Gene Tunney was an awful fighter

I don't mean to quote myself, but that was a typo, I meant to say that the episode would be a treasure to "unearth". Sorry, I'll shut up now.

 

From the Wikipedia entry on Jack Dempsey
"Dempsey wrote a book on boxing, Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, which was published in 1950. Although the book has been out of print for the past 56 years, many boxers—professional and amateur alike—have continued to praise it as "the finest treatise on boxing ever written". The book was also seen as a turning point in boxing, as it was the first serious study of the sweet science. Dempsey, thanks to this book, has been proclaimed by some to be the world's first modern boxer.

 

Tunney was excellent;there aren't a lot of cruiserweights who could've beaten him.

 

Read Tunney's record it says it all, who beat him and how often? This guy was special at a time when boxing was the most popular pro sport in the world. In the 1920s the strength in depth of the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions was greater than at any time before or since, yet Tunney came through with just a loss to Harry Greb and finished up world heavyweight champ. Beat that Joe Calzaghe.

 

Tunney figured everybody out - he would figure out Calzaghe and thrash him.

Tunney is one of the exceptions to the "old fighters < new fighters" theory, which is much more releveant to heavyweights, anyway.

He was orthodox even by today's standards, tough as nails, and without a doubt one of the smartest fighters to ever set foot in the ring.

 

I think older fighters get over-rated more than current figters. More excuses are made for older fighters than newer ones, and sometimes the footage doesn't match the mtyhs and so forth. However, Tunney is an exception. Tunney looks fine on film and has the record to match. He would be a top light heavy in any era. Top 5 all-time light heavy as well both on resume and head to head.

 

Gene Tunney is one of the greatest fighters that ever lived, he had an impeccable record. I believe he is number 2 LHW of all-time behind Ezzard Charles. Just my opinion, I think very highlh of Tunney, but saying he is anything less than great is madness. I'm unbiased aswell.

 

He Was A Major Part In The Evolution Of Boxing. To Make That Statement Was .........

 

To make that statement was what? I don't mind if you disagree with the ranking I give him at 175 ATG, but the rest was right surely , cmon

 

I have Tunney at #2 behind Charles as well, he was an amazing fighter. Top 20 all time p4p on my list. :good

 

tunney sparred corbett in corbett's old age and thought he learned things.

 

Gene Tunney was a fighter who deserves all the above compliments - and more - showered on him by the other posters.

To suggest that he was an awful fighter is s....., well sacrilege.

 

Don´t worry, it´s only the poster Amsterdam who thinks so (btw. the Calzaghe- ***** nr. 1 here), he thinks that a fighter like Mundine, who was KO´d by the feather-fisted fraud Ottke, would outpoint Louis and TKO Marciano, IMO a clear case for a mental house...

 

Great post.

 

Yes. Tunney is the most under rated of heavyweight champions. I think his record vs hall of fame oppoents is somehting like 10-1.

Tunney wasn't your typical boxer. He has all time stamina, is tough as nails, and was only floored once in over 80 fights. Tunney could box and move all night for a full 15 rounds. He had some power, and he carried it late into the fights. In one filmed fight, ( I think Gibbons ) Tunney shows he can deliver wicked body shots as well as his trademark jab, jab, then cross when its safe.

Its a pity Tunney retired when he did. 2-3 more defenses as heavyweight champion would really have boosted his standing.

Tunney is a small to medium sized punches worst night mare, especially if they don't have dynamic feet, and have less range then Tunney.

A great swarmer could get to Tunney a bit, but Tunney did not tire like Ali did vs Frazier, which is a big reason why Frazier came on late to win the first fight. I've never ever seen Tunney rest on the ropes. He was a brilliant tactician type who could take away the other fighter's best asset. I think Frazier at his best would beat Tunney via points decision.

I don't think Marciano is skilled or ranged enough enough to catch Tunney, and even if he did, it took Marciano on many rounds of landing punches to KO Walcott, Charles, Cockell, Moore et al....and none of these guys were as durable or had Tunney's never ending stamina.

Tunney does not have the range to beat a prime Ali, but he certainly could win some rounds and have his share of moments before losing a decision. I've seen guys like Doug Jones, Mildenberger and Chavalo have their moments vs Ali. Tunney was far better then them. If Tunney fought a declining Ali...say around 1976-1977, I think he takes the decision.