This fight would be ridiculous. Tunney an absolute master counter puncher and boxer. Roy the unorthodox freight train, with incredible speed and punching power. Who takes it over ten and who over fifteen?
I'm not sure. Many believe Tunney changed the course of both of his fights with Dempsey with one straight right. Obviously, his style was perfectly suited to beat Dempsey, but he still said Tunney was a hard puncher.
Tunney would land hard early, and then shut him down and control him the rest of the way. Tunney was one of the very best ever at this weight, right alongside Ezzard and Spinks.
Tunney could follow a blueprint for a fight very well and I think Jones would get frustrated by this. Tunney had the knowledge and skill not to deviate from what he would know he had to do for a win when Jones broke through from time to time. That discipline I think would lead Gene to a win over either of the distances.
Jones was very fast......Tunney fast enough. When speed neutralizes speed, then it becomes strategy and fundamentals. The JoeCal vs Jones fight might be the blueprint for this one too. Tunney by SD.
No nostalgia here. I think you should do yourself the favor of watching some tape closely and reading up on Tunney. Or maybe you have and just have a different opinion. In mine, Jones picked the perfect patsy in Ruiz to make his HW statement, a slow, oafish, not particularly powerful or skilled fighter. Tunney was the polar opposite, very quick, very skilled with excellent kick to his punches. The mature, prime Tunney (essentially the version upon his retirement) was a great, great fighting machine. I see no precedent in Jones resume to suggest he could beat him.
