HitmanDonny's Hall of Fame.

Gene Tunney

The fighting Marine was born on the 25th of May 1898. Originally named Jim in Greenwich Village at 11 Bank Street, He received his name from his younger brother who was unable to pronounce Jim and instead donned him Gene. From an early age Tunney became accustomed with street fighting, but was renowned for his sense of fair play and good manners. His first pay day arrived far from the prize ring as he took a job as a stenographer. However, it was at this time that Gene began to drop into the Greenwich Village Evening Recreation Centre. Of his initial encounter with pugilism Gene was quoted �Actually, I was less interested in hitting somebody than I was in not being hit. I was eager to learn how to protect myself.� It is clear from these early indicators that the attributes that Tunney was most applauded for outside of the ring, his gentlemanly demeanour and articulate mind were instilled in the man at a young age.

Upon investigation, it appears the attribute associated with Tunney inside the ring was also instilled early. Tunney badly lost his debut amateur fight against another young man by the name of Willie Green.They fought a further four times. Tunney won the rubber match in their fifth fight in which he punished Green badly. This unrivalled courage was demonstrated for a second time in the professional ranks. Tunney met with the notorious Harry Greb and received a savage beating at the hands of the windmill. Tunney� trainers, friends and family implored him never to step foot in the ring again with the Devil man. Four fights followed between these two opposites and Greb did not come out on top again! The loss to Greb was the only loss of his career.

It is common knowledge that Tunney began his professional career in the marines, this is in fact untrue. Entering the marines Gene already had five professional bouts. Billy Jacobs persuaded Gene to enter the Sharkey Athletic Club in New York and the journey began. His skill began to gain him a reputation, but his fighting courage and heart was confirmed in a fight where he represented the Marines against the US armies Sergeant Wuehrle whom Tunney came from behind to force the referee to declare a dubious uncompleted contest! It was whilst in the Marines Tunney began to believe. On tour in Germany with the German expeditionary forces he predicted �When Dempsey loses it won�t be because he�s outfought, it will be because he�s outboxed,� and at a later debate �You may or may not agree with me, I�m not asking you, but I have the speed, the defence and the scientific fighting to beat Jack Dempsey someday.�

In 1922 following a string of successful bouts Tunney entered the ring against Harry in what was to be an absolute bloodbath. For fifteen rounds Tunney took a systematic, brutal and damaging barrage of hateful punches in what turned out to be his first and solitary defeat. Rumour had it Tunney considered quitting boxing, yet records show that within two days Gene approached the boxing commission with a sum of $2,500 in search of a rematch. This rematch occurred in February and Tunney miraculously reversed the result. A year later he outfoxed and stopped Georges Carpentier and stopped Tommy Gibbons, the man who had forced Dempsey the distance.

. Tommy Reilly refereed what was seen to be another routine Dempsey exhibition of violence. Dempsey exploded from his corner, in typical Dempsey style he drove Tunney back and landed a good left, yet surprisingly Tunney seemed to like boxing off the back foot and the next scoring blow was a hard counter right landed flush by Tunney. At the end of the first video evidence shows Tunney pursuing a dazed Dempsey and the rest is history. The next day Tunney went to visit the ex-champion to find him in a darkened room, alone and inconsolable.

21 July 1927 Dempseyy met the ever popular Jack Sharkey (whose real name was Joseph Paul Zukauskas) and although Sharkey fought gallantly and attempted to outbox Dempsey he was viscerally dispatched with the left hook. With this demonstration Jack Dempsey was back in the mix and Tunney�s reputation rose, the battle of the Long count was in fruition. There has been so much written and debated on this subject that it does not need to be retold here. Tunney retained his title in indefinitely the most debated fight of the era. Tunney only defended the Title once more as before the fight he engaged to wed. In what is remembered as a masterful exhibition of skill and wit Tunney stopped Tom Heeny of New Zealand with 11 seconds remaining in Round 11. The fight was simply artistic and Tunney moved on afterward to Hollywood.
There is a second motive behind Tunneys retirement, having witnessed his close friend Gene Delmont blinded in an exhibition Tunney felt he could not willingly inflict damage upon another man and retired.

Tunney remains one of the most under rated and least remembered heavyweight fighters of all time. His defensive brilliance was decades ahead of his time, his training was carefully considered and calculated and his approach to the sweet science was entirely emotionless and professional. In short he was a fighter we would worship in our own era, so why not remember The fighting Marine.

Very nice Donny Boy; makes for good reading. CC

CC returned my man legion

CC form me to Hitman i happy you made the Tunney story i been waiting nice job.

Returned mr.140!

O yea why you are on go to my best heavies form 1900's and 1950's post and give me a list you seem to be very well informed on older fighters. I would like to see some from you if you have the time i like to see who you think is the best.

Ok Dude, il set about that task this evening!!!
The reason i undertook this thread is because i share little tidbits i know myself AND learn more by researching these fighters, so im more than wiling!

Give this a bump, I'll update it soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Harry Greb (264-23-12)

Greb is not mentioned too often in casual conversation between the average boxing fans. However menbtion his name to a survivor of that era or to a knowledgable boxing enthusiast and a smile will tweak at the lips at the mention of his name. "prize fighting ain't the noblest of arts and I ain't it's noblest artist," was how Greb alluded to his "colourful" fighting style. 299 fights, an average of 22 fights per year, flabergasting, no? A middleweight by nature, it was not uncommon for Greb to challenge men that today would be classed as super Middle's light heavies and cruisers!!!


