombs along the way.

 

Gene takes this one.Quicker,better boxer,better ring generalship,etc.If Gene could get up after Dempseys' bombs he could certainly handle Bobs'.

 

Tunney by dec too durable and fast afoot to fall prey to Fosters bombs.

 

Maybe Gene, but if he gets caught, it's over.

 

Gene Tunney UD

better boxer, better chin, better jab, great ring smarts would overcome Foster

 

The possibility is always there, and Dempsey was a bit faded at the time he met Gene, not to say Gene wouldn't have won anyway had they fought a couple of years earlier.

 

One thinks many underrated the snaking jab and boxing skills of Foster. They get overshadowed by his power.

 

Foster couldnt ko Pierre Fourie intwo attempts or a skittish Ray Anderson ,I see very little chance of him stopping the ten time better,infinitely more talented and durable Tunney,and Tunneys own quick right cross would keep Foster wary.

 

Tunney would have a strong chance to beat any LHW in history because of how well rounded a skill set he had. I like Foster, but Gene would have to be the favorite here.

 

Only trouble is we can pick out isolated or rare moments from anyones career and use these moments against them.

How could Ali survive Liston when he barely did Cooper?

How could Foreman demolish or even beat a great like Joe Frazier when Peralta gave him problems?

How could SRL beat Hagler when he had trouble with Howard?

How could Tyson stop so many excellent fighters when he couldn't a washed up Tillis?




You're talking about a 35 year old Foster at the end of his days. Heck, next fight he could only manage a draw Ahumada and retired, obviously knowing he didn't have it anymore. We may as well use the Johnson and Tarver examples to judge RJJ in head to head, or Ali vs Spinks I.

Another point would be that Pierre was never stopped in a 10 year career until Gerrie Coetzee turned the trick at Heavyweight of all places in his very last fight! He also went 30 rounds without being stopped vs Galindez in two title fights as well as going 10 with Kates.

 

Tunney, by close UD seems the best bet. Don't count out Foster, though- his power alone would make him a very dangerous 'live' underdog.

 

Styles make fights ,as they say . A 207 lbs Ali was still maturing as Cooper noted when he fought him the second time he was a totally different proposition,with better infighting ability,and more ringsmarts,Frazier was made for Foreman,and had been softened up by Ali,he had beaten 2 guys whio shouldnt have been any where near a title fight,and was ready for the taking,SRl trained behind closed doors specifically for the fading Hagler,and fought a smart fight,flurrying and moving,Tyson.You say Fourie was never stopped as a LH,neither was Tunney in fact Tunney was never stopped period ,and only floored once by an ATG hitter at Heavyweight,something Foster wasnt.and Foster was 33 when Ray Anderson took him the distance by just running ,Tunney wouldnt just run he would be jabbing and countering with fast straight rights ,and he hit hard enough to drop Dempsey ,Bob Foster was a great LH and a great puncher at the weight,but Tunneys chin was proven at LH and H,and he hit hard enought to keep Foster from just walking in,had faster feet and hands,so I see him winning.

 

I meant to add that Tyson was also still developing when he met Tillis,not yet the finished article.