What if Tunney didn't retire so soon?

I think he would loose one but dont care to speculate which.

 

The problem I feel with such speculation is it goes against Tunney's idiosyncrasy. He accomplished what he set out to and retired. He was no die-hard, like so many other greats.

But, since this is fantasy, I would favor him to outpoint any of these other very worthy fighters, immediately post turning back Dempsey.

 

There is some question as to whether a title fight with Godfrey would've been made. If the money could be big enough I could see Tunney hanging around to pretty easily beat Schmeling, Sharkey and Stribling. Would've been interesting to see Tunney against a prime Larry Gains or Godfrey.

 

I could see him winning all of them to be honest. Interesting thought though

 

I don't know anything about Godfrey, but I'd say that an in shape, serious, well conditioned Tunney (and that's the only way Tunney ever fought) would have beaten both Stribling and Schmeling both by decision, and with much punishment meted out to Stribling in particular. What people keep forgetting, is that Tunney was not an ordinary fighter. Jack Sharkey, in both of his fights with Schmeling, gave the German all he could handle, and Gene Tunney was even sharper than Sharkey, and a far more disciplined, consistant fighter as well. He would have trounced Max. If the fights were bothe scheduled for 15, with Tunney defending his title, it would have been: Tunney-W15-Schmeling and Tunney-W15(or tko 14)-Stribling.

 

The thing about Tunney is that he would be rated much higher in the estimation of boxing fans if his fights with Dempsey were set for more than 10 rounds. If the first one had benn scheduled for 15, for example, it's doubtful that there would have been a rematch. Tunney administered much punishment on Dempsey, and I believe that if the fight had gone on for a couple of more rounds, Tunney would have stopped Dempsey. There possibly then would have been no rematch.

 

I initially (without properly observing) assumed the poll in the title to be "How many would he lose?" and voted 1 (by mistake, instead of 3 wins). I think that a couple of these matchups could be potentially a bit tricky for Tunney, although he'd win more often than not.

He may win 'em all, however if I were to pick one from the bunch to beat him I'd say, perhaps Schmeling (late on).

 

I like the approach used in this thread.

 

Tunney if he does'nt retire when he did as long as he stays healthy could easily stay champion until he meets Louis.

 

That is exactly where everybody here is going wrong in their thinking.

People are just ticking off the names here. As in-

Godfrey, Tunney probably beats him.

Schmeling, yeah Tunney again.

Sharkey, Tunney should find a way.

While he might be favoured over each of these fighters individualy the reality is that if he fights them all in that order, the chances are that his luck is going to run out at some point. The battle in achieving longevity is not beating the fighters put in front of you on your best day it is beating them on your worst day which will come.

 

I dont for reasons outlined in the above post.

 

Maybe, but I think he could beat all of them.