A tournament between four all time greats and almost greats. Gene Tunney, Dempsey conquerer and master boxer. Rocky Marciano the only undefeated Heavyweight George Foreman arguably the hardest puncher in the history of boxing. Jimmy Young Foreman conquerer and robbed against Ali another master boxer. Each fighter fights the other three once and then the two best fight each other again. Tunney loses to Marciano but defeats Foreman and Young Marciano defeats Tunney but loses to Foreman Foreman loses to Tunney and Young but defeats Marciano Young loses to Tunney and Marciano but defeats Foreman In the final Tunney now defeats Marciano because he has studied Marciano and learnt from his mistakes in basically the same way he did with Greb, peoples thoughts?
Marciano has the best shot putting pressure on the boxers...Foreman can be outhusled...I know because of the Frazier fight most associate Marciano in that class but Frazier was not his best for Foreman and Joe was not as durable as Rocky nor did he have the recupritive ability that Rocky had but I also remember the Lyle fight and Ron came close to Stopping George and Ron was a decent puncher not a puncher of Rocky's calibur, despite his menacing muscles....so Foreman is the biggest obstacle for Marciano but not invincable
Likewise. Foreman W-KO Young Foreman W-KO Tunney Foreman W/L (win by TKO or lose by TKO/UD) Marciano Marciano W-UD/KO Tunney Marciano W-UD/TKO Young Marciano W/L (win by UD/TKO or lose by TKO) Foreman Tunney-Young would be 50/50 in my eyes, but I'd be inclined to favor Young. The final would be a rematch of Foreman-Marciano. I think it being a rematch is important...if Foreman gassed out and got stopped after he dominated the early rounds in the first fight, will he let that happen again? Likewise, if Marciano is blown out early in the first fight, will he let that happen again? The second fight certainly wouldn't be a repeat of the first.
I think whoever was in the final fight it would not be a repeat of the first, everyone here underates Tunney he was a clever boxer and so was Young. Frustrating guys to fight really because they never get hit flush.
I don't think I'm underrating Tunney by picking him to lose vs. Foreman and Marciano. I'm a believer that Foreman would've KO'd Young if they had fought before Zaire. Also, Young's style is all wrong to survive against Marciano. He was very stationary, which is great against some guys, but Marciano (and Foreman to a lesser extend) would be complacent to just whack away at his arms and body. Eventually he'll crack him. Tunney isn't that much like Young. Tunney is alot smaller, but more mobile, while Young was a more stationary cutie that just happened to be bigger.
I think: Tunney beats Young, but loses to Foreman and Marciano. 1-2 Marciano beats Tunney and Young, but loses to Foreman. 2-1 Foreman beats Tunney and Marciano, but loses to Young (actually happened). 2-1 Young beats Foreman (actually happened), but loses to Marciano and Tunney. 1-2 Therefore, Marciano and Foreman have the two best records. Now, since Foreman already got a win over Marciano in the round-robin stage, let me say that I would not be much surprised if Rocky beat George once out of two fights. However, I will still favor Foreman as the winner of this match and the tournament.
Skill and finesse are not what seperates Tunney and Young. Young, although he wasn't a hard puncher, was a full-sized heavyweight with proven durability and a proven record against legitimate good superheavies.
I think it definately comes down to Rocky and George and if Rocky could get into the later rounds he could win,but he has to survive a savagely powerful early Foreman onslaught
We know Young defeats Foreman as it actually happened what is to say in this tournament he doesn't defeat Tunney which I think would be a close fight, if Foreman takes out Marciano and Tunney this means a final fight with Foreman which in all likelyhood Young wins again winning the tournament, if you look at the styles of each fighter this is a very strong possibility.
