Gene Tunney v Joe Frazier

I haven't really seen that much of Tunney (except the odd clip from his fights with Dempsey) but there isn't many fighters I would favour over FOTC Frazier. Ali is one of the extremely few fighters who could beat him while retreating, and Tunney would fight a retreating fight. Tunney was no Ali so I see Frazier eventually getting to him and knocking him out. Tunney didn't have the firepower to incapacitate Frazier and wouldn't be able sto stay away for too long. Frazier by KO in 5-7 rounds.

 

Yeah, I don't think Tunney could handle Frazier. He'd get stopped in about 6 rounds. If he ran, maybe 10. Frazier would be winning these rounds and breaking Tunney down though.

 

I forsee Tunney spending an unimaginable amount of time breaking down Frazier prefight and discovering a weakness. I think with more modern film he'd do very well.

 

I dont doubt Gene Tunney's toughness or his survival instincts and know-how. I'd hesistate to pick any man to win against him by a stoppage.

 

Good call. I would not favor many to beat Frazier on this night (point in time). However Frazier would be hard pressed to score a KO in this one. I won't rule out a late stoppage, but see a decision that Tunney makes him work hard (or like usual) to earn.

 

They are two of my favourites, yeah.

I suppose I pick Frazier to win, but Tunney has a great chance too.

Tunney's a bit of an enigma. He's hard to pick and he's hard to pick against.
On one hand he "only" beat a past prime Dempsey, on the other hand he seemed to be a complete package and no one ever got the better of the peak Tunney.

 

Tunney by UD. Very smart, skilled, and beat some big hitters in his day. That combo that Dempsey put him down for the long count was brutal, and once he got up, it was almost as if nothing happened. I think Dempsey hit as hard Frazier

 

Wrong. Dempsey hit harder than Frazier. Look at what he did to Willard, Firpo, etc. Frazier hit hard enough. But he was never in the same league as Jack Dempsey as far as punching power was concerned.

 

Frazier by mid-round knockout. Dempsey cannot be used as a litmus test for this fight IMO. He had not fought in three years before the first Tunney fight and was stale. Dempsey from 1923 and before would also have beaten Tunney.

Frazier KO 6 Tunney

 

This is a real toughie,Frazier was relentless,,fast at getting in ,with quick hands,stamina ,prepared to take punches to get that hook home,there may be question s about his chin at elite level ,but Tunney wouldnt answer them.Tunney had great legs ,used the ring as well as any heavyweight,a smart strategist ,with a cold calculating ring brain ,he had a swift and accurate jab ,and an underated quick short right,top chin and was mentally tough .Stylistically I think this favours Frazier,he was pretty quick at getting into range and his handspeed was good,Tunney had respectable power ,but not earthshattering so ,though he would take punishment Frazier would not be in danger of being kod,imo,I see Tunney loping backwards,Frazier in pursuit,Tunney firing in that quick left ,and crossing his right when he saw the opening,not stopping to clinch,Frazier would be burrowing in,firing that hook going for the body,after 8rds Tunneys legs would start to slow from the body attack,he would be in front ,but winding down a little,Frazier with probably some facial damage would be as fast as ever,as Tunney,s legs came down a gear Frazier would land more solidly and lay some real hurt on the Marine Tunney had balls and skills he would go the route but lose a dec imo.

 

I can't see Tunney beating the nightmare that was FOTC Frazier, honestly.

 

I think Tunney is a master boxer who was ahead of his time and had lightning speed, but how is he going to beat Frazier when he couldn't consistently beat a middleweight Frazier in Greb?

Head to head i think very highly of Smoking Joe. I don't think any heavyweight that can't knock him out would ever beat him. He ate boxers up, took their best shot, pinned them on the ropes, didn't allowed them to breath... he was a true boxer's(mover's) nightmare. Even if Tunney goes the distance (his durability is rather untested at heavyweight), i think he'll be battered and lose a decision. Watch Frazier vs Foster or Frazier vs Ali. You can't hide from Frazier and you won't scare him from coming in either, even if your name is Foreman.