Could tunney regain title?

An in form ,focused Sharkey would be a tough fight at any stage of Tunney's career imo,but if the Marine came back to challenge the winner of the Schmeling v Sharkey fight he could do well . What we have to factor in is the fight for the vacant title was 2 years later.Tunney had retired at 31,coming back he would be at least 33, probably 34 before a challenge could be mounted,I'd favour Sharkey by that stage,34 in the 20's was pretty old for a fighter.If Tunney challenged Sharkey for his newly won crown he would be about 35 years old even with a tune up fight .
Tunney relied on his legs and reflexes to win fights, they are the first attributes to go as you age. Sharkey should be a heavy favourite by that point.

 

Could Gene Tunney beat Dempsey in his Prime?

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The second Dempsey-Tunney was one of the most talked about fight in boxing history. The famous long count in the 7th round of that fight is one of boxing great stories. What is often forgotten is that Gene Tunney easily beat Jack Dempsey in both of their fights. That seventh round was the only round that Dempsey could easily claim superiority over two fights. In their two fights, which covered 20 rounds, Tunney easily won most of the rounds. After the first fight, Dempsey had to be led to Tunney to the center of ring because he was so badly beaten that his eyes nearly swollen shut.

In the second fight, Tunney won the first six rounds and was coasting to another easy victory before Dempsey finally caught his prey. Dave Barry did not start the count until Dempsey moved to a neutral corner and this gave Tunney an extra 5-7 seconds to clear his head. To this day, there are debates among boxing historians if Tunney would have survived the round if Barry did not delay the count.

What was not remembered that in the opening seconds of the next round, Tunney repaid the favor and knocked Dempsey down and then went on to easily win the fight.

Many boxing historians have maintained that Jack Dempsey three-year absence and age as the primary factor for Tunney victory. I have always discussed this fight with many boxing historians and asked the question, could Tunney have beaten Dempsey in Dempsey’s prime?

Boxing historians are in agreement that Dempsey in his prime easily beats Tunney. Even Tunney may have agreed as he declared Dempsey the hardest puncher that he ever fought and he was penned an article on why he thought Dempsey would knock Joe Louis out during Joe Louis prime.

My own view is that this may not be the case. First of all, Dempsey three-year layoff was a significant factor but Dempsey was 31 years old and only three years older than Tunney. Other fighters came back from similar lay-offs. Sugar Ray Leonard came back from a three-year layoff and upset Marvelous Marvin Hagler, one of the great Middleweights in boxing history. What I am going to do is present some theories of what would happen if Tunney had faced Dempsey at different times in Dempsey’s career.

The Jack Dempsey that destroyed Jess Willard was a monster of a fighter. Dempsey was a ferocious animal and he delivered one of the most severe battering to Jess Willard ever witnessed in boxing history. Jess Willard was lucky to have survived the fight, the beating was that severe. Jess Willard suffered broken jaws and broken ribs while hitting the canvas seven times in the opening round. Willard showed his courage as he took a beating for two more rounds before the fight was stopped. Willard had to go to the hospital after the fight.

Jack Dempsey showed boxing skills and was not just another primitive slugger. He bobbed and weaved to get under Willard long reach. Despite being outweighed by 60 pounds and 5 inch shorter, Dempsey used his quickness and boxing skills to move inside Willard. His quick hands pounded Willard face and body.

The 1919 version of Jack Dempsey would have to be favored over Gene Tunney. That Dempsey may have enough quickness to cut off the ring and hand speed to connect against the master tactician Gene Tunney. Tunney was an excellent boxer with enough power to hurt Dempsey but the real question, could he have handled the pressure that the 24-year-old Dempsey would deliver?

Now what about the 1923 Dempsey vs. the 1926 or 1927 version of Gene Tunney? Now here, the situation shifts. For one, this is comparing to apple to apple. In 1928, Dempsey was the same age as the 1926 version of Gene Tunney and they both fought a common opponent. Dempsey fought two fights that year. He defeated Argentina fighter Luis Firpo in one of the dramatic short fights in boxing history. In less than five minutes, both fighters hit the canvas eleven times and Dempsey was knocked out the ring. Dempsey finally ended the fight with a knock out. His second fight was with stylish boxer, Tommy Gibbons. Gibbons was in his mid-30’s and a smaller fighter than either Tunney or Dempsey. This slick boxer did survive 15 rounds with Dempsey and gave Dempsey fits. Tunney would knock Gibbons out two years later.

Now the 1923 version of Dempsey would have trouble with Tunney boxing style. Such as he had a hard time catching Gibbons; he would have even harder time with Tunney. Dempsey was in better shape than the 1926 or 1927 fighters, so Tunney would not have been able to wear Dempsey out as easily as he did in 26 or 27. Certainly, the 1923 Dempsey as well as the 1919 Dempsey would have finished Tunney off if he caught Tunney.

However, Tunney had underestimated power and in their two confrontation, his ability to stick his jab in Dempsey face lead to Dempsey downfall. Dempsey face showed the effect of Tunney punches and both fighters suffered one knock down over two fights. So Tunney did have the power to gain Dempsey respect and was a better boxer or puncher than Gibbons.

My own view is that the 1926 or 1927 Tunney- 1923 Dempsey fight would have been a pick ‘em. Tunney foot movement would have bothered the ’23 Dempsey and Dempsey power would have slowed Tunney down. Tunney could take a punch, so he could withstand many tough rallies. Three years later, when both fighters actually fight, Tunney easily dominated the action. So, I could actually see Tunney beat the Dempsey that struggle with Tom Gibbons.

It is important to remember that Tunney came up from the light heavyweight division before campaigning as a Heavyweight. He beat the top heavyweights of his era before challenging Dempsey. There is another factor. Tunney trained himself for one fighter- Dempsey. When Sugar Ray Leonard came back to challenge Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Leonard just studied Hagler style and decided that after Hagler many wars, he was ready to be taken.

Tunney essentially studied Dempsey in the same way. So for Tunney, Dempsey was his life work and to be considered a success- he had to beat Dempsey. Tunney was Captain Ahab and Dempsey his Moby Dick. This gave Tunney the advantage mentally for this was not just another fight. Tunney was a smart fighter who knew Dempsey weakness and had the ability to go from Plan A to Plan B, if need be.

The 1923 Dempsey was not as quick as he was fours years earlier, so Tunney would not have the faced the intensity of a young Dempsey nor Dempsey’s quick hands. While Tunney fought frequently and fought some tough fighters such as Harry Grebs, Dempsey would take several months or years before fighting. So Tunney had actually fought more rounds than Dempsey over most of the 1920’s. Tunney was a machine when it came to fighting and his smarts aided him in the ring. Dempsey couldn’t go from Plan A to Plan B as easily as Tunney, if at all. Tunney would have the advantage of hand speed and flexibility over the 1923 Dempsey such as he did with the ’26 or ’27 Dempsey.

I will agree with most boxing experts that the 1919 version of Jack Dempsey would be the heavy favorite over 1926 version of Gene Tunney. However, I would place my money on the 1926 version of Gene Tunney over 1923 Jack Dempsey. And that will place me outside the mainstream of boxing pundits.