Love it! A champion who is often overlooked and overshadowed by others and who had great skills. Watching this video and his style reminds me of someone else - Ali. The footwork, positioning, great jab with sharp right hand (carried hands low and no body shots ). I remember seeing interviews with Ali where he mentioned Gene Tunney. I wonder if he patterned his style after him.
On that ABC WW of Sports special with Ali and Cosell, back in the mid 70's...reviewing all the heavyweight champions of history, Ali revealed a profound admiration and respect for Tunney...said he looked and fought like a "modern fighter", among other things.
I sometimes think that our understanding of Tunney's style is distorted, due to the high quality footage of the Dempsey fights. Tunney seems to have been a lot more offensively orientated in most of his other fights, but he knew that that wouldn't work against Dempsey, so he did what he had to do to win. I have never encountered film or testimony of Tunney employing the style that he used in the Dempsey fight against another opponent. None of this detracts from him, indeed it might enhance his greatness, but let’s see him as what he was.
One of Tunneys trainers lived into the 1960's. He stated that Tunneys "right hand was as feared as Liston's" in his prime.
Hey Reznick...Great job as usual...Tunney was a great fighter...he often gets over looked. One of the smartest men who ever set foot in the ring...
Amazing job. As film quality has improved his skills are so much more apparent. A true great. Well done!