A fighter bwho had the repuatation for being three things. First, quick as lightning, secondly tough as steel nails and thirdly; possessing a mentality which allowed his conscience to sway enough to allow him win by any means necessary. Anyone that may have been privy to Mr.Grebs fights will know that whilst in the ring should he have felt the referee was opposing him, the referee would receive the same treatment as the opposing fighter.

One of my personal favourite boxing writers David Rayvern Allen depicted him mas a "fox behind leather paws," however please do not mistake the representation of Greb as a wily sly fighter as being in any way demenaing. The quality of this fighter can not be denied. Anyone who is interested to explore his career record will discover victories over none other than Gene Tunney,Mickey Walker and uality opposition such as Kid Norfolk (whom he simply demolished!!!) It must be added that the Tunney fight was Tunneys only defeat and that Tunney (stopped by Greb) four years later went on to defeat the main man at heavyweight Jack Dempsey!!!

Like Jake LaMotta and Sandy Saddler in his day Greb was unpopular on his way to the Ring, but he was essential viewing and the public watched (in grudged admiration) hoping he would fall. However as I have said he was tough as old boots and when he fell he was usually up within moments....This was the case after a car crash in 1926 which he miraculously walked out of. He underwent surgery to repair a broken nose he sustained in this accident only to die under anaesthtic.
He ruled the Middleweight division from 1923 to1926. He will always be remembered by the purist and forever grudgingly admired.

---

:appl: Great Read Donny.We need much more of this to keep the past Era's and great memories alive.Sometimes we get caught up In a "seeing is believing " mentality and set aside history and old time greats as untouchable entity's and or uncertain facts . Its all there to be disected,explored and obtained.Boxing did not start with us and god willing it will outlive every one of us so the next generations of fans can read and 'live' ,with todays technology,what we witnessed with todays greats.
Crazy thing I read was that shortly after Tiger Flowers 2nd victory over Greb He went In for facial surgery and died at 32,Same tragedy as Greb (in surgery) And the same age as well.I really wish there was actual fight footage of him,No Dvd's or u-tube then Lol.All we can do is have some faith in the eye-witness accounts,newspaper writers and historians.
CC to you....or um Rep point to you .

Thanks Spicoli dude. I would return the rep stuff, but I'm just arrived here and I'm feelin daunted by the flashy lights and shiny stuff.
I'm like a welshmen in Vegas!

Anyway, I've gotten very interested in boxing writing as of late and have been asked by a third party to write for their publication, so I thought I'd try some stuff in front of the equivalent of a boxing writer Coliseum, Saddo's.
So far seems I'm getting thre thumbs up!


ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?????

Your doing great so far...

Your posts are always informative and well written so im sure you'll do a good job writting for a publication..
And surely if you ever get stuck with something their is no shortage of assistance here..

I like reading about the old timers because it wasn't prime time tv back then.

They all fought with heart and were true gladiators.... They were the perfect foundation for the great sport we have today and we owe a lot to ever drop of blood sweat and tears they put into the ring... For little return in a lot of cases. Except pride and a love for the sport.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dizaster

Your doing great so far...

Your posts are always informative and well written so im sure you'll do a good job writting for a publication..
And surely if you ever get stuck with something their is no shortage of assistance here..

I like reading about the old timers because it wasn't prime time tv back then.

They all fought with heart and were true gladiators.... They were the perfect foundation for the great sport we have today and we owe a lot to ever drop of blood sweat and tears they put into the ring... For little return in a lot of cases. Except pride and a love for the sport.

---

Dizaster I have no idea how to CC you, give you good karma or whatever, but Thanks man.

Very entertained Donny ;). The way you Rep Is by clicking the grey scales in the upper right hand corner and that should do It . How about a Bio on George Dixon?

Art Aragon
"The Golden Boy"


One of the sport’s most amiable and decorated stars, the original golden boy, Art Aragon, was a fighter who in 1944 turned pro at the age of seventeen. A Californian native, the local boxer was responsible for the sell out attendances which regularly packed venues such as Wrigley field and the Legion Stadium.

His nickname “Golden Boy” does not fully convey this fighter’s character. He was not a protected fighter or a fighter that campaigned with any delicacy. His record of 90-20-6 illustrates the true grit of which this man was composed. Entering the ring adorned with a golden robe Aragon defeated a number of world class foes in the forms of Jimmy Carter, Don Jordan, Carmen Basilio and Lauro Salas.
With such pedigree and a willingness to fight the best it would be assumed that Aragon would have been a hero. However, like Ali after him, Aragon presented a figure that the audience loved to hate, a persona, which was fuelled by the heavy defeats he bestowed upon the numerous top Mexican fighters who challenged him.
On his retirement he lamented over this. When interviewed by the Los Angeles Times he stated “Walking into the ring at the Olympic Stadium with 10,000 people there, wearing that gold robe, hearing those boos, I miss that. You ever get booed by 10,000 people? It’s exciting.” “I liked it even better when I beat some guy the crowd loved and then I’d look out at ‘em and give ‘em, a big smile, and the boos would be even louder and I loved that.”

Retiring in 1960, Aragon was one of those fighters who became popular in retirement. His status within the boxing world translated to fame outside of it also and Aragon was romantically linked to Mamie Van Doren, Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe.
His failure to ever land a world title was overshadowed by the accusation that he had conspired with opponents before fights and fixed certain fights. It was never proven, but the record of this hero was tarnished somewhat by the mention of this crime.
His passing was well documented this year, at 81 he was one of the most likeable fighters ever to grace a ring, far from his persona as the bad guy of Californian boxing.

Just Bump this in hope it get's stickied.