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James Joseph Tunney (May 25, 1897 – November 7, 1978) was an Irish-American professional boxer who competed from 1915 to 1928. He held the world title from 1926 to 1928, and the American light heavyweight title twice between 1922 and 1923.

A highly technical boxer, Tunney had a five-fight light heavyweight rivalry with in which he won three, lost once, and drew once, though many ringside reporters believed Greb should have won the decision in their second meeting. Tunney also knocked out Georges Carpentier and defeated twice; first in 1926 and again in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey remains one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight. He retired undefeated as a heavyweight after his victory over in 1928, after which Tunney was named the inaugural Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.

Early life
James Joseph Tunney was born on May 25, 1897, in New York City to Irish immigrant parents from , . His mother, Mary Lydon from Culleen House, Gorthgarve, immigrated to the United States after the Great Famine and settled in New York City, where she met John Tunney, from Cill Aodain, Kiltimagh. They married after a short courtship. The Tunneys had seven children. At an early age, Gene Tunney was inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt to become physically fit.
(2025). 9781400069651, Random House. .

Career
Tunney fought some 68 official professional fights, losing only one, to , while fighting as a light heavyweight. Tunney fought many other fights whose scoring was unofficial, judged by newspaper reporters. He also lost none of these "newspaper decisions". He reported that he lost a second fight during World War I, a 10-round decision, to , as a Marine before he began his professional boxing career. Tunney was regarded as an extremely skillful boxer who excelled in defense. In addition to beating Dempsey, the most famous fighter of his era, Tunney defeated , Georges Carpentier and many other fine boxers.

Already the American Expeditionary Forces champion, Tunney spent the winter of 1921 as a in northern for the J. R. Booth Company of , without revealing he was a champion boxer. He explained this as "wanting the solitude and the strenuous labors of the woods to help condition himself for the career that appeared before him."

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

He was named inaugural 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 United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

Fighting style
Tunney was a thinking fighter who preferred to make a boxing match into a game of chess, which was not popular during the times when such sluggers as , and Mickey Walker were commanding center stage. Tunney's style was influenced by other noted boxing thinkers such as James J. Corbett and . Nevertheless, it is incorrect to think of Tunney as a stick-and-move fighter in the Ali style. While Tunney's heavyweight fights against Gibbons, Carpentier, and Dempsey featured his fleet-footed movement and rapid-fire jabbing, his earlier bouts, especially the five against Harry Greb, demonstrated his vicious body punching and willingness to fight toe-to-toe. It was Benny Leonard who advised Tunney that the only way to beat Harry "The Human Windmill" Greb was to aim his punches at Greb's body rather than his head.

Always moving and boxing behind an excellent left jab, Tunney would study his opponents from the first bell. He generally preferred to stay outside and nullify any attacks, while using quick counters to keep the opponent off balance. In his fights against Jack Dempsey, today's viewer can see Tunney's style: hands held low for greater power, fast footwork that adjusts to every move his opponent makes and quick and accurate one-two style counter-punches with the left and right.

Tunney was never knocked out, while only ever being knocked down once, that in his second fight with Dempsey in the infamous Long Count. This makes him one of only five Heavyweight champions, alongside , , and to retire without ever suffering a stoppage defeat. Tunney, along with Marciano, Lewis and is one of four heavyweight champions to have retired as champion and to have ended their career with a win in a world title fight. Having avenged his only loss to , Tunney joins Ingemar Johansson, , and as the only five heavyweight champions to have retired while holding a victory over every opponent he faced as a professional (barring no-contests and draws).

Muhammad Ali is quoted praising Tunney's ahead-of-its-time fighting style in the 2015 book "Muhammad Ali: Portrait Of A Champion" by Scoop Malinowski. “If you look at Tunney is where boxing started to get better. He throws punches sharp and quick. Strong, fast and quick. He’s about the best of the old timers. I’d say Tunney is the greatest old timer as far as punching and skill is concerned. Tunney used footwork – something that most heavyweights don’t have. I thought I was the only heavyweight to do that. He’s jabbing and moving. Tunney didn’t fight like old timer fighters, he’s moving like me but with no rhythm. Dempsey is dangerous in close like Frazier and Marciano. Dempsey is a good ducker, he could bob a lot. Tunney is the best of that era. I see him sometimes, tell him he was one of the best of all time.”

