Gene Tunney

Boxer

• Born: May 25, 1897
• Birthplace: New York, New York
• Died: November 7, 1978
• Place of death: Greenwich, Connecticut

Sport: Boxing

Early Life

Gene Tunney’s background was unusual for a boxer. He was born on May 25, 1897, in Greenwich Village in were chosen, of Irish descent. He graduated from parochial school in 1911 and from La Salle Academy in 1915. His educational level exceeded that of many other boxers, and his interest in learning never left him. After his schooling ended, he worked for the Ocean Steamship Company of New York as a clerk. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, Gene enlisted in the Marine Corps and went to France with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). In 1919, he won the light-heavyweight championship of the AEF.

The Road to Excellence

After Gene’s discharge from the Marines, he decided to become a professional boxer. The choice was unusual for someone of his educational background, but he had proved his talent in the Marines and believed that he had a chance to become a success.

Gene had to overcome a major obstacle: He was not an extremely powerful puncher like his greatest rival, Jack Dempsey. Fighting skill did not come naturally to Gene, and his achievements were the result of hard work and study. His style emphasized correct technique rather than slugging away at the opponent. He rarely made a mistake in the ring and, although through experience he developed a strong knockout punch, he often won his matches by outscoring his opponents.

Gene’s methodical approach went even further. He carefully studied other boxers, learning their strengths and weaknesses and continually adding to his store of techniques. He also scouted his opponents and was thoroughly familiar with the styles of the men he fought. Gene’s careful preparation paid off, and he became a successful light heavyweight. He won the U.S. light-heavyweight championship in 1922 and lost only one match in his career in that division.

The Emerging Champion

Gene’s one loss was to Harry Greb, one of the toughest light heavyweights of all time and probably the dirtiest of all major fighters. Greb had amazing endurance and was able to withstand Gene’s punches while dishing out a continual assortment of low blows and punches to the back of the neck. One of Greb’s favorite techniques was a head butt, delivered when the fighters were clinched. He never let up and gave Gene a severe beating.

Gene took the loss in stride and continued with his program of boxing study and rigorous training. He refused to let the setback interfere with his career and, in 1923, defeated Greb to regain the light-heavyweight title. In 1924, he defeated Georges Carpentier, the most popular fighter in France.

Gene then entered the heavyweight division, where he faced his supreme challenge. The world heavyweight champion was Jack Dempsey, considered by most boxing authorities as one of the greatest fighters of all time. He was also one of the hardest punchers in the history of boxing, and few opponents remained standing after Dempsey had rushed at them with a rain of blows. Gene followed his usual plan. He made a careful study of Dempsey and decided to try to outbox the fierce champion. Gene’s plan proved a success in the match, held in Philadelphia on September 23, 1926. His steady jabs wore out Dempsey, and he did not succumb to the temptation to abandon science and become involved in a slugfest. To do so with Dempsey would have been fatal. At the end of the tenth round, Dempsey was out on his feet and Gene won a unanimous decision. He had won the title by defeating a boxing legend.

Continuing the Story

Many boxing fans dismissed Gene’s victory as a fluke. Dempsey had not trained much for the bout and had been upset and distracted because of legal disputes with his former manager Jack Kearns. Like Gene, Dempsey was a man of great fortitude, and he was determined to regain his title.

Gene had to face another problem. His scientific style and refusal to slug toe-to-toe with opponents were not popular with the fans. Even worse for his popularity, Jack Dempsey was extremely well liked, and Gene’s victory won him few new friends.

Gene was undaunted and once more followed his characteristic methods of careful training and preparation for the return match with Dempsey. The bout, this time held in Chicago, took place on September 22, 1927, one year after Gene had won the title.

Gene’s methods at first proved highly successful. Even against a much better trained Dempsey, Gene’s boxing skill put him well ahead until the seventh round, when Dempsey sprang at Tunney with one of his famed charges, backed him into a corner, and knocked him down.

Instead of retreating to a neutral corner, as the rules of the match required, Dempsey stood over his opponent for several seconds. Exactly how long he did this has been much disputed, but it was at least four seconds before the referee began his count. Gene was able to get up before the count reached ten. By the next round, he was ready to resume his former tactics, and he continued to outscore Dempsey until the end of the match. He was awarded a unanimous decision. The “long count” made this match one of the most controversial bouts in the history of heavyweight fighting.

After defeating Tom Heeney in 1928, Gene retired from boxing. He served as a corporate director for a number of businesses and banks and was chairperson of the board of the American Distilling Company. His business career was interrupted by World War II, in which he served as director of physical fitness for the United States Navy. He died in 1978.

Summary

Gene Tunney illustrated the virtue of careful preparation. Although not the most naturally gifted heavyweight boxer of his era, he was one of the most intelligent. He made boxing into a genuine science and planned his bouts with the skill of a general going into battle. His technique enabled him to conquer one of the most powerful of all heavyweight boxers.

Bibliography

Cavanaugh, Jack, and Gene Tunney. Tunney: Boxing’s Brainiest Champ and His Upset of the Great Jack Dempsey. New York: Random House, 2006.

Evans, Gavin. Kings of the Ring: The History of Heavyweight Boxing. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2005.

Evensen, Bruce J. When Dempsey Fought Tunney: Heroes, Hokum, and Storytelling in the Jazz Age. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1996.

Jarrett, John. Gene Tunney: The Golden Guy Who Licked Jack Dempsey Twice. London: Robson, 2003.

Van Every, Edward. The Life of Gene Tunney: The Fighting Marine. New York: Dell, 1926.