Gene Tunney Appreciation Society-Members Wanted Please....!

[Chuck1052]

Let me say that I like and admire Gene Tunney, but that doesn't mean that I don't think that he had some traits that would alienate many fans. He had a flowery writing style and seem to love to display the full range of his vocabulary. As one reads the book, one gets the distinct impression that he thought highly of himself in terms of his ability in the boxing ring and his intelligence. Moreover, there isn't any question that he did his utmost to improve himself in so many ways, including socializing with society people, reading literature, learning how to write and converse at a high level, and securing his future financially.

In a way, Tunney was unfortunate that he was compared with Jack Dempsey, who seemed to relate extremely well to the regular folks. Moreover, Dempsey never displayed much interest in reading literature, acquiring an expansive vocabulary or writing at a high level. It also didn't help that Dempsey had a crowd-pleasing fighting style while Tunney tended to be a "safety-first" boxer. But Tunney would have never made nearly as much money without Dempsey, so he came out far ahead in the long run even if he wasn't nearly as popular as the latter.

Tunney thought highly of Jack Dempsey's talents as a fighter, but it didn't make him blind to his flaws. Over the years, Tunney noticed that Dempsey had some trouble with boxer-types after seeing how the latter had looked less than optimal against Bill Brennan and Tommy Gibbons. Dempsey displayed some other flaws in bouts with Georges Carpentier and Luis Firpo, which were also duly noted by Tunney. Moreover, Tunney came to the conclusion that Dempsey had a tendency to underestimate himself despite his tremendous talent, citing the latter's reluctance to fight Harry Wills.

More later....

- Chuck Johnston

[Caractacus]

Gene Tunney was not a very popular champion with the American public even when he held the title from what I read.
I think people would have remembered him better if Tunney had fought until he lost the title to another fighter.
taking on the likes of Jack Sharkey and Max Schmeling maybe Carnera and bridging the gap between Dempsey and Max Baer at least.
There was talk of a Tunney vrs Dempsey III, but reportedly Dempsey was concerned about loosing his eye sight
if he had another fight.
There also were plans for Tunney to defend the title against Jack Sharkey, but Sharkey had a couple of points losses
before he finally got a shot at the title against Schmeling.
( apparently there was some bad blood between the two
even after Tunney retired.

[Caractacus]

BTW Tunney was also a terrific body puncher.
He had cracked several of his opponents ribs.

[Caractacus]

Gene Tunney was a "Bad-Assss !

[Caractacus]

I've always felt that Tunney-Marciano would have made for a hell of an interesting fight.

To my way of thinking, Tunney would be a very slightish favorite to get the decision over Rocky.

your wish is our command,

[Caractacus]

Whitey Bimstein (1897-1969) the legendary trainer from of Stillman's gym in NYC
thought that Gene Tunney "was the finest fighter that he had ever seen",
"Tunney was cool, calm and collected ,Nothing ever bothered him"
and "the most underrated Heavyweight Champion in History"
Bimstein said in 1960, "that in his book" , Tunney could have licked them all ,
from John L. Sullivan to Rocky Marciano.

[Benny The Kid]

It should be noted That in 1928 In the springtime It was clearly indicated via newspaper by Tunney that he had 2 fight's in him for the year. I'm not sure alot of people know this...

In July was the Tom Henney bout. Heeney isn't very highly regarded and adds very little to his resume.

But it springtime of 1928 Jack Sharkey was tearing it up post his bout with Tom Heeney which was a draw.

In the springtime after Jack Sharkey walked all over 'bright eyes' Jack Delaney he was getting mentioned to fight Gene Tunney.

Had Gene Tunney simplly followed his orginal plan & fought twice, A win over a very Young Jack Sharkey would of done far more for Tunney's resume than a Henney victory.

In my option this fight should of happened. Tunney's attitude in the spring of 1928 was far more ambitious than his attitude in the fall time when he seemed disheartened.