Military service
Tunney enlisted the Marine Corps during World War I and served as private with 11th Marine Regiment in and later in during the occupation of the Rhineland in 1919. He saw no combat and spent most of the war in the Marine boxing team, becoming U.S. Expeditionary Forces champion. Tunney was demobilized following the war, but remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, ultimately reaching the rank of major in the Connecticut Naval Militia.

Following the United States entry into World War II, at the request of Navy Undersecretary , Tunney accepted a commission in the United States Naval Reserve as a lieutenant commander to set up a physical fitness program for student pilots. He headed the Navy's physical fitness programme for the duration of the war and also made an inspection trip to and the surrounding area.

Tunney was consecutively promoted to the ranks of commander and captain and retired shortly following the War. For his wartime service, he was decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal and was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal. He also held the World War I Victory Medal with France Clasp, Army of Occupation of Germany Medal, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his World War I enlisted service.

Tunney Cup
In 1932, Tunney published a book called A Man Must Fight, in which he gave comments on his career and boxing techniques. In 1928, the U.S. Marine Corps presented – as a sign of friendship – a challenge cup to the Corps of Royal Marines, in the hope it might be competed for by Royal Marines association football teams. The Royal Marines named the trophy the "Tunney Cup," in honor of then-USMC Captain Tunney, who, with Sergeant Major Charles R. Francis, presented the trophy on behalf of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Personal life
In 1928, Tunney married a wealthy Mary "Polly" Lauder (April 24, 1907 – April 19, 2008). After Tunney's retirement, the couple lived in Stamford, Connecticut and raised four children. They had three sons and one daughter:
  • John Varick Tunney (1934–2018), who was a U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator from from 1965 until 1977;
  • Jonathan "Jay" Rowland Tunney of Stamford, Connecticut;
  • Gene Lauder Tunney (1931–2009), who became a lawyer and served as district attorney for Sonoma County, California, for 20 years; and
  • Joan Tunney Wilkinson (1939–2008) Deceased Members – Mount Holyoke College of , who was committed to on June 6, 1970, after she murdered her husband, Lynn Carter Wilkinson Jr.[2]

Previous to his marrying Polly Lauder, Tunney was sued in 1927 for breach of promise by Katherine King Fogarty.

Death and legacy
Tunney died on November 7, 1978, at the Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut at the age of eighty-one, after suffering from a circulation ailment. He was interred at Long Ridge Union Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.

In popular culture
and had a comedy routine in which Lewis (in boxing shorts and gear) states he will be fighting (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."Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait, The Biography Channel. March 26, 1999

In the song "She Twists the Knife Again" from Richard Thompson's 1985 album Across a Crowded Room, describing the mismatched intensity in a strife-ladened relationship, Thompson writes: "I'm in a fist fight/She thinks she's Gene Tunney!"

He is also mentioned in Act 1 of 's Death of a Salesman: Willy tells his sons he has a punching bag with Tunney's signature on it.

Mentioned in A Whistle in the Dark (Act 1, p. 31) by Tom Murphy: "in the words of the great Gene Tunney, a man must fight back. His father was a Mayoman too".

Mentioned in the short story "Fallon" by J. D. Luther, when imprisoned character Tyson Wayne Vance recalls his abusive father, "Was more than one night momma'd look like she went fifteen rounds with Gene Tunney...".

In the 1928 silent comedy Feel My Pulse, 's character is asked about why a woman has just come onto an island. He responds (in intertitles), "She uses too big words for me! She talks like she was Gene Tunney's librarian."

In the 1932 boxing film Winner Take All, 's character Jimmy Kane—a has-been former champion trying to get educated—laments that William Shakespeare was "the one who ruined Gene Tunney."

The novelette A KO for Christmas by Shawn Pollock features a character, Stitch Stanford, who hopes to fight Gene Tunney for the heavyweight title.

Professional boxing record
All information in this section is derived from , unless otherwise stated.

