The Art of Boxing: Gene Tunney- His Strengths and Weaknesses

This is terrific.....Thanks....

 

This guy Reemus really knows the stuff.... His vid on Mike Tyson is great.

 

I plan to watch it later. One of the biggest misconceptions on Tunney is he was only a jab and move type of fighter.

The truth is Tunney went to the body well and had a good left hook.

Tunney was one of the best movers in the history of the division, and had a very high Ring IQ. Perhaps he used his footwork better than anyone else, and seemed to know where he was in the ring at all times. His stamina was so great he never rested on the ropes or allowed someone to catch up to him to take a rest.

Old time historians, if they are on the web and aware of stuff like this must be smiling.

 

Another great viewing.

From what we can see of Tunney, he seemed always to be spatially aware, with great concentration and being very clever on his feet. He also delivered solid, crisp punches, even as he moved backwards.

A pleasure to watch.

 

Very Calzaghe-ish. And I'm complimenting the man.

One wonders what Tunney would done against all the black boxers he avoided.
Just asking. And wondering.

 

Clazaghe-ish in movement, yes, but Tunney punched properly and hit much harder than Joe Calzaghe, who sometimes slapped with his punches or was so concerned with speed had little on his punches.

 

Any notable names amongst those that were avoided?

 

A fair question, Tunney offered Wills a fight, Wills declined.

 

Tunney was insanely good

 

Fair enough. Any further info on the situation of the offer and decline? Money issues?

 

Name a black boxer that he fought....am I wrong or did he simply not fight any
black fighters, especially early in his career. I wouldn't expect him to fight just
anybody once he was champ....dear God his purse was $1,000,000 vs Dempsey.
You could buy a country with that much in the 1920's.

 

Joe wasn't called Cal-slappy for nothing, but early in his career his hands were in better shape and he did get some decent KO's.

 

The issue is complex.

Tunney was an elitist, and he has been accused of being a racist.

Max Schmeling once said that he would not even hire black sparring partners.

Having said that, there were not many cases where there was an obvious black opponent for him.

He issued a challenge to Harry Wills, and Wills declined because he had already won three title eliminators, and did not think it fair that he should have to fight a fourth.