Great match both men were extremely hard to outbox. The fight itself might turn into an overly cautious snooze fest although many of Schmeling's fights were exciting. To me prime for prime this is a 55/45 match up in Tunney's favor. Very close.
I truly think all of us underestimate Gene Tunney as a great heavyweight. He morphed into a very STURDY Heavyweight with a great set of wheels a punishing right hand, and as great a boxing mind in heavyweight history.
Schmeling Tunney kept his hands low, schmeling would time and capitalize. Tunnels style was designed to defeat fighters who were short in height and reach, whom he could outbox at long range and clinch in close Tunney does t have any length advantage over schmeling. If he tried to lean back to avoid punches, schmeling will come over the top with a right hand. Schmeling beat a much better fighter than Tunney, he hit harder, was a better finisher than Tunney, and his resume is far more proven then tunneys. Tunney lacked fights in the heavyweight division and schmeling a greater experience vs heavyweights would be an advantage
i think the dempsey fight is probably the most relevant tho, obviously they are stylistically different but dempsey was the best hw he fought and while schmelling isn't as dangerous as dempsey tunney should percieve the threat he poses and fight accordingly.