What if Gene Tunnney was un-defeated in 60+ fights?

[Bronson66]

but who was there for tunney to fight that was ranked and black? He challenged wills to a fight only be turned down. Agree or disagree.

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[JAB5239]

But who was there for Tunney to fight that was ranked and black? He challenged Wills to a fight only be turned down. Agree or disagree.

Disagree. There was no need for Wills to fight him, and the offer wasn't real if I remember correctly. Wills had been the number one challenger for years and had already fought several eliminator if I'm not mistaken.

[Dr Z]

Godfrey .Ranked no6 when Tunney was no3.

Okay one man was ranked #6 when Tunney was #3. No a duck.

[Dr Z]

Disagree. There was no need for Wills to fight him, and the offer wasn't real if I remember correctly. Wills had been the number one challenger for years and had already fought several eliminator if I'm not mistaken.

That is true, but Tunney did offer him a fight. So the list if good balck challegers in the mid to late 1920's was thin, would you say?

[Bronson66]

okay one man was ranked #6 when tunney was #3. No a duck.

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[Dr Z]

You wanted black ranked challengers Godfrey was ranked.Tunney didn't really have any intention of fighting Wills and Harry had already won the eliminator to fight Dempsey,but was by passed. Tunney could have fought Kid Norfolk when they were both ranked at Lhvy in the early 20's.

Yes, I wanted a list of possible balck challegers, which for Tunney was thin. Thank you for proving my point. He offered Wills a fight, he did not take it.

[Bronson66]

yes, i wanted a list of possible balck challegers, which for tunney was thin. Thank you for proving my point. He offered wills a fight, he did not take it.

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[QueensburyRules]

Tunney had no intention of fighting Wills, who had already qualified for a title shot by winning two eliminators,and he knew wills whould not chance a fight with him whilst he himself was in pole position for a title shot,why should he?
Who deserved a title chance,more Wills or Tunney?
Which heavyweights had Tunney beaten to give him preference for a title shot?
Tunney could have fought Norfolk when both were light heavies,he could have fought Wills or Godfrey at heavyweight.
On his way up he could have fought Jeff Clark or Jamaica Kid.
You are making excuses for a man who in 68 fights never fought a single black fighter!

- - Rickard offered Wills for Dempsey's comeback if he could beat Tunney who accepted.

Wills near the end of his career felt like that was a fight too far... Engraved in stone in a snail cemetery...

[JAB5239]

That is true, but Tunney did offer him a fight. So the list if good balck challegers in the mid to late 1920's was thin, would you say?

The offer was insincere. He knew Wills wouldnt accept. Wills had won eliminator against Fulton, Norfolk and Firpo. At that point there was absolutely no need for him to fight yet another eliminator. He had to put his foot down and stand his ground at some point. Totally unfair and unjust for other fighters to keep making money off his name to not be given his rightful shot at the title.

[billeau2]

- - Fight film of the 2 bouts is very poor and missing rounds and minutes. We know that Dempsey had been making his $$$ in Hollywood using his actress wife to deposit his pay that ducked the liens of Kearns that played a role in negating the Wills fights.

Dempsey definitely won the 2nd and retired to a gentleman's life as one of the most popular fighters ever that turned Boxing into a million$$$ epic.

Dempsey was Dempsey... If the man got his leg caught in a bear trap the trap would have bent teeth (kidding)! I mean we can't take away from Tunney's fiat, but I do think we can take a closer look at Jack and perhaps Hagler's silk pajamas fit too well at that time in his life and it caused him to not go into the fight(s) with all his guns ready to fire. Dempsey along with Ruth did harbinger the "superrstar" athlete.