BoxRec

Two intellegent master Boxers who were both a little under appreciated in there time and both moved up from Light-Heavyweight to Heavyweight to win the ultimate prize. But if they could have met at either weight who would have won?

Gene Tunney.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=009046

Jersey Joe Walcott.
http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=011028

Who wins fight fans?

Tunney; sharper puncher, and his movement would give Walcott trouble. Also he could take Walcotts power and go on Tunney by UD 15

I like this matchup, as usual I have little to say other than pick who I think would win, which in this case is Gene Tunney in a masterfully fought and interesting to watch fight despite the fact we are talking about two great counterpunchers.

Wow what a great thread. Walcott vs. Tunney.

They are both matched pretty evenly.

D15

Gene tunney would take him to the cleaners

Now there you go mate, thats an opinion succintly stated.

i think tunney is too good for jersey joe... both are great fighters but i think tunney edges out what i would think to be a decision or late round KO.

tunney was better in all facets of the game. He wins by late tko.

walcott at his best was one of the greatest ring technicians, look how he embarrased and outboxed louis.

im not to sure tunney was a better boxer than walcott certianly not in terms of ring smarts, defense, footwork, and "Cuteness".

- walcotts biggest problem in some of his fights were he wasnt aggresive enough, and tunney was more aggresive than walcott.

Gene Tunney would never accept this fight. He was a strict segregationalist and never fought black men.

Wow, I never heard that. But now that i think about it, I dont remember any black fighters he fought. What an asshole if its true.

tiredoldngrey wrote:Tunney; sharper puncher, and his movement would give Walcott trouble. Also he could take Walcotts power and go on Tunney by UD 15

It is tempting to think that Tunney would have outboxed him, but it's important to remember that Walcott beat a supreame boxer twice in Ezzard Charles and, as BB49 mentions, outboxed Joe Louis - abiet a fading version. Also at heavyweight Walcott would have had a slight size advantage. However I do feel on his best night Tunney would have won but with Walcott you never knew what he might pull out of the bag.

I seem to remember reading somewhere a few years ago that late in life Tunney developed a bad drink problem thought by many to be due to the shame of of his daughter kolling someone (she may have had some mental problems)

Have I got this wrong?

While Tunney's career is obviously more impressive... I would bet the farm on Walcott in this theoretical match-up.

KOJOE90 wrote:I seem to remember reading somewhere a few years ago that late in life Tunney developed a bad drink problem thought by many to be due to the shame of of his daughter kolling someone (she may have had some mental problems)

Have I got this wrong?

i never heard of that. it would seem really unlikely because tunney was wuite the gentleman and seemed to have a good head on his soldiers... maybe things can really drive you to drink.

Rory McCloskey wrote:

KOJOE90 wrote:I seem to remember reading somewhere a few years ago that late in life Tunney developed a bad drink problem thought by many to be due to the shame of of his daughter kolling someone (she may have had some mental problems)

Have I got this wrong?

i never heard of that. it would seem really unlikely because tunney was wuite the gentleman and seemed to have a good head on his soldiers... maybe things can really drive you to drink.

His son was involved in politics, a U.S. Senator I believe, and politics would make you want to hit the bottle. :(

Tunney was no 'strict segregationalist': and there is not the slightest piece of information that he was.

Indeed, as the recent, excellent biography of him notes, immediately after the Tommy Gibbons fight, Tex Rickard offered Tunney $200,000 to fight Harry 'The Black Panther' Willis, with the same to Willis. Tunney 'readily agreed' but when he arrived in New York to sign the contracts 'Harry Willis failed to turn up..'

Tunney would win a dull, lopsided decision. Tunney was just too good and Walcott doesn't have any advantage to use.

Ambling Alp wrote:Tunney would win a dull, lopsided decision. Tunney was just too good and Walcott doesn't have any advantage to use.

totally disagree, a peak walcot would make anyone in history look bad. walcott was one of the greatest ring techicians, and he would confuse the hell out of tunney at times.

walcott also had more power than tunney IMO, walcott was stronger, more mobile and slick.
walcotts problem will be aggresion. if he becomes more aggresive in this fight letting hiss handss go he will outpoint tunney. if he is too cautious, tunney will outpint him like charles did.


u see some of the moves walcott did in louis I?? he made him look like an amatuer.


ill take walcott split decision

Alp, it's time you redressed this opinion, and give Walcott his due respect. I've given you a decade to figure it out, surely you've had time to reconsider?

It's only been 9 years, I need another year!
I have a lot of respect for Walcott, but I would still pick Tunney.

This is a fairly even contest, a proper 50/50 fight for me. So I wouldn't be surprised if Walcott beat him.

Walcott has the best weapon…his left hook… But Tunney was very durable. I think Tunney takes a close but clear decision. And pretty much agree with Alp.

I don't think there is any doubt that Tunney wins this but also there can't be any doubt that it would be pretty tight.

I am surprised with all the pro-Tunney votes of confidence on this thread.

Outside of beating old Dempsey... I dont know how anyone can say he belongs with the ATG heavyweights. He was p4p a great boxer, and an excellent light heavyweight...

But Walcott was the wizard, the innovator, and he defeated Charles and was robbed against Louis... Jersey Joe will never get his just due.

The wizard, the innovator? :) What he do that Tunney didn't do before him?

Walcott did beat Charles, but he also lost to Charles; he went 2-2. Louis was past it by the time Walcott fought him; he also got ko'd in the rematch by Louis. Walcott also lost several fights to mediocre opponents. Tunney also beat Weinert, Wiggins,Renault, Risko, and Heeney.