The genius of Tunney

[Ivich]

Tunney used the old methods. If you watch this fight, notice how Gene always sets up at swords length away, he makes Heeney come into this gap, so he always controls the action. Tunney uses his angles at grappling range where he sets Heeney up for the overhand right. The genius of Tunney is in full display in this fight and it is the epitome of the preclassical boxing method. Just like a swordsman has to do because no one wants to get cut into, and as James Figg taught, Figg being a swordsman first and foremost, the combat takes place within a space between the two opponents. How one enters the space, controls the space through footwork, and uses proper distance, determines success. Tunney always has an out, he simply resets at the proper distance and makes Heeney have to come through the gap again, to try to hit him. Tunney does not use a jab, or a lead which was the starter punch prior to the jab... Instead Tunney uses feints. He also attacks on the perimeter of the space after Henney has committed himself stepping forwards.

Heeney was the perfect foil for Tunney ,Sharkey may have been more problematical.

[billeau2]

“Gene Tunney called Gibbons 'the perfect boxer.' Gene said he learned more about the technique of boxing and punching from watching Mike training in New York gymnasiums and in actual fights in Gotham than he learned from any other individual associated with the fistic sport. Moreover, Tunney has told me it was Gibbons' clean-cut victory over Jack Dillon, the mighty light heavyweight from Indianapolis, that inspired in him the belief he could whip Jack Dempsey."

-George A. Barton. My Lifetime In Sports. Minneapolis: The Olympic Press, 1957

Interesting info!

[billeau2]

Heeney was the perfect foil for Tunney ,Sharkey may have been more problematical.

Sharkey IMO had a style that would have challenged Tunney. When I think of Sharkey, both of them actually, I think of a fighter that had a very workable, basic style. It allowed a guy like Sharkey to get some things really right and Sharkey could hit. Sharkey would ignore a lot of feints that Tunney relied upon, making these feints the proverbial "sound of one hand clapping" and Sharkey was tough inside, and (I think) he was bigger than Tunney, definitely more physical.

[Slugfester]

Wasn't Sharkey's one of Tunney's title defenses? I always thought that.

[Slugfester]

It would be interesting to see Mike Gibbons in matchups with modern junior middleweights. He shouldn't have to face today's light heavies masquerading as middleweights. Mike liked to stand in place sometimes (I have heard) and defy opponents to touch him. He sounds like a yesteryear Nicolino Locce or Pep or Mayweather, but completely and increasingly out of our reach, beyond memory and film with James Figg and other ghosts.

Tunney probably learned a lot of useful tricks from watching Mike, since Mike was known as the better fighter of the brothers, I have heard. I wonder which was the better boxing instructor.

[QueensburyRules]

- - Sharkey had decent talent, but a basket case upstairs, losing the Dempsey fight case in point.

[Slugfester]

Wasn't Sharkey's one of Tunney's title defenses? I always thought that.

No, he wasn't, dummy.

[billeau2]

No, he wasn't, dummy.

"Young Sharkey" Different Sharkey is all... that makes what? three? Tom, Jack and Young?



I didn't know myself just had to look it up because I got to wondering if maybe Tom Sharkey was still around when Tunney was upcoming lol.

[them_apples]

Sharkey IMO had a style that would have challenged Tunney. When I think of Sharkey, both of them actually, I think of a fighter that had a very workable, basic style. It allowed a guy like Sharkey to get some things really right and Sharkey could hit. Sharkey would ignore a lot of feints that Tunney relied upon, making these feints the proverbial "sound of one hand clapping" and Sharkey was tough inside, and (I think) he was bigger than Tunney, definitely more physical.

imo its really hard to count Tunney out against anyone because he had such a high ring IQ and made adjustments, especially if it was a 3-4 fight series. That was just his way. When he retired from boxing he left the sport as if he was never involved in it, same way he entered.

[billeau2]

imo its really hard to count Tunney out against anyone because he had such a high ring IQ and made adjustments, especially if it was a 3-4 fight series. That was just his way. When he retired from boxing he left the sport as if he was never involved in it, same way he entered.

Thats a great point about series.