Gene Tunney vs George Godfrey in 1928 Jack Sharkey in 1928 Max Schmeling in 1930 Thoughts? In my opinion, if Tunney had fought and defeated these 3, I would rate Gene a top 5-6 heavyweight of all time. Instead, he's out of my top 20.
Godfrey had a puncher's chance but realistically he was too slow or too "cuffed" to do any damage on Tunney who would pick his shots on his way to winning a clear decision, as Sharkey did against him. Sharkey would give Tunney a legitimate contest, but it might be Tunney's greater will to win that separates the two in the end, though only in the latter stages of a 15 round bout. Schmeling might be too inexperienced to win by 1930 but afterwards he could've been the man to eventually dethrone Tunney with his sharp right hand counters over Tunney's low left.
Agree with everything in the opening post. For what it's worth, tunney was more skilled than each of these mentioned. I think in this time scale he beats them all. That being said, sharky did destroy some of the lightheavyweight's who stepped up. I just don't think he'd stop tunney and I certainly don't think he'd beat him on points.
In 1928 Godfrey was 30 years old, that year he lost to the two best opponents he faced ,Gains, and Risko.The Risko fight may have been a cuff job ,I don't know, but Gains was handily outpointing Godfrey when big George fouled out.Two years previously ,at 28 ,Godfrey had been out boxed by Sharkey .I don't see him beating Tunney, unless he got lucky with a big swing and, since no one else did, that is a remote possibility imo. Sharkey when "on ,"would give Tunney a very good fight.In 1929 he was 27 years old and had two good wins,over Stribling and Loughran, he is the biggest threat of the three imo, but both at their best, I pick Tunney by dec. Schmeling in 1930 was 25 and, prime he had won the title by dsq in an eliminator with Sharkey,accounts say he was getting the worst of it at the time. I think he would be too predictable for Tunney . Gene would be 33 in 1930 ,but never dissipated himself , if he had kept fighting, I think he would have stayed in shape. After 1930, the clock would be ticking for the Marine. So three fights ,three wins for Tunney. And, into Suzie's top 10! Low hands not withstanding!
