Gene Tunney .Vs. Rocky Marciano

Tunney.

 

After a rather extensive and recent study of Tunney, I came to the conclusion that he was getting better, stronger and becoming a harder hitter when he quit. He even admitted as much. From what I have seen on film and what was written about his competitors (including the fact that Dempsey said he was never hit as hard as Tunney hit him in the second match) I have to give the benefit to the Fighting Marine.

 

Same here. Tunney is very under rated. Marciano had his hands full with LaStarza, and some say lost the first fight 6 rounds to 4.

In the re-match, Lastarza was ahead for five rounds, then wilted in the later rounds. Marciano fought dirty, by hitting on the break, and went low. The fouls cost Rocky a points, but I think they also took steam out of LaStarza which helped Rocky catch up to him and take him out late.

I think Tunney was superior to LaStarza in every way. If Rocky had his hands full with LaStarza, he would likely have a tougher time with Tunney. IMO, Tunney's stamina and footwork could operate a peak levels for 15 rounds, he had a much better chin, was smarter, tougher, and hit harder. Tunney UD.

 

Rocky Marciano always won

 

Nar im kidding, good posts guys

 

I think Marciano was superior to Greb in every way. If Tunney had his hands full with Greb, he would likely have a tougher time with Marciano.

And Marciano stopped LaStarza and stopped all the best boxer stylists he faced in Walcott, Charles, Moore.

I know lets pick the 1 where Rocky was pre-prime to take judgement from and ignore the fact he stopped similar, more proven fighters with greater skill sets

 

Marciano 51 out of a hundred? Could go the other way. Great match-up. Tunney very underrated.

 

Tunney went on to get the better of Greb in the return goes, especially in their last bout in 1925 when Tunney gave Greb as thorough a beating as he has ever received. So completely was Greb outclassed and outfought in six of the ten rounds that he resorted to a defensive fight after the third and thereafter was guilty of persistent holding and stalling varied only by rare flashes of offensive fighting, which Tunney quickly terminated by a devastating attack. Tunney concentrated his fire almost entirely on Greb's heart and body, landing with deadly accuracy and telling effect. After a flashy start, Greb went on the defensive and let entire rounds go by without making more than a weak show of attack, without landing a decisive punch, even on those rare occasions when he undertook to do the leading." (Associated Press)

 

Prime heavyweight Gene Tunney was better than even the prime versions of Charles, Walcott and Moore in my opinion. And he had the better style to beat Marciano than any of them. Also, it was the young light heavyweight version of Gene Tunney who was beaten by Greb, not the peak heavyweight version.

 

Think you guys are under rateing the Rock abit. Tunney did nothing of note imo, outside of beating shot versions of Carp, Gibbions and Dempsey in the heavyweights to be rank with the Rock, much less beat him.

Walcott was a better fighter than Tunney, had better movement, both hands and feet, and was a better counter puncher than Tunney imo. I think Walcott would beat Tunney.

I belive Rocky would have wore Tunney down and out in a 15 rounder.

 

Charles had more tools then Tunney especially his his prime better jab, better in fighter, equal footwork, more power and was more proven against quality opponets. Maybe because I'm a fan of the three but I don't think he was better then those three in their prime more consistent then Walcott and maybe Moore sure but those three looks a fair amount better on film.

However I do agree Gene is a difficult style for Rocky and the series with Greb was closer then stats suggest.

 

Styles make fights, and tunney had the style needed to beat marciano but not the strength. Throw out the dempey fights because he was past his prime (even though tunney might have beaten jack in his prime). Even still, Dempsey floored tunney in their 2nd fight and marciano hit harder, though much slower.

Ezzard charles was superior to tunney and yet marciano beat him twice. Tunney would jab and move with success for a good portion of the fight but would eventually be worn down and ko'd. Tunneys best chance would be if he could cut marciano badly and force a stoppage. Other than that, rocky's too tough and strong.

 

Intriguing matchup to say the least. My initial reaction is to favor the Rock since he did more in the HW division than Gene but the more I think of it this could be a toss up. Gene was a very smart fighter and could analyze a fighter's strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan of battle based on his analyses. Styalistically I think he poses some problems for Marciano as well. Gene had excellent footwork and threw hard quick combinations and didn't stay around for the counter or "receipt" to quote Gil Clancy. Look how he moved against the murderous punching Dempsey. Granted it wasn't a prime dempsey but that version of Jack was at least as fast as a prime Marciano and his hands were probably quicker as well (Remember that combo Jack landed in his 2nd fight with Gene in the 7th). Rocky's best chance would be to reach Gene consistently and hope to wear him down and set him up for a late round KO. He certainly isn't going to decision him so I'd say his chances are about even. If he can catch up to Gene and punish him enough over say the 1st 10 rounds then he catches him a few rounds later and stops him but that's a pretty big "If" in my opinion. Gene was tough and skilled and he filled out and got stronger later in his career. A tough one to call if you ask me. I'd say it's 50-50.

 

Im as big an admirer of Tunney as can be, but i'm picking Marciano. To be honest im not 100% sure though, Tunney was rugged and could deal with anything as well as anyone, but in this one the approach he used against Dempsey is obviouisly necessary. People will say Dempsey was past it so them fights dont hold much water here. But the other thing i would like to point out is that Dempsey when realising he wasnt catching Tunney was trying to use his skill and timing to catch him (it paid off at one point, almost). But with Marciano you don't get that, you get constant relentless attempts at brutalisation that doesnt let up even if it's not going to plan for long periods of bouts.

I understand the Tunney claims here, it's possible, but Marciano imo.