If Tunney had not retired, who should he have avoided?

After at least a year s lay off after his last defence, gene decides to have at least one more fight. It s between schmeling or sharkey. Who does the ageing champ go for? The Dempsey lookalike or the Boston gob? The fight is scheduled for 15 rounds.

 

I'd say avoid an in form Sharkey.

 

So he's best off taking on schmeling mcvey?. See what your saying about sharks. If he has his good head on he's a twat to beat, and unpredictable with it. Maybe gene thinks about, remember s the Dempsey V sharkey bout and decides on schmeling. Whenever Tunney would beat max? Not sure.

 

Sharkey always maintained that Tunney wanted no part of him but lot of fighters say that. Sharkey blew his chance by drawing with Heeney.

Style wise I think Tunney vs Sharkey would of been a classic.

Max no slouch himself

Two good matchups I think Schmeling with his bigger punch may have the better chance at winning. If he could catch Tunney

 

Still dangerous which ever one he takes on for sure. Tunney s not getting no younger and he's had a year off between fights. Sharkey and schmeling are the upcoming new generation. Tunney s a tough ******* and who ever he fights will have to rip the title from him.

 

By the time of Tunneys bout with Heeney, Schmeling had not had his first bout in the US. However by the first part of 1929 Schmeling was a superstar in the US drawing huge crowds to his bouts. A Tunney Schmeling bout mid 1929 would have been a monster event and would have drawn Tunney the largest paycheck. Schmeling would have been the most dangerous opponent for Tunney in terms of punching power but Gene was used to fighting dangerous opponents. He may have well chosen Schmeling rather than the good boxer in Sharkey.

 

I am not sure that it would be in his interests to avoid people.

Sharkey is probably the name that would have done most for his legacy.

Best to get Schmeling before he gets good.

As for guys like Risko and Stribling, they would be fairly routine assignments for him.

The only thing left for Tunney to fight for was legacy.

 

Schmeling would be the toughest match. He could box as good as Sharkey, hit as hard or harder, and had a better head on his shoulders.