Name me a 190lber who could beat Tunney.

Don't think for a moment, however, that Ali wouldn't have beaten Tunney. He was stylistically, much the same as Tunney, and with his superior size and reach, would have had little trouble winning a decision. A subpar Ali, like the version that had so much trouble vs Jimmy Young, may have been upset by Tunney, but more than likely he would have won a decision. Ali was favorably impressed by Tunney, as was revealed on that special episode of Wide World of Sports that has resurfaced recently. He considered Gene to be a "modern style boxer", compared to the other past greats that were featured on that episode.

 

One factor that might upset your analysis here is that Tunney was much better able to adapt to fighting on the front foot than Ali was.

That might be a critical factor.

 

That no doubt was true, as well as Tunney being more technically "correct" in a textbook, orthodox sort of way, but I still feel that Ali would have beaten him on the basis of size, speed and "natural gifts". My call would be Ali w 15 Tunney.

 

I am not saying that your pick is wrong.

I just think that there are some important variables and it is hard to see how they would play out. I would be particularly interested in what strategy each fighter would adopt.

 

"well preserved" because he'd barely fought in 7 years ?!


He was rusty, or finished even, physically and mentally. Almost every great fighter and trainer has observed that a championship-level fighter cannot take many extended lay-offs (years off serious competitive fighting !) and hope to stay sharp or get back in prime form, whatever their age.
The number of fighters who have gotten away with it you could probably list and count on your fingers.
The number who have suffered from it are hundreds, or more.


Especially damaging is not only the time off, but the life lived during that lay-off. 3-year lay-off in the life of comfort and riches and celebrity, hanging out with actors and businessmen and other civilian dignitaries, is a killer to the fighting spark of a prizefighter.


It's seems ludricrous to deny the impact these lay-offs likely had on Dempsey.

I agree. :good

 

I think a few 190-pounders would have a chance against a prime Tunney.

Sam Langford v Tunney would be interesting.

 

Langford , Toney , Qawi , Cream , Charles , Holyfield , Dempsey (and he did by KO in their rematch) , Markegiano , Doug Jones , Spinks (possibly , Holmes was h2h superior 2 Tunney) , Bert Cooper , Orlin Norris , Chris Byrd , Al Cole , Juan Carlos Gomez , Vassily Jirov , Michael Moorer , "HW" Roid Jones , John Ruiz , O'neil Bell , Johnny Nelson (at least n even fight) , David Haye , Jean Marc Mormeck and I believe there r more that i simply forgot or still just don't know enough about .

 

Well i did forget about Floyd Patterson , Ossie Ocasio , Leon Spinks , Jimmy Ellis and i do believe that Quarry could make 190 if it existed during his era , Jerry was very soft 4 a 200 and something man . A bit dieting combined with a slight dehydration would easily put him below d 190 mark .

 

Floyd Patterson and Ezzard Charles were the first names that came to mind. They were both very effective in this weight range and would give Tunney fits.

 

I can't see Gene beating Marciano and Louis,although he could be leading on the cards before he's stopped in the latter stages.

 

OG Holy :rasta

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Good call Hook :good

 

No One Beats Gene Tunney at 190 lbs.

The guy left boxing without a mark on his face.

 

This must be a joke friend... he losses most of those... Charles, Walcott, Moore... Marciano... Lanford.. Johnson... I all make clear and decisive favorites to take a majority of a series or sweep it.

 

because he didn't have d guys i mentioned in my post in his division .
only d great Harry Greb could beat Tunney and his face d way that would have ensued a stoppage 2day , and Dempsey could KO him (longcount) , but Holyfield , Orlin Norris , Michael Moorer , Qawi , Juan Carlos Gomez ? no way . only a light hitting stocky short middleweight could do that .