Gene Tunney

Gene Tunney
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Statistics
Real name	James Joseph Tunney
Nickname	The Fighting Marine
Rated at	Heavyweight
Nationality	American
Birth date	May 25, 1897(1897-05-25,)
Birth place	New York City
Death date	November 7, 1978 (aged 81)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	88
Wins	82
Wins by KO	48
Losses	1
Draws	3
No contests	2

James Joseph "Gene" Tunney (May 25, 1897 – November 7, 1978) was the heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-28 who defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926 and then in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey is one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight. Tunney retired as a heavyweight after his victory over Tom Heeney in 1928. He is known for his unique style, which was not sheer brutality like that employed by fellow boxers, but rather a calculated wearing down of the opponent to bring about a sure defeat. Tunney was not like other boxers in that he was very smart, he was even known to quote Shakespeare regularly and forbade cursing in his presence. He was not rough and brutish like the boxers where thought to be at the time. Instead he was handsome and gentlemanly. In his years in the ring he suffered only one loss decided by unanimous decision (he would go on to beat the man who defeated him in four subsequent rematches). Regarded by many as a brutal sport, boxing has often provided the way out of poverty for many of its most famous exponents. Known for his intellect, Tunney became a successful businessman after his retirement from boxing, suggesting that had other career paths been open to him he may have made a more significant contribution to society than one that in the main involved trying to physically wear down, and even knock down, his opponents.

Early life

Tunney was the second of seven children born to his Irish immigrants parents in Greenwich Village. His family was working class and Tunney held a number of odd jobs in his youth to help with financial burdens. When he was 10, his father presented him with his first pair of boxing gloves and he took part in the sport when he had free time. He was first paid to box at 18. He won $18 for the defeat of his more seasoned opponent. In World War I Tunney served in the U.S. Marines, where he was awarded for the valor he displayed in battle. He was determined to defeat heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, and his future would hold this for him, not once but twice.

Career

Tunney had only one loss in his entire professional career of over 80 matches—a 15 round unanimous decision to Harry Greb for the American Light Heavyweight title, a defeat that he later avenged in four more fights against Greb. He was regarded as an extremely skillful boxer who excelled in defense. He was known to study his opponents and defeat them by wearing them down, rather than inflicting simple, hard, brutal blows, as was the norm. Unlike others, Tunney was also highly intelligent and even went on to speak on Shakespeare at Yale University.

In addition to beating Dempsey two times, once in 1926 and once in 1927, the most famous fighter of his era, Tunney defeated Tommy Loughran, Tommy Gibbons, Georges Carpentier, and many other fine boxers.

Tunney also had a brief acting career, starring in the movie The Fighting Marine in 1926. Unfortunately, no prints of this film are known to exist.

In 1928, after defeating Australian Tom Henney, he retired from his boxing career.

He was elected as Ring Magazine's first-ever Fighter of the Year in 1928 and later elected to the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980, the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Personal life

Postage stamp commemorating Gene Tunney, US American boxer, World Heavyweight champion.

Tunney was of Irish descent, where the family name, Tunney, lives today.

After retiring from boxing, Tunney married heiress to a steel manufacturing fortune, Polly Lauder. He also served briefly in the United States Navy during World War II. Following the war, he spent the rest of his life as a wealthy businessman.

Upon his death in 1978, at 81 years old, Tunney was interred in the Long Ridge Union Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.

Gene Tunney was the father of John V. Tunney, who was a Senator and Representative from California from 1965 until 1977.

Legacy

Fighting Style

Tunney was a thinking fighter who prefered to make a boxing match into a game of chess; a style which was not popular during the times when such sluggers like Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb and Mickey Walker were commanding boxing's center stage. Tunney's style was influenced by other noted boxing thinkers such as James J Corbett and Benny Leonard.

Always moving and boxing behind a good solid left jab, Tunney would start reading and dissecting his opponent from the first bell, preferring to stay on the outside, nullifying any attack his opponent had. Tunney would use quick counters to keep hos opponents off balance. Not known as a big puncher, Tunney could hit with venom when needed. Especially, once he had figured his opponent was exhausted or hurt.

Cultural references

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had a comedy routine in which Lewis (in boxing shorts and gear) states he's fight'n Gene Tierney (the actress). Martin corrects Lewis and suggests that he must mean "Gene Tunney." Lewis then quips, "You fight who you wanna fight, I'm fight'n who I wanna fight, I'm fight'n Gene Tierney."

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Cavanaugh, Jack, and Gene Tunney. Tunney Boxing's Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey. New York: Random House, 2006 ISBN 9781400060092
• Evans, Gavin. Kings of the Ring: The History of Heavyweight Boxing. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc., 2005. ISBN 0297844202
• Silverman, Jeff. The Greatest Boxing Stories Ever Told: Thirty-Six Incredible Tales from the Ring. Old Saybrook, CT: Globe Peqout, 2004. ISBN 1592284795

External links

• Review of 2006 Gene Tunney biography Retrieved December 11, 2007.
• Professional boxing record for Gene Tunney from Boxrec Retrieved December 11, 2007.
• Gene Tunney biography at the Find a Grave site Retrieved December 11, 2007.
• Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey (second match) Retrieved December 11, 2007.
• Gene Tunney Quotes Retrieved December 21, 2007.
• Gene Tunney biography Retrieved December 21, 2007.

Preceded by: Jack Dempsey

Heavyweight boxing champion 1926–1928

Succeeded by: Max Schmeling

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