Why were the Jack Dempsey/Gene Tunney only sechulded for 10 rounds?

Apparently , this fight - well the second 1, was all set up by Tunney's men, there were rumours of 'match-fixing', not of the outcome, but of everything being in Tunney's favour , like the big ring, and the ref.

This doesnt answer your question though does it?! Maybe he thought because of his ease in the first fight he would just do it again over 10 in the rematch, and not give Dempsey a chance of getting him late when he's tired of all that movement , maybe ?

 

They were both at the end of very long careers?

 

The first fight was in Philadelphia ,that was the commisison rules . The second was at Dempseys request.

 

Looks like you cleared this thread up then!!

 

I've always wondered about that too, I've always thought that 10 rounds was most unsatisfactory for a title bout, and I ***** about the present day limit of 12 rounds. Whatever the reason, it didn't benefit Tunney as much as it did Dempsey, in that I feel if both fights were scheduled for 15, that Tunney would have won both fights by ko's, at least tko's. In the first fight, were it set for 15, Tunney may have even made unnecessary a rematch, and the long count would have never taken place. If, on the other hand, that long count fight was for 15, Tunney would have stopped Dempsey decisively in the 13th, or 14th.

 

I agree.

Dempsey had some powerful connections, considering the rematch (Tunney champion) was also over 10 rounds. I can't imagine Tunney thinking this would be better than 15. Was it his choice or did Dempsey's team force this?

 

Dempsey requested it ,he was concerned about damage to his eyes,he came out of the first fight pretty mauled up ,and had to be led away from the ring.

 

Yes and Tunney got a bigger ring and a no-neutral corner rule which gave him a huge advantage. He had more advantages then Jack did.

 

New York refuse to have the first fight until Dempsey fought the true number 1 contender Wills so they moved the fight to Philadelphia which only allowed 10 rounds.

 

Actually ,Im afraid it was Dempseys people who again requested the implementation of the "in the event on a knockdown etc"rule,strange that as Jack was known for potshotting them as soon as they had their mitts of the floor,and of course it worked against him via the long count.Dave Barry the referee insisting Jack go to the furthest neutral corner when Tunney was down" I stay here " said Jackie boy,interestingly enough when Tunney briefly dropped Dempsey in the next round ,the ref made no move to get Tunney to a neutral corner.

 

Thanks Mcvea. Dempseys people were stupid to get the larger ring and no neutral ring