Name me a 190lber who could beat Tunney.

He fought at HW a little over two years and he got a shot at the title. How many other fights was he supposed to take?

 

Watching them both extensively on tape I would give the speed edge and better footwork to Tunney. Based on records and the testimonies of his rivals, I say the power is even, WHEN TUNNEY HAD HEALTHY HANDS. Lots of great, FAST fighters held their hands low because they could get away with it. I see this as a toss-up but put to task would give it to Tunney.

 

I was posting in contrast to Charles, actually. That's the problem with posting at work, looking over your shoulder...

I think Tunney would have eaten up Johnson and most likely KO'd him but then my opinion of Johnson is fairly low. If Hart could do it, if O'Brien could almost do it, if Battlin' Johnson did it...etc... then Tunney would surely have done it.

 

Don't bother your fingers, I've read all the excuses. No fighter requires more apologies than Johnson.

Burns beat Hart rather emphatically from what I have read, a feat Johnson could nowhere near duplicate. In fact as many said the Hart Johnson decision was just as those who said it wasn't. Barring film evidence, I would say it was a close one that Marvin edged out.

Hungover? Another reason I would not bet on Johnson. Underprepared for too many fights.

I've seen fighters break their arms, ankles, knees in fights. Those fighters are generally ruled as Knocked Out.

 

Tunney had fragile hands early in his career, his right hand to be specific.

Gibbons said Tunney hit him harder than Dempsey. Greb said Tunney did the most damage to him of any fighter. Dempsey said that a single right hand from Tunney in the first round won him the first fight, said he couldn't remember a thing afterward. Tunney certainly had one of the fiercest body attacks of the early heavies.

People, look at the ****ing film. This guy was for real.