Is Gene Tunney the most fundamentally complete fighter ever?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by sugarjay, Dec 22, 2014.


Page 1 of 3
  1. sugarjay

    sugarjay Guest

    tunney had good defense, footwork, stamina, power, counters, speed, ring awareness, timing, chin, everything a boxer needs to be great. ho else is fundamentally complete?
     
    sugarjay, Dec 22, 2014
    sugarjay, Dec 22, 2014
    #1
  2. MercuryChild

    MercuryChild Member Full Member

    180
    6
    May 31, 2013
    60s Ali for sure hits all of those marks.
     
    MercuryChild, Dec 22, 2014
    MercuryChild, Dec 22, 2014
    #2
  3. MercuryChild

    MercuryChild Member Full Member

    180
    6
    May 31, 2013
    Psh how could Ray Robinson be forgotten?
    Larry Holmes
    Ezzard Charles
    Ray Leonard
    Roberto Duran
    Marvin Hagler
    Mike McCallum
    Julio Cesar Chavez
    Benny Leonard? Kind of hard to determine without film , but I'd say its I'd a safe bet.
     
    MercuryChild, Dec 22, 2014
    MercuryChild, Dec 22, 2014
    #3
  4. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,416
    8,856
    Oct 8, 2013
    Tunney was the complete package. He's not alone though. elite power is missing but he could hit and of course size by today's standards. His footwork was exceptional, his punch placing was perfect, chin heart everything.
     
    The Long Count, Dec 22, 2014
    The Long Count, Dec 22, 2014
    #4
  5. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,470
    58
    Feb 23, 2008
    Charles, Duran, McCallum and Benny Leonard are all great shouts.
     
    JAB5239, Dec 23, 2014
    JAB5239, Dec 23, 2014
    #5
  6. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,114
    8,561
    Jul 17, 2009

    When I look at the films of him,I marvel at his skillset. He'd have been a handful for a PRIME Jack Dempsey. Would he have actually beaten a 1919 Manassa Mauler ? Not sure,but a classic battle would have ensued.
     
    Stevie G, Dec 23, 2014
    Stevie G, Dec 23, 2014
    #6
  7. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,308
    4,175
    Aug 2, 2013
    Pernell Whitaker.
     
    Bulldog24, Dec 23, 2014
    Bulldog24, Dec 23, 2014
    #7
  8. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,308
    4,175
    Aug 2, 2013
    And Floyd Mayweather.
     
    Bulldog24, Dec 23, 2014
    Bulldog24, Dec 23, 2014
    #8
  9. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

    42,723
    269
    Jul 22, 2004
    No, a fundamentally sound fighter doesn't carry his hands so low. His defense wasn't that great.
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 23, 2014
    PowerPuncher, Dec 23, 2014
    #9
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,970
    48,032
    Mar 21, 2007
    No would be my answer, though he's a very complete fighter.

    Ray Robinson and Wilfredo Gomez were first to my mind.
     
    McGrain, Dec 23, 2014
    McGrain, Dec 23, 2014
    #10
  11. superman1692

    superman1692 Active Member Full Member

    1,177
    41
    Feb 13, 2011
    He really wasn't. Any boxing trainer will tell you that. And they'll tell you not to to try the **** did Ali did, or else you'll get battered. He only got away with it, cos he's freaking Ali, and the vast majority of us humans are not gifted with the reflexes that he had.
     
    superman1692, Dec 23, 2014
    superman1692, Dec 23, 2014
    #11
  12. turpinr

    turpinr Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,227
    1,251
    Feb 6, 2009
    Robinson, Charles and McCallum
     
    turpinr, Dec 23, 2014
    turpinr, Dec 23, 2014
    #12
  13. turpinr

    turpinr Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,227
    1,251
    Feb 6, 2009
    There was an Ali imitator at every boxing show I boxed on in the 70s.now it's mayweather but they are both one offs.
     
    turpinr, Dec 23, 2014
    turpinr, Dec 23, 2014
    #13
  14. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    28,133
    13,079
    Jan 4, 2008
    True.

    And Tunney was probably the preceeding HW most like him, so...
     
    Bokaj, Dec 23, 2014
    Bokaj, Dec 23, 2014
    #14
  15. Surf-Bat

    Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,736
    97
    Jul 20, 2010
    Fair enough. But you could also argue that Tunney benefited from not having even half as challenging opposition as Robinson(Greb fights aside, in which he had several advantages regardless) and yet still didn't look half as good. He wasn't blowing people's minds on his way up like Robinson was.
     
    Surf-Bat, Dec 23, 2014
    Surf-Bat, Dec 23, 2014
    #15
Page 1 of 3