Tunney vs. Dubois

mcvey · Jul 6, 2025

dmt said: ↑

Usyk has very good power. Yes, Usyk does not hit as hard as Foreman the way that some silly posters in the general boxing forum claim.

However, Usyk is a 220 lb man who has good power and comparable power to Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes. I will say Ali hit slightly harder than Usyk and Usyk hits slightly harder than Holmes but the differences are small at that level.

Tunney was a 190 lb guy and unlike physical freaks like Marciano or Dempsey, he did not have exceptional power for his size. Oh sure, he had above average power for his size but he certainly was not some exceptional puncher. Hence, i don't think that Tunney can hit as hard as Usyk/Ali/Holmes etc.

In order to defeat a quality puncher, you generally need both great defense and at least good power to keep the more powerful man off you. We can't compare Usyk and Tunney. Not only does Usyk hit harder than Tunney, he is also a southpaw and his left hand is hard for opponents to read which makes it reluctant for them to come in.

Additionally, Usyk has spent years fighting big punchers - from Beterbiev and Joyce in the amateurs to Breidis and Joshua in the pros. The only notable puncher Tunney fought was Dempsey and Jack no longer had the footwork to get close to Tunney to land with any consistency.

Tunney doesn't have the height and reach to keep Dubois away. He doesn't have the southpaw left which is going to make Dubois hesitant to come in. If Tunney could punch like Dempsey, Dubois might be reluctant to come in but the simple fact is that he can't.

Additionally, Tunney kept his hands low which worked well in that era. However, Dubois has long arms and an extremely powerful jab so keeping your hands low is inviting trouble.

My guess is Tunney outboxes Dubois for a couple of rounds but Dubois is undeterred and keeps coming forward. Dubois lands a power jab at some point which would snap Tunney's head back and drive him close to the ropes. Once Dubois has him cornered, he will unleash big punches. Tunney isn't accustomed to being hit with that type of ko power. Tunney tries his best to survive but the fight is stopped.

None of this is to diminish Tunney's greatness. Tunney is an ATG but at light-heavyweight. I firmly believe size is overrated but sometimes the size and power difference is too much to overcome. Just because Dubois likely stops Tunney doesn't mean Dubois is an ATG and Tunney isn't. Obviously Tunney is an ATG and not Dubois.

Dubois tko 5.
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Good post!

Lonsdale81 · Jul 6, 2025

I like dubois hes comical but let's be honest he's dumber than a doorknob.. somebody as intelligent as Tunney would pick him apart.. the skill gap is such here that it would bridge the size gap.. & Dubois has pretty much quit twice already.. these two men don't belong in the same sentence

Melankomas · May 11, 2026

Bump

McCallumsJab · May 11, 2026

I don't think there's a 190lb man Debois doesn't beat up and stops.

Seamus · May 11, 2026

Dubois has every physical advantage... and he's proven to be a better heavyweight boxer in the skills department. Sorry, Tunney looks decent on film because he's fighting old dudes, smaller dudes or dudes with no twitch. Every figure must be viewed in context of its relief.

Dubois KO5

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Tunney vs. Dubois

Who wins

Tunney

Dubois

mcvey VIP Member

Lonsdale81 Active Member Full Member

Melankomas Corbett beats your favourite fighter

McCallumsJab Member Full Member

Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member