Why did Tunney retire after just two heavyweight title defenses?

85 fights. Nary a fighter of color on that ledger.

 

Same with Marciano. We can only speculate how he would do with Floyd, Johanson, Liston etc.

 

That's not even believable.

 

Ok , get your point.

 

Tunney is the most overrated heavyweight champion in the division's history. His resume in the division is paper thin, based primarily on beating some very long in the tooth lightheavies and two 10 rounders against the used-up husk of a legend, one in a slippery ring in the rain, the other in which Tunney was essentially KO'd. Without basking in the glow of Dempsey's white hot legend (legend not abilities), he would be ranked toward the bottom of the champions, still a fine accomplishment for a light heavy. Yet, some well known noobs rank him Top Ten. He's a footnote at best.

 

You don't think you're being a little harsh on Gene's legacy. He was 65-1 and something like 80-1 factoring in News paper decisions. He is an all time great fighter. I do agree, that his legacy at heavy is too brief to reasonably place him in the top 10. However he is clearly dominating the opposition he faced- stopping Madden in 3, winning clean over Risko, dominating the over hill GIbbons, pretty much dominating Dempsey 2x and Heeney.
I understand that never facing an opponent of color is an omission on his legacy, and many find Gene's outlook reprehensible but his work inside the ring is outstanding. I think he could hold his own with any heavy up through the late 50s early 60s.

 

Tunney should have stuck around and retired at 49 after defeating Ezzard Charles in 1946

 

Not judging him as a fighter per se, just his rank among the heavyweight champions. Tunney, despite my misgivings about never facing a Black fighter, still ranks highly in a LB4LB sense.

Madden was approaching being a .500 fighter. Risko wasn't doing much better. As noted, that was lightheavy Gibbons' final fight. There's just no there there. I would rank Mike Spinks above Tunney in terms of heavyweight champs.

 

If Tunney were a professional fighter today that’s exactly what he’d do.

 

Does Tunney defeat Ezzard Charles in 46?

 

What do YOU think ?

 

Tunney by stoppage mid rounds after an early scare