Gene Tunney vs Max Schmeling

[yancey]

15 rounds, primes.

Who you got?

[gilgamesh]

I think Tunney would box his way to a decision, he'd have a much harder time with Schmeling than he had with Dempsey though. Schmeling was a solid puncher in his own right and he was a way more technically skilled fighter than Dempsey. I think Tunney had more skills so he'd get the best of enough rounds to take the decision. Schmeling catching Tunney and stopping him later in the bout isn't out of the question though...Interesting match here.

[Boilermaker]

I agree that this would have made a good match, although i lean slightly towards Tunney.

Did you know that Max Schmelling was considered a Dempsey Clone early in his career? Gives an interesting context to this fight, and perhaps also a Dempsey Louis fight.

[HomicideHenry]

This be a tough one to call, but I favor Tunney only because Tunney wasn't as methodical as Max, and he could fight going backwards, etc. Max would be put into the position of having to take the fight to Tunney. However, Max was such the analyzer, that maybe he could have figured Tunney out better than maybe anyone else could. Fifteen round, close, if not split decision, win for Tunney.

[dempseyfire]

Agree that this is a very event matchup. Could Tunney keep at a distance and finish what Sharkey started vs Max in their first fight via smart countering and left jabs? Or would aggression from a smart hard puncher at his peak, and Herr Max's own counter-punching ability, negate Tunney's speed and skills? Forced to pick I say Tunney but this could go either way.

[Ambling Alp II]

I agree that this would have made a good match, although i lean slightly towards Tunney.

Did you know that Max Schmelling was considered a Dempsey Clone early in his career? Gives an interesting context to this fight, and perhaps also a Dempsey Louis fight.

The "clone" thing was about the facial resemblance Schmeling had with Dempsey; they looked a little a like. However, they had far different styles of fighting.

I think Tunney wins this by late TKO or wide points victory.
Save for an occasional big right hand, Tunney was better than Schemling at just about everything. Schemling couldn't even avoid Baer's telegraphed right hands. Tunney was accurrate, had better handspeed and threw great combinations. Schemling would have trouble catching Tunney, as would almost anyone.

[Rover]

I concur with the consensus. Tunney for me.

[yancey]

It goes the distance and Tunney probably wins by close decision.

[misterpunch]

this

[Sven Tingstrom]

Primes - Tunney.

But they would probably have fought in December 1930 if Tunney hadn't retired. Tunney would have been 33 by then - old for a fighter in those days. I would favor young Max in December 1930.

[Friedie]

Draw or split descision if it goes over the distance. If not, then Schmeling wins by late k.o.

[Ezzard]

It's a close one...both get overlooked today.

[DrDuke]

It is a very interesting match-up of great technicians. I'd pick Tunney to take a close decision, because, imo, Tunney had a bit more of class.

[Kalan]

Schmeling got battered with Louis's jab in their 1st fight -- as Schmeling waited and waited for countering opportunities... Max's left eye was almost completely closed when he scored the smashing KO upset.

Tunney's jab was superior to anyone's in his last few fights... Dempsey did get a right hand on Tunney in their rematch and followed up with a brutal flurry... Those were the only real punches Jack landed in 20 rounds...

Gene said he developed a blind spot from gazing into the sun to strengthen his will power and that's why he got hit.. If you read his autobiography "Arms for Living" he actually says that... But that was the only time in his whole career that Tunney ever got decked.. His chin was unreal because he did get hit early on.. Schmeling's stance was flawed and too wide.. Tunney was more nimble on his feet and much busier.. He would win a wide decision.