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

[ShoulderRoll]

I say yes. Any time I watch film of him fighting I am struck by how smooth and fluid he moves.

If a time machine existed you could transport him to any light heavyweight era and he would be a top fighter in my opinion. Could even be a terror in a few heavyweight eras as well.

[HOUDINI563]

Boxing is a high skill sport that requires a very high degree of toughness to succeed. Tunney had both in spades and would be successful in any era. You can also say the same for every ATG champion.

[joseph5620]

I say yes. Any time I watch film of him fighting I am struck by how smooth and fluid he moves.

If a time machine existed you could transport him to any light heavyweight era and he would be a top fighter in my opinion. Could even be a terror in a few heavyweight eras as well.

Well he would have to fight top black fighters in other era's. When you don't do that there are going to be questions and he doesn't get a pass from me for that.

[billeau2]

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.

[HOUDINI563]

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.

[joseph5620]

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.

It doesn't matter whether he was afraid or they were better. The fact of the matter is he avoided top black fighters. He wouldn't even spar with them.. He doesn't get a pass from me for avoiding top fighters because of their race. If a fighter did that today that would certainly take away from their legacy. Tunney is no exception to that rule for me.

[HOUDINI563]

The point is that 90 plus years ago Tunneys thoughts and prejudge reflected the norm. You can’t look upon past eras in the eyes of 2021.

[Ben Bolt]

50 years later of Tunney’s final fight, Mike Rossman was ranked the #1 light heavyweight.

There’s no doubt, Tunney is an ATG, Rossman isn’t. Few, or no one, remembers Rossman.
Still, I’m sure of, that he would have dominated Tunney.

50 years of boxing evolution.

[HOUDINI563]

I watched Rossman for his entire career. Not much of a fighter. Tunney would dominate him.

[ShoulderRoll]

50 years later of Tunney’s final fight, Mike Rossman was ranked the #1 light heavyweight.

There’s no doubt, Tunney is an ATG, Rossman isn’t. Few, or no one, remembers Rossman.
Still, I’m sure of, that he would have dominated Tunney.

50 years of boxing evolution.

Can you give specifics about the boxing evolution that made Rossman a better fighter than Tunney?

Just because time moves forward that doesn't mean that everything automatically improves. There are many examples of knowledge being forgotten and skills degenerating over time.