Grantland Rice thought that Tunney could have easily handled Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, and Braddock, and still retired as an unbeaten champion. Grantland Rice, "Rex Layne May Be A Dempsey," Hope Pioneer, Jan. 4, 1951 “Gene Tunney was a heavyweight champion who quit well before his time. […] It would have been interesting to see how far Gene Tunney could have gone. Those who followed him were Max Schmeling, Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera, Max Baer, and Jim Braddock. He could have walked through this collection without picking up a half-dozen beads of perspiration. Gene would have been in much better physical shape and would also have boxed their collective ears off. And it so happens that Tunney was a pretty fair puncher.[…] Tunney could have moved through this list—and retired unbeaten.”
As Tunney got older and his reflexes slowed I think he could've been taken out by a motivated Baer/Sharkey. I think he would handle Carnera and Schmeling though. And Sharkey if they had fought in '28. Theres also the risk of other fighters like Stribling, Godfrey and Obie Walker. They provide a threat but I think Tunney could handle them even later in life.
I think that he is making the mistake that many posters on this site make. He is taking the best version of a fighter (in this case Tunney), and concluding that he could beat the next few men who came after him. This doesn't factor in the frictions and mishaps that inevitably accompany a long title reign. In practice head to head ability alone will not guarantee a long title reign. I also think that Tunney's caution in selecting opponents, might have hindered this glowing legacy. He would probably have done things like swerve Schmeling, in favor of Stribling or Uzcdun.
Schmeling could be tough for him to beat in the early 1930s. Other than that, he would likely beat the rest. Maxie is dangerous, but Tunney has huge style advantage over him.
Lets work in the dates here. He would have been fairly fresh when he met Schmeling and Sharakey. Schmeling hung around int he rankings for years, so even if Tunney got past him when he was young, he wouldn't have gone away. He would have been 36 when he mat Carnera, and 37 when he met Baer. Loughran would have been coming after him around the same time. Something probably gives there, if not before!
Well, you are right actually. Then I don't see him holding the title long enough to face Baer. Not a chance.
Tunney beats them all until age beats him. At his best he outboxes all of those guys in the 30s, until he runs into Joe Louis. But the late 1920s best version of Tunney gives Louis hell. Guy was lightning fast, beautiful fast footwork, excellent condition, and knew how to clinch and smother very well. Guy would have been a stylistic nightmare for just about anyone.
Would've been pretty embarrassing if a 36-year-old Gene Tunney lost to Primo Carnera in 1933. Tommy Loughran legitimately lost to Carnera in a title fight because Carnera was simply too big for him. And Loughran was five years younger than Gene. Tunney would've been an old 36 by 1933. I don't think Tunney ever makes it to Joe Louis - and he wouldn't have defended the title against Louis anyway. Gene didn't even spar with black fighters.
This. Tunney certainly had the ability to beat all of those guys, but Tunney was also already past his prime even during the Dempsey fights, so I doubt he would’ve easily ran through Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, and Braddock post 1928 and wouldn’t have been surprised if Tunney took a loss or two.
Gene Tunney did quite well in his last bout while facing Tom Heeney. It may be that Tunney could have beaten Jack Sharkey, Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Max Baer or Jim Braddock in world heavyweight title defenses. But Tunney wanted to retire with good health. To do that, it is better to retire early or rather being too late. Another thing to consider is that Tunney would not have received such large purses as he did in his title defenses against Jack Dempsey and Heeney. The Tunney-Heeney bout was an absolute financial disaster for the promoter, Tex Rickard, largely because Tunney wasn't that good of a gate attraction and Tunney's huge guarantee of about $525,000. for the bout. - Chuck Johnston
