Who was better Dempsey or Tunney?

[bengidaro]

I know Tunney beat him twice but we have to remember that it was Dempsey's third to last and final fight. One of which was the infamous "Long Count". So over their careers who was better Dempsey or Tunney? I'll be the first to say I think Demspey was better.

[sleazyfellow]

Of course everyones gonna like dempsy better, he was past his glory days when he fought tunney.

[Terry A]

I know Tunney beat him twice but we have to remember that it was Dempsey's third to last and final fight. One of which was the infamous "Long Count". So over their careers who was better Dempsey or Tunney? I'll be the first to say I think Demspey was better.

I firmly believe that old adage that "styles make fights" and these two had styles that conflicted. They remind me of Ali vs Norton...who doesn't believe that Ali ws the superior talent, yet when they fought, it was nip and tuck every time. If Dempsey and Tunney fought each other 10 times, each fight would be close.

My pick on your question is Dempsey, but Tunney was very good and under rated.

[Warhawk_1]

True, but in the case of Ali and Norton Ali had decayed after a long layoff from his early years, and that lost speed was the crucial difference.

I think the same argument applies for Dempsey that if it had been a few years younger version of himself, he would have been able to if not necessarily dominate Tunney, still handily win without it being close.

Tunny after all, was a boxer who depended on skill and moving backward and in circles to evade. Dempsey had lost his speed of foot by the time he fought Tunney, and I feel that a style-wise, a fast-footed Dempsey could catch Tunney mutch easier and most likely handily beat him.

[wmute]

Dempsey prime for prime
Tunney pund for pound

[McGrain]

Demspey was the better fighter I think.

I personally don't feel the fights were close, I see them as pretty clear for Tunney, but Dempsey was inactive and past his best by then (aruagbly this was his own fault).

[bengidaro]

One of the fights was the Long Count in which Dempsey did not return to his corner after knocking Tunney down. As the referee went to send Dempsey away Tunney remained on the canvas for more than 10 seconds. So really Dempsey did win one of the two.

[hemichromis]

tunney was an outstanding boxer with a great record however i do think dempsey in his prime was better

[butterfly1964]

Tunney beat a washed up Dempsey and one one of those fights were controversial. It means nothing. Dempsey was better.

[wmute]

does anyone here gets the point that this is like saying "who was better? michael spinks or larry holmes? ezzard charles or joe louis?"

it is fair to remember that dempsey, louis and holmes were past their primes, but it is also fair to remember that tunney, charles and spinks were just lightheavys