Official record
All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.
85Win TKO11 (15),26 Jul 1928
84Win64–1–1UD1022 Sep 1927
83Win63–1–1UD1023 Sep 1926
82Win62–1–1Dan O'DowdKO2 (10),29 Dec 1925
81Win61–1–1Johnny RiskoNWS1218 Nov 1925
80Win61–1–1Bartley MaddenKO3 (10)25 Sep 1925
79Win60–1–1Italian Jack HermanKO2 (10)3 Jul 1925
78Win59–1–1KO12 (15)5 Jun 1925
77Win58–1–1NWS1027 Mar 1925
76Win58–1–1Jeff SmithNWS158 Dec 1924
75Win58–1–1Buddy McHaleTKO2 (8)10 Nov 1924
74Win57–1–1Harry FoleyTKO1 (8),27 Oct 1924
73Win56–1–1Ray NeumanPTS1027 Sep 1924
72Draw55–1–1NWS1017 Sep 1924
71Win55–1–1Joe LohmanTKO8 (12)18 Aug 1924
70Win54–1–1Georges CarpentierTKO15 (15),24 Jul 1924
69Win53–1–1TKO7 (12)26 Jun 1924
68Win52–1–1Jimmy DelaneyNWS1017 Mar 1924
67Win52–1–1Martin BurkePTS1515 Feb 1924
66Win51–1–1Ray ThompsonKO2 (10)24 Jan 1924
65Win50–1–1Harry FoleyNWS1015 Jan 1924
64Win50–1–1UD1510 Dec 1923
63Win49–1–1Dan O'DowdPTS1231 Jul 1923
62Win48–1–1Jimmy DelaneyNWS1016 May 1923
61Win48–1–1Jack CliffordTKO8 (10)7 May 1923
60Win47–1–1 1523 Feb 1923
59Win46–1–1Chuck WigginsPTS123 Feb 1923
58 45–1–1Jack RenaultNC4 (8)29 Jan 1923
57Win45–1–1KO4 (15)29 Nov 1922
56Win44–1–1Jack HanlonKO1 (12),3 Nov 1922
55Win43–1–1Chuck WigginsPTS1027 Oct 1922
54Win42–1–1NWS824 Aug 1922
53Win42–1–1Charley WeinertNWS1217 Aug 1922
52Win42–1–1Ray ThompsonKO3 (10)4 Aug 1922
51Win41–1–1Fay KeiserPTS127 Jul 1922
50Loss40–1–1 1523 May 1922
49Win40–0–1Jack BurkeTKO9 (10)10 Apr 1922
48Win39–0–1Fay KeiserNWS103 Mar 1922
47Win39–0–1Whitey WenzelTKO4 (8)14 Feb 1922
46Win38–0–1Jack CliffordTKO6 (12),11 Feb 1922
45Win37–0–1Battling LevinskyPTS1213 Jan 1922
44Win36–0–1Eddie O'HareKO6 (8)22 Dec 1921
43Win35–0–1Wolf LarsenTKO7 (12),25 Oct 1921
42Win34–0–1Jack BurkeTKO3 (8)14 Oct 1921
41Win33–0–1PTS726 Sep 1921
40Win32–0–1Eddie JosephsPTS1218 Aug 1921
39Win31–0–1Martin BurkePTS104 Aug 1921
38Win30–0–1Soldier JonesTKO7 (8)2 Jul 1921
37Win29–0–1Johnny AmbroseKO1 (12),28 Jun 1921
36Win28–0–1Leo HauckNWS107 Dec 1920
35Win28–0–1Leo HauckNWS625 Nov 1920
34Win28–0–1Paul Samson KoernerNWS1025 Oct 1920
33Win28–0–1Sergeant Ray SmithTKO2 (8)22 Oct 1920
32Win27–0–1Ole AndersonTKO3 (10),28 Jun 1920
31Win26–0–1Jeff MaddenTKO2 (12)7 Jun 1920
30Win25–0–1Jack CliffordKO3 (10)9 Apr 1920
29Win24–0–1K.O. SullivanKO1 (8),5 Apr 1920
28Win23–0–1Ed KinleyKO5 (8)4 Mar 1920
27Win22–0–1Al RobertsKO8 (8),2 Feb 1920
26Win21–0–1Jim MonahanKO1 (8),26 Jan 1920
25Win20–0–1Bud NelsonKO1 (8)20 Jan 1920
24Win19–0–1Whitey AllenKO2 (8)1 Jan 1920
23Win18–0–1Bob PearceKO2 (8)29 Dec 1919
22Win17–0–1Dan O'DowdNWS816 Dec 1919
21Win17–0–1Ted JamisonPTS1026 Apr 1919
20Win16–0–1K.O. SullivanPTS1014 Apr 1919
19Win15–0–1Dare LewisKO328 Mar 1919
18Win14–0–1Bob MartinPTS427 Jan 1919
17Win13–0–1Victor MarchandKO29 Jan 1919
16Draw12–0–1Tommy Gavigan 1020 Dec 1918
15Win12–0Howard MorrowKO610 Dec 1918
14Win11–0Johnny NewtonKO620 Nov 1918
13Win10–0Hank WerhlKO61 Nov 1918
12Win9–0Young GueriniKO1 (8)8 Jul 1918
11Win8–0Hugh WeirKO2 (10)15 Jan 1918
10Win7–0Joe BorrellKO2 (10)28 Dec 1917
9Win6–0Sailor WolfeKO2 (10)29 Dec 1916
8Win5–0George LeahyNWS622 Dec 1916
7Win5–0Young SharkeyKO6 (10)15 Dec 1916
6Win4–0Young GueriniTKO8 (10)8 Dec 1916
5Draw3–0KO JaffeNWS1021 Jul 1916
4Win3–0Billy Rowe 61 Dec 1915
3Win3–0George LeahyKO2 (6)28 Aug 1915
2Win2–0Battling Genrimo 3 (10)6 Aug 1915
1Win1–0Bobby Dawson 8 (10)3 Jul 1915

Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.
85Win TKO11 (15),26 Jul 1928
84Win79–1–3UD1022 Sep 1927
83Win78–1–3UD1023 Sep 1926
82Win77–1–3Dan O'DowdKO2 (10),29 Dec 1925
81Win76–1–3Johnny RiskoNWS1218 Nov 1925
80Win75–1–3Bartley MaddenKO3 (10)25 Sep 1925
79Win74–1–3Italian Jack HermanKO2 (10)3 Jul 1925
78Win73–1–3KO12 (15)5 Jun 1925
77Win72–1–3NWS1027 Mar 1925
76Win71–1–3Jeff SmithNWS158 Dec 1924
75Win70–1–3Buddy McHaleTKO2 (8)10 Nov 1924
74Win69–1–3Harry FoleyTKO1 (8),27 Oct 1924
73Win68–1–3Ray NeumanPTS1027 Sep 1924
72Draw67–1–3NWS1017 Sep 1924
71Win67–1–2Joe LohmanTKO8 (12)18 Aug 1924
70Win66–1–2Georges CarpentierTKO15 (15),24 Jul 1924
69Win65–1–2TKO7 (12)26 Jun 1924
68Win64–1–2Jimmy DelaneyNWS1017 Mar 1924
67Win63–1–2Martin BurkePTS1515 Feb 1924
66Win62–1–2Ray ThompsonKO2 (10)24 Jan 1924
65Win61–1–2Harry FoleyNWS1015 Jan 1924
64Win60–1–2UD1510 Dec 1923
63Win59–1–2Dan O'DowdPTS1231 Jul 1923
62Win58–1–2Jimmy DelaneyNWS1016 May 1923
61Win57–1–2Jack CliffordTKO8 (10)7 May 1923
60Win56–1–2 1523 Feb 1923
59Win55–1–2Chuck WigginsPTS123 Feb 1923
58 54–1–2Jack RenaultNC4 (8)29 Jan 1923
57Win54–1–2Charley WeinertKO4 (15)29 Nov 1922
56Win53–1–2Jack HanlonKO1 (12),3 Nov 1922
55Win52–1–2Chuck WigginsPTS1027 Oct 1922
54Win51–1–2NWS824 Aug 1922
53Win50–1–2Charley WeinertNWS1217 Aug 1922
52Win49–1–2Ray ThompsonKO3 (10)4 Aug 1922
51Win48–1–2Fay KeiserPTS127 Jul 1922
50Loss47–1–2 1523 May 1922
49Win47–0–2Jack BurkeTKO9 (10)10 Apr 1922
48Win46–0–2Fay KeiserNWS103 Mar 1922
47Win45–0–2Whitey WenzelTKO4 (8)14 Feb 1922
46Win44–0–2Jack CliffordTKO6 (12),11 Feb 1922
45Win43–0–2Battling LevinskyPTS1213 Jan 1922
44Win42–0–2Eddie O'HareKO6 (8)22 Dec 1921
43Win41–0–2Wolf LarsenTKO7 (12),25 Oct 1921
42Win40–0–2Jack BurkeTKO3 (8)14 Oct 1921
41Win39–0–2PTS726 Sep 1921
40Win38–0–2Eddie JosephsPTS1218 Aug 1921
39Win37–0–2Martin BurkePTS104 Aug 1921
38Win36–0–2Soldier JonesTKO7 (8)2 Jul 1921
37Win35–0–2Johnny AmbroseKO1 (12),28 Jun 1921
36Win34–0–2Leo HauckNWS107 Dec 1920
35Win33–0–2Leo HauckNWS625 Nov 1920
34Win32–0–2Paul Samson KoernerNWS1025 Oct 1920
33Win31–0–2Sergeant Ray SmithTKO2 (8)22 Oct 1920
