Gene Tunney: Would his style be effective in any era?

[Willie Pep 229]

Thing is being of a specific race in of itself does not make one a great fighter. Tunney had an inherit prejudice against blacks. That does not mean they were better nor does that mean he was afraid to fight them.

I wonder about Tunney's 'racism' - here's a weird theory for you . . . (mine)

Tunney wanted bad to be more than a pug, and more than a tough Irish kid in a tough Greenwich Village, so he educated himself, in the end he even 'married up' ! He wanted to be a gentleman in the worst way. In a sense he kind of got there, 'in the worst way.'

So here's the theory . . don't look at his childhood or his neighborhood (inherent) but instead look at the 'educated' opinion of his day: eugenics and all the race theory that went along.

He loved for people to know he was well read and had opinions to share, he thought highly of himself.

It is not a reach to think he would have bought in to all the intellectual racism of the day.

He succeeded in becoming an elitist but he also educated himself into a racist. LOL

P.S. The Irish thing probably counts too.

[billeau2]

Tunney quoted Shakespeare spontaneously and chatted it up with G.B. Shaw. He was Woke and would not harm disadvantaged negroes. People make out like he was prejudiced, but Tunney was known to never misgender a fly.

AS a kid in Hell's Kitchen tunney and gang would stray on to a large steamer ship leaving the Hudson... when the ship was leaving the birth, at some point the idea was to take a dive from the top decks and swim back... There is no way to describe how freakin dangerous that is... Literally there was probably a 10% chance, or so of dying... You have the jump, the distance, how far away a ship can get in little time... or getting caught, etc. You have tide shiat, and what if you get injured jumping and have to swim?

With that said, when we are comparing someone like Tunney and Vitalie (for example) can anyone see why Tunney was a different animal? Fighting Dempsey is nothing to someone who is crazy enough to play by taking risks like that... And what would fighting someone like Anthony Joshua be to someone like that? Lol.

[billeau2]

I’m not a “kid”. I’ve been studying all these pre Louis heavyweight champions since the early 70’s. At that time via 8 mm film.

Tunney was the best pure boxer we have ever had as heavyweight champion. Tough, supremely conditioned, quick, great jab/ combination puncher and smart.

Although not a Dempsey level puncher Tunney had an underrated right hand. It was a damaging weapon. One of Tunneys trainers lived into the Liston era. He commented in an article I located years ago…”it’s not understood today but during his time Tunneys right hand was as feared as Listons”

I would not underrate Tunneys chances vs any heavyweight.

I agree. Great point, never thought of that (the bolded).

[billeau2]

Firstly you replied with the wrong account lol

Secondly If Tunney is so good, why did he need a fixed fight to beat an old Dempsey?

Hey!! you blew an opportunity to troll two for the price of one... Not good! Better study the Queen B and get it right, he would never pass up the opportunity to troll Houdini and I... You need work on that troll game kid...

[billeau2]

YDKSAB

you have just fell for the tunney hype and propaganda kid

Bravo!! You are indeed a superb Half Wit SL... Superb! You have the trolling down, and the search for a button to push... But kid...there are levels to the troll game. let me reiterate that you need to study the Queen B to really get it right. Persistence will pay off though!

Now lets gently go over this "attempt" shall we? Propoganda for? has there been a recent rekindling of all things James Tunney? Hype and propoganda kind of imply somethng present and affective in the minds of some group being affected. One can hardly "Just fall" for ideas that go back to the 1920's, and have no real coherent stream into the present epistemology of the subject at hand.

What I like is that you now know that indeed! you did show the propencity of being a real half wit! Its a great effort indeed!! I look foward to more spirited ideations showing the true half wit you are, but this is a start!

[The Old LefHook]

Tunney quoted Shakespeare spontaneously and chatted it up with G.B. Shaw. He was Woke and would not harm disadvantaged negroes. People make out like he was prejudiced, but Tunney was known to never misgender a fly.

[HOUDINI563]

There is only hearsay regarding a “fix”. I’m well aware of Dempsey getting ill the day previous to the first fight. However Tunney left no doubt in fight 2.

Interestingly I found and posted on these boards last year the entire (or predominantly all) radio broadcast of the second Tunney Dempsey fight. As per the ringside broadcaster BOTH fighters were completely unmarked going into the 8-9th rounds. This flies in the face of the general thought that Tunney beat up on Dempsey with ease. Adds great credibility to Tunneys comments years later that Dempseys head movement limited him as a target.

Of course at some point after round 7 Tunney landed blows that in the end caused facial damage. The fight was no walk in the park for Tunney. This was a past prime but extremely well conditioned Dempsey.

[Super Laszlo]

I’m not a “kid”. I’ve been studying all these pre Louis heavyweight champions since the early 70’s. At that time via 8 mm film.

Tunney was the best pure boxer we have ever had as heavyweight champion. Tough, supremely conditioned, quick, great jab/ combination puncher and smart.

Although not a Dempsey level puncher Tunney had an underrated right hand. It was a damaging weapon. One of Tunneys trainers lived into the Liston era. He commented in an article I located years ago…”it’s not understood today but during his time Tunneys right hand was as feared as Listons”

I would not underrate Tunneys chances vs any heavyweight.

Firstly you replied with the wrong account lol

Secondly If Tunney is so good, why did he need a fixed fight to beat an old Dempsey?

[HOUDINI563]

I’m not a “kid”. I’ve been studying all these pre Louis heavyweight champions since the early 70’s. At that time via 8 mm film.

Tunney was the best pure boxer we have ever had as heavyweight champion. Tough, supremely conditioned, quick, great jab/ combination puncher and smart.

Although not a Dempsey level puncher Tunney had an underrated right hand. It was a damaging weapon. One of Tunneys trainers lived into the Liston era. He commented in an article I located years ago…”it’s not understood today but during his time Tunneys right hand was as feared as Listons”

I would not underrate Tunneys chances vs any heavyweight.

[Super Laszlo]

Great fighter in so many ways. One of the best ATG's in my opinion. Tunney could fight with many different approaches, great feet, etc.

YDKSAB

you have just fell for the tunney hype and propaganda kid