Heavyweight Tourney: Rd 3: Gene Tunney .Vs. Rocky Marciano

dempsey in his prime would ko tunney but rocky was not as overly aggr. as jack 12 or 10 rnds maybe dec. for tunney but 15 rnds rocky tho bloody caches gene for a ko

 

I think most here are selling Tunney way short. He excelled at pace, distance and timing. He was athletic, light on his feet and quick as hell. He was absolutely masterful in the exact way that befuddled Marciano. And to boot, when his hands were healthy, he had tremendous kick in his punches. I really see him having no problem beating Marciano over 15 rounds and making him look like mincemeat by the end.

 

Gene, points. Too good. Too mobile. Too durable. Marciano was a beast but I don't think Gene would fight Marciano's fight and I don't think Marciano could force him to either.

 

Is Gene winning this poll then?

 

It is a close fight, i have Tunney ahead on points but it seems as if we are approaching the final stages. Rocky is going to need a KO to win this. Could Suzy Q pull it out of the fire for Marciano?

 

Suzie needs to produce a moment of magic.

Surely Tunney won't go the same way as Walcott...... I'm always hopeful.

 

Who knows, maybe Tunney will see an opening, and crack Rocky on the Jaw for a KO!

 

I've just realised your post count is 777 right now. Isn't that supposed to be lucky or something?

Go Rock!!

 

I knew you'd say that.

It is a valid point, but i think the situation is asymmetric because:
1) Rocky faced an excellent amount of hitters and took their best shot
2) Tunney faced only one puncher (at HW), and although he performed extremely well, he nearly got knocked out
3) Tunney mostly AVOIDED the hard punches. Marciano, because of his come-forward style and the fact that he faced heavyweights throughout his entire career, has taken many hard shots. Of course it is to Tunneys credit that he didn't let those shots land on him, but i think we can agree Marciano is going to connect sooner or later. When he does, what happens? It's an unknown factor - against Dempsey, it didn't go well - while the reverse is not unkown. We've seen Marciano in wars and he always came out on top.

I would love to see it because this is what i like most about boxing: adaptation. However, i'm not sure if Tunney CAN, really. Perhaps the sort of changes that Calzaghe made in rounds 3-4 to beat Kessler. But needless to say, those are completely different kind of fighters.

I think Marciano is the ultimate nightmare for boxer/movers, and i'm not sure whether adapting really is an option. If a boxer beats a swarmer, they need to have success during both the early and middle rounds. That might sound trivial, but think about it - how often has a boxing type of fighter lost the early and middle rounds, but came back to win? Usually, when a swarmer breaks you down, then that's it. It's over. When Frazier had Ali on the ropes and wouldn't let him go, there was nothing Ali could do to avoid defeat. He fought gallantly and has nothing to be ashamed off, but he lost.

In addition to the taller man being the puncher, the fighters in question were broken down already. Cotto had the life beaten out of him. LaMotta had nothing left.

I applaud you for finding examples, but i find the probability of Tunney breaking Marciano down while losing rounds, making a late-fight comeback possible, extremely low. Especially considering Rocky is the puncher here, and is proven to the highest degree in both stamina and durability.

Okay. I Tunney only finds a KO if he somehow outclasses Marciano and lands on him with ease. And even then, i expect him to need 12+ rounds to finally put his opponent out of his misery. After all, Dempsey, who was outclassed, twice went 10 rounds and suffered only one flash knockdown.

 

I remember the long count, the stiff and inactive legs of Dempsey but the flurry that put Gene down. I have to say Gene got up and ran like a thief to clear his cobwebs but Jack was rusty and did not have the one punch Marciano had. Also Gene did not have the pinpoint power of Walcott or Moore. I see Marciano getting stronger as the fight goes on and if he happens to land on of his bombs it would take its toll on Gene rounds 10-15 would be tough territory for Tunney sharing the same Square space as Rocky

 

And who in your opinion did Tunney fight who was better than Marciano

 

Tunney like Marciano had never ending stamina. In fact I think Tunney stamina might even be better than the Rock's, as he could box and move for the full 15. Unlike Charles and Walcott, Tunney fought smart, and had a better chin. Tunney might also be one of the hardest punchers Marciano ever faced.

I'll go with Tunney via clear UD. The fight might look a bit like LaStarza vs Marciano 2, except Tunney was far better than Lastarza who had an early lead, and isn't likely to wilt in the later rounds.