Gene Tunney vs rocky Marciano

I agree, and this is not an easy point to make because just about everyone thinks Louis was better. Joe's slow shuffling feet, low guard and certain range he like to operate in would work against him in this match up.

Rocky was more dynamic with his feet and stance and went after his man. Louis more methodical.

 

the rock, by catching up with the Tun after losing on the cards till then.

 

Tunney has the wheels to stay one jump ahead of Marciano.

 

Tunney may have had schmelings intelligence, but he didn't have schmelings right hand and timing

He may have had walcotts foot speed, but he didn't have walcotts punching power and Upper body movement

Tunney didn't have Walcott or schmelings resume either. Tunney had only 7 career fights at heavyweight. He was completely unproven against prime hall of fame heavyweight greats

Tunney an iron chin? The only puncher he ever fought was 32 year old Jack Dempsey, whom put him on the floor

Tunney never fought any big powerful heavyweights, despite hall of fame 6'4 225lb George Godfrey being out there calling him out

Tunneys opposition was handpicked and his management kept him clear of punchers

Tunney also drew the color line. Never fought a black man. How are you going to pick him over joe Louis when he wouldn't even fight a black man?
From Tunney's interview with Ed van Every after winning the title:

"I won't fight Harry Wills unless I am given the impression that the public really insists on such a contest. I don't wish to hurt anyone's feelings, but I have never boxed a Negro and have never even had one as a sparring partner."

 

"I agree, and this is not an easy point to make because just about everyone thinks Louis was better. Joe's slow shuffling feet, low guard and certain range he like to operate in would work against him in this match up.
"

Mendoza

Joes feet was still able to walk down boxers like conn and Walcott who were just as fast and arguably better fighters than Tunney .

Who did Tunney ever fight and beat with the size skills jab punching power punching skills of a joe Louis? No one even close

Tunney carried his hands low, he leaned back to avoid punches, he didn't know how to fight inside so he clinched which worked against smaller fighters(but not against bigger fighters which Tunney never faced), he arm punched often, his movement was fast but predictable, his resume was vastly untested vs someone of Louis's size power skill and offense. Tunneys chin is also not fully tested against big fighters and big punchers.

The only combination ever thrown against Tunney was by a 32 year old Jack Dempsey whom put Tunney on the floor. Louis would be throwing better combinations than that throughout the fight, with better timing faster delivery and harder blows than that of a aging Jack Dempsey


Tunneys low guard is a recipe for disaster to be able to avoid punches from the greatest puncher who ever walked this earth. Louis will find tunneys chin. Louis knocked out boxers just as good and just as durable as Tunney. He will put Tunney on the floor and keep him there

 

I think it's a great fight and the right type of opponent for each to match up against instead of putting them against guys much bigger .. unknowns exist for both .. Tunney for his short resume at heavyweight and for never fighting black fighters and Rocky for fighting everyone he could but that happened to be old men .. Tunney had the speed and stamina to really test Rocky and Rocky, while slower than the 26 Dempsey had far more strength and stamina than that version of the Mauler .. I honestly don't know ..

 

Q,

Louis clearly showed vulnerability to boxer mover types and to good jabbers in general so Tunney gives him the same problems. This is only logical.

It doesn’t matter if Tunney had a low guard, he moved quickly and fought smart. His defense and balance was excellent. The proof? He was only floored in just one fight in 68 matches.

Louis needed his feet set to throw good punches. And he was slow footed. Tunney out speeds and out angles him. I also find Louis very slow to adapt in fight when needed. He often needed a re-match to correct his past performances.

Tunney was tested vs big punchers. Jack Dempsey twice. Power is nice to have but you have to land it. I would not call Dempsey slow in either Tunney fight, he was simply out speed and classed.

While Louis can have his moments, Tunney is far harder to KO than Farr, Conn, or Walcott. Tunney had an iron chin and was never stopped. This means a come from behind win from Louis is less likely. Gene was no fool the way Conn or Walcott were when they had the lead.

As for Tunney’s credentials he has a winning record vs. hall of fame fighters, only officially losing one to Greb.

Unless you think Louis lost all of his power, he could not hurt Charles and was badly beaten to the punch for the entire fight.

I like Tunney here.

 

Tunney by decision. Tunney was the best.

 

Best at what? Drawing the color line?

 

Some people have nothing better to do than race-baiting. Managers and promoters arrange fights.

 

One thing I'm relatively confident in saying is that this fight would be more competitive than the Marciano - Lewis bout. Hard fight to pick, but I lean slightly towards Tunney winning a close and perhaps even disputed decision.

 

H, True what you imply. But it makes them feel so much
nobler ...So superior than the accused from a completely different era in our history...:good