Joe Louis vs Gene Tunney

[StarshipTrooper]

Boxing went way downhill after Tunney retired, just compare some videos.

I would point out the 1930s where a decent era for the Heavyweights while the 1920s where rather weak. Outside of Dempsey and Wills who was there? Tunney really can't be considered a Heavyweight as he had maybe 4 Heavyweight fights out of a 60+ fight career. The '30s had Schmeling, Sharkey, Max Baer, Louis, and a number of other decent contenders. It wasn't as strong as the 1970s or 1990s to be sure but certainly not bad as such things go.

Poet

[Kid McCoy]

I would point out the 1930s where a decent era for the Heavyweights while the 1920s where rather weak. Outside of Dempsey and Wills who was there? Tunney really can't be considered a Heavyweight as he had maybe 4 Heavyweight fights out of a 60+ fight career. The '30s had Schmeling, Sharkey, Max Baer, Louis, and a number of other decent contenders. It wasn't as strong as the 1970s or 1990s to be sure but certainly not bad as such things go.

Poet

Tunney tends to be a bit overrated at heavyweight seeing as he did little in the division besides beat a faded Dempsey.

As for this match-up, I favour Louis. Tunney was a tough guy for sure, and a clever fighter, but he was also plenty hittable, and anyone Louis could hit wouldn't last long. His skills and movement make it interesting, but I figure Louis would eventually catch up with him, especially in a 15 rounder.

[sonnyboyx2]

I think this would be a great fight.

I believe it would be a fight similiar to Louis-Conn,except Tunney has 20 lbs on Conn,and alot smarter.

this would be one great fight to watch, Tunney is 2nd only to Muhammad Ali in ring-smarts, i see this being a very close fight with the outcome being a split-decision win for Louis

[mickey malone]

Can see Tunney building up a massive points lead before getting KO'd late.. Don't see how Dempsey comes into this.. His era was weak in quality, which is why he's so overrated..

[boxingbuff]

I would point out the 1930s where a decent era for the Heavyweights while the 1920s where rather weak. Outside of Dempsey and Wills who was there? Tunney really can't be considered a Heavyweight as he had maybe 4 Heavyweight fights out of a 60+ fight career. The '30s had Schmeling, Sharkey, Max Baer, Louis, and a number of other decent contenders. It wasn't as strong as the 1970s or 1990s to be sure but certainly not bad as such things go.

Poet

I was just reading about all the great BLACK boxers that Dempsey didn't fight.

I believe the 20's had alot of very good Heavyweights.

The Schmelings,Sharkeys,Baers,Carneras that Louis beat had alot to be desired.Louis beat alot of ex-champions who don't rank in the top 15 Heavyweights of all-time.The 20's had Dempsey,Tunney,Firpo,and alot of good Black fighters.

[StarshipTrooper]

I was just reading about all the great BLACK boxers that Dempsey didn't fight.

I believe the 20's had alot of very good Heavyweights.

The Schmelings,Sharkeys,Baers,Carneras that Louis beat had alot to be desired.Louis beat alot of ex-champions who don't rank in the top 15 Heavyweights of all-time.The 20's had Dempsey,Tunney,Firpo,and alot of good Black fighters.

Of the prime Heavyweights fighting in the 1920s only Dempsey and Wills are top-20 material. Firpo certainly wasn't and most of the great black Heavyweights that are usually named had their primes from 1900-1919. Schmeling was arguably a top-20 Heavyweight and Max Baer was arguably a top-25 to top-30 Heavyweight. Sharkey was something of an uneven quantity: He looked like an ATG in some fights, a second tier fighter in others. Either way he could easily be considered in the top-40.

Poet

[boxingbuff]

Can see Tunney building up a massive points lead before getting KO'd late.. Don't see how Dempsey comes into this.. His era was weak in quality, which is why he's so overrated..

I beg to differ.....

Dempsey was the most fierce,ruthless,savage Heavyweight of all-time.

He was a cyclone with two fists,who was in rage at the sound of the bell.

Talk about KILLER INSTINCT!!

Read about Dempsey,and his life as I have.Watch his fights as I have.

He was truly a hungry fighter.And PLEASE don't even compare Marciano to the Great Jack Dempsey.

I believe a Dempsey-Louis fight would be a toss-up,ending very early one way or the other.But STYLE wise,Tunney gives Louis alot more fits than did Arturo Gody,and is a bigger Billy Conn.

[StarshipTrooper]

But STYLE wise,Tunney gives Louis alot more fits than did Arturo Gody,and is a bigger Billy Conn.

Since both Tunney and Conn were Light-Heavyweights I presume they both weighed in around the 175 mark.

Poet

[TheGreatA]

I beg to differ.....

Dempsey was the most fierce,ruthless,savage Heavyweight of all-time.

He was a cyclone with two fists,who was in rage at the sound of the bell.

Talk about KILLER INSTINCT!!

Read about Dempsey,and his life as I have.Watch his fights as I have.

He was truly a hungry fighter.And PLEASE don't even compare Marciano to the Great Jack Dempsey.

I believe a Dempsey-Louis fight would be a toss-up,ending very early one way or the other.But STYLE wise,Tunney gives Louis alot more fits than did Arturo Gody,and is a bigger Billy Conn.

Louis did say that his true weakness was that he didn't like to get crowded (and thus couldn't get his punches off). Godoy did exactly that in their first fight. In the rematch Louis had improved and created space between the two to land devastating uppercuts and hooks in combinations.

I also wouldn't compare Tunney with Conn. Conn to me had his best moments in the fight by outfighting Louis on the inside with quick combinations.

Tunney I feel would try to outbox him from a distance, using his movement and clinching but Louis would eventually adjust and start finding Tunney with regularity.

I really rate Tunney as a boxer as well, the man looked absolutely brilliant in his first fight with Dempsey and the fight with a somewhat worn out Tommy Gibbons.

According to Ali, he rates Tunney as the most scientific boxer next to himself.

[boxingbuff]

Of the prime Heavyweights fighting in the 1920s only Dempsey and Wills are top-20 material. Firpo certainly wasn't and most of the great black Heavyweights that are usually named had their primes from 1900-1919. Schmeling was arguably a top-20 Heavyweight and Max Baer was arguably a top-25 to top-30 Heavyweight. Sharkey was something of an uneven quantity: He looked like an ATG in some fights, a second tier fighter in others. Either way he could easily be considered in the top-40.

Poet

OMG....While Ali easily beats Big Bad Sonny Liston your naming fighters ranked in the top 40,the top 30,the top 20.

Which one you want Jack Dempsey to fight? A top 20,30,40 fighter would get starched quick by a Prime Dempsey.Tunney would win every round against the fighters you listed! PLEASE,you can do better than that?