Who Would Win - Tunney vs. Marciano

[zojo]

The first two heavyweight champs who retired with the belt and stayed retired

[HomicideHenry]

Due to the circumstances with an old Jack Dempsey flooring Tunney, I have to assume the HW Tunney would get kayoed in 10-12 rounds against The Rock, who retired still in his prime/near prime.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Tunney would win. Far too smaert (& much, much tougher than credited) for Marciano.

[Marlin]

Tunney would win. Far too smaert (& much, much tougher than credited) for Marciano.

[Ezzard]

Very close one. Tunney was durable and his stamina on a par with Rocky's. Gene would have to be moving more and spending up his energy to make his battle plan work. I can see Tunney holding on with the early rounds in the bank and winning a close decision. I can also see Marciano catching up with him some time after between 13-15.

[alexpaterson]

It could go 2 ways Tunney outsmarting him and winning a wide UD decision or Marciano wearing him down and KO'ing him late I really dont know what one would happen probably Tunney UD IMO

[Diamond WEAPON]

Marciano would've taken Tunney out late. An old Dempsey gave Tunney all he could handle, Marciano was stronger than Dempsey and would've beaten the crap out of Tunney.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Marciano would've taken Tunney out late. An old Dempsey gave Tunney all he could handle, Marciano was stronger than Dempsey and would've beaten the crap out of Tunney.

LOL. "All he could handle" --- for all of six or seven seconds, through two ten-rounders, yes.

Tunney utterly outclassed Dempsey. Did Shavers give Holmes, "all he could handle" in two bouts, as well? No, he was comprehensively schooled, as was Dempsey, with each having one (big) moment through two fights.

That Dempsey gave Tunney, "all he could handle" clearly indicates you haven't watched the bouts in question.

[Diamond WEAPON]

Marciano would've taken Tunney out late. An old Dempsey gave Tunney all he could handle, Marciano was stronger than Dempsey and would've beaten the crap out of Tunney.

LOL. "All he could handle" --- for all of six or seven seconds, through two ten-rounders, yes.

Tunney utterly outclassed Dempsey. Did Shavers give Holmes, "all he could handle" in two bouts, as well? No, he was comprehensively schooled, as was Dempsey, with each having one (big) moment through two fights.

That Dempsey gave Tunney, "all he could handle" clearly indicates you haven't watched the bouts in question.

It's all the chance Marciano would need is what I meant to say, Rocky was also an underrated boxer

[Goodnight, Irene]

But none are more under-rated as a whole than Tunney.

Marciano wouldn't get near him for the first seven or eight rounds, for mine. That's not insignificant, in the course of things. A peak Tunney is smarter & better defensively than an old Walcott (as he is even a young Walcott, for that matter).

Marciano's no better (or, at least, not by much) than the Dempsey Tunney whipped twice over.

[pound per pound]

Intesting match up. IMO Tunney takes the decsion here.

[oldwarrior]

I get the matchup and it's very clever. Marciano assumes the role of Dempsey and Tunney is well.......Tunney.

It implies who is actually better: Dempsey or Marciano. I've never been a Marciano worshipper and I know there are many of you who are; but IMO, Dempsey fought better competition in his era than did Marciano. Tunney would beat both.

oldwarrior

[Goodnight, Irene]

Dempsey had it all over Marciano peak-for-peak, but the faded Dempsey (especially weakened in the first fight) Tunney fought --- was he better than a prime Marciano? If he was, it wasn't by much.

In any case, Tunney, as I believe, handles Marciano. People forget how utterly tough Tunney was. He isn't getting blown away if he has a hairy moment or two. He could take punishment, but I don't think he takes much in this battle. Marciano's first battle with Walcott is telling. Couldn't get near him for large stretches. Walcott was aged --- he wasn't the man who twice fought Louis, several years earlier, & even that version made more mistakes in the ring than the more-disciplined, more composed Tunney.

He's too observant & too sharp for Marciano, IMO. Love that poll result, incidentally. 12-12.

[Djanders]

It would have been a great fight! I went with Marciano in this one.

[Adamj1987]

marciano didnt preform at his best against skilled fighters who didnt come str8 forward - moore, walcott, charles etc and i think bar moore tunney was better than them and had the 1 loss so we knoe his punch resitance was still there 100% not 80-90% like they were and i think if he lasted with dempseys bombs he would of easily take rockys bombs so tunny on UD for me

[Goodnight, Irene]

No way, IMO, is a peak Tunney inferior to the 42-year-old Moore Marciano defeated. Prime Moore, at LHW, maybe. But, at Heavy, & with Tunney in his twenties & Moore his forties, Tunney's better than that Moore, especially at HW.