32Win30–0–2Ole AndersonTKO3 (10),28 Jun 1920
31Win29–0–2Jeff MaddenTKO2 (12)7 Jun 1920
30Win28–0–2Jack CliffordKO3 (10)9 Apr 1920
29Win27–0–2K.O. SullivanKO1 (8),5 Apr 1920
28Win26–0–2Ed KinleyKO5 (8)4 Mar 1920
27Win25–0–2Al RobertsKO8 (8),2 Feb 1920
26Win24–0–2Jim MonahanKO1 (8),26 Jan 1920
25Win23–0–2Bud NelsonKO1 (8)20 Jan 1920
24Win22–0–2Whitey AllenKO2 (8)1 Jan 1920
23Win21–0–2Bob PearceKO2 (8)29 Dec 1919
22Win20–0–2Dan O'DowdNWS816 Dec 1919
21Win19–0–2Ted JamisonPTS1026 Apr 1919
20Win18–0–2K.O. SullivanPTS1014 Apr 1919
19Win17–0–2Dare LewisKO328 Mar 1919
18Win16–0–2Bob MartinPTS427 Jan 1919
17Win15–0–2Victor MarchandKO29 Jan 1919
16Draw14–0–2Tommy Gavigan 1020 Dec 1918
15Win14–0–1Howard MorrowKO610 Dec 1918
14Win13–0–1Johnny NewtonKO620 Nov 1918
13Win12–0–1Hank WerhlKO61 Nov 1918
12Win11–0–1Young GueriniKO1 (8)8 Jul 1918
11Win10–0–1Hugh WeirKO2 (10)15 Jan 1918
10Win9–0–1Joe BorrellKO2 (10)28 Dec 1917
9Win8–0–1Sailor WolfeKO2 (10)29 Dec 1916
8Win7–0–1George LeahyNWS622 Dec 1916
7Win6–0–1Young SharkeyKO6 (10)15 Dec 1916
6Win5–0–1Young GueriniTKO8 (10)8 Dec 1916
5Draw4–0–1KO JaffeNWS1021 Jul 1916
4Win4–0Billy Rowe 61 Dec 1915
3Win3–0George LeahyKO2 (6)28 Aug 1915
2Win2–0Battling Genrimo 3 (10)6 Aug 1915
1Win1–0Bobby Dawson 8 (10)3 Jul 1915

Titles in boxing
Major world titles
  • NYSAC champion (200+ lbs)
  • NBA (WBA) heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)

The Ring magazine titles
  • The Ring heavyweight champion (200+ lbs)

Regional/International titles
  • S.O.S. light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
  • American Expeditionary Forces light heavyweight champion (175 lbs)
  • (ABA) light heavyweight champion (175 lbs) (2×)

Undisputed titles
  • Undisputed heavyweight champion

See also
  • List of heavyweight boxing champions
  • List of The Ring world champions
  • List of undisputed boxing champions
  • International Boxing Hall of Fame
  • Boxing in the 1920s
  • List of people on the cover of Time magazine (30 August 1926)

External links

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