Correct. Tunney could certainly win a boxing match with a deceased champion. He'd be declared the winner by default if no one showed up. That's about the only way Tunney would agree to face a powerful black champion. Jimmy Young did not knock down Foreman in the 1990's. In the 90's Young was retired and on drugs. Tunney went life and death with an inactive old Dempsey getting knocked down in the process and was thrashed about and beat up by a 162 pound fighter who lacked power even for his size and era.
Tunney was from an earlier era. The athletes progressed since his time. Foreman would simply be too much. Jimmy Young nwas every bit as talented a fighter only much bigger.