From A historical perpective Tunney could have did just done even a little bit more & had much better merit to his resume. The Sharkey fight would helped.
As a manager I would of immediately matched him with Max Schmeling in spring of 1929.

This would put a very clear mark through history how Tunney stacked up against the "new fighters" as he never faced most of the fighter's born after his birthyear other than Tommy Loughran.

[Ambling Alp II]

We have talked about this to death on other threads.
If you actually look at the fights leading up to Tunney fighting Heeney, you will see that Heeney deserved to be the #1 contender.
I don't know about him wanting to fight twice after Dempsey. He may have changed his mind for various reasons.

[Caractacus]

Tunney fell in love and got married, is what happened
( to Steel Magnet"Andrew Carnegie niece)

[Benny The Kid]

Tunney fell in love and got married, is what happened
( to Steel Magnet"Andrew Carnegie niece)

Do you know the month/year this happened?

[Caractacus]

when Gene Tunney 'fell in love" or got married ?

[Benny The Kid]

when he was married?

[Caractacus]

Tunney got engaged just before the fight with Tom Heeney,
and got married just after he announced his retirement from the ring.

[Caractacus]

IMOP, Gene Tunney (a New Yorker BTW)should have fought Jack Sharkey before he retired.
(Tunney could never seem to get over Sharkey, or his atitutUde anyways)

[Caractacus]

I have read both of Gene Tunney's books
A MAN MUST FIGHT (1933)
and
ARMS FOR LIVING (1940)
It sounds like at some point in his life he became an "over-achiever'
obsessed with training to improve his self both in mind and body
to over-come any physical and mental handicaps he may have originally had.
( reminded me of Bruce Lee reading how he did things)

[Caractacus]

-1976-

[Caractacus]

[Ambling Alp II]

IMOP, Gene Tunney (a New Yorker BTW)should have fought Jack Sharkey before he retired.
(Tunney could never seem to get over Sharkey, or his atitutUde anyways)

This has been talked to death on the Forum over the years. Sharkey had recently had three fights in a row in which he didn't win. He was not the top contender when Tunney retired.

[Caractacus]

yeah, but maybe Sharkey just wasn't "up" for those other fights.
whathee have to gain ?
anyway Sharkey was still considered good enough to fight Joe Louis later.

[Ambling Alp II]

Guessing that you are joking?

[pound per pound]

Let me say that I like and admire Gene Tunney, but that doesn't mean that I don't think that he had some traits that would alienate many fans. He had a flowery writing style and seem to love to display the full range of his vocabulary. As one reads the book, one gets the distinct impression that he thought highly of himself in terms of his ability in the boxing ring and his intelligence. Moreover, there isn't any question that he did his utmost to improve himself in so many ways, including socializing with society people, reading literature, learning how to write and converse at a high level, and securing his future financially.

In a way, Tunney was unfortunate that he was compared with Jack Dempsey, who seemed to relate extremely well to the regular folks. Moreover, Dempsey never displayed much interest in reading literature, acquiring an expansive vocabulary or writing at a high level. It also didn't help that Dempsey had a crowd-pleasing fighting style while Tunney tended to be a "safety-first" boxer. But Tunney would have never made nearly as much money without Dempsey, so he came out far ahead in the long run even if he wasn't nearly as popular as the latter.

Tunney thought highly of Jack Dempsey's talents as a fighter, but it didn't make him blind to his flaws. Over the years, Tunney noticed that Dempsey had some trouble with boxer-types after seeing how the latter had looked less than optimal against Bill Brennan and Tommy Gibbons. Dempsey displayed some other flaws in bouts with Georges Carpentier and Luis Firpo, which were also duly noted by Tunney. Moreover, Tunney came to the conclusion that Dempsey had a tendency to underestimate himself despite his tremendous talent, citing the latter's reluctance to fight Harry Wills.

More later....

- Chuck Johnston

^^^ This is good.

[pound per pound]

That is a rare clip, Tunney's corner said Greb head butted him in the nose in round one.

[Caractacus]