boxer: Gene Tunney
Global ID 9046
sex male
birth date 1897-05-25
death date 1978-11-07
division light heavyweight
nationality United States
alias The Fighting Marine
residence Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
birth place New York, NY, USA
birth name James Joseph Tunney
stance orthodox
height 6′ 0″
reach 77“
won 82 (KO 4 + lost 1 (KO 0) + drawn 3 = 87
biography Wiki Biography

bouts
Lb St Kg date AscendingDescending print

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date Lb opponent Lb W - L - D last 6 location
1928-07-26 192 Tom Heeney 203½ 32-8-5

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States W TKO 11 15 Wiki
~ time: 2:52 | referee: Eddie Forbes | judge: Charles F. Mathison | judge: Tom Flynn ~
World Heavyweight Title
Former Champion Jack Dempsey was in Heeney's corner. Tunney announced his retirement from boxing a few days later.

1927-09-22 189½ Jack Dempsey 192½ 66-5-11

Soldiers Field, Chicago, Illinois, United States W UD 10 10 Wiki
~ referee: Dave Barry | judge: George Lytton | judge: Sheldon Clark ~
World Heavyweight Title
Tunney down in the seventh, Dempsey down in the eighth. Famous for The Long Count. (For some time afterward, whenever Barry was refereeing a bout, derisive fans would start a unison count between rounds, shouting one to 14--based upon Dempsey's belief that Tunney had been down for 14 seconds, not nine.)
The following January Dempsey announced his retirement because of "trouble" he was having with his left eye muscle. In April 1928 he declared he would not make a comeback--not even for $50 million dollars. He had made enough money, he told the press, and his health was still good: "I can still walk around and tell the time."

1926-09-23 189½ Jack Dempsey 190 65-4-11

Sesquicentennial Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States W UD 10 10 Wiki
~ referee: Tommy Reilly | judge: Frank Brown | judge: Mike Bernstein ~
World Heavyweight Title
Attendance: 120,557

1925-12-29 Dan O'Dowd 14-25-4

Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States W KO 2 10 Wiki
1925-11-18 188 Johnny Risko 192 16-8-1

Public Auditorium, Cleveland, Ohio, United States W NWS 12 12 Wiki
"Tunney, shortly after the beginning of the fight, injured his right hand with a blow to Risko's iron jaw. Later in the battle he directed his left against the same obstacle, and when the bout ended both of his hands were swollen. Risko won the first and third round of the fight. Four were even and in the remaining six, Tunney's margin was so great that there could be no question of the decision." (Coshocton Tribune)

1925-09-25 186 Bartley Madden 189 35-22-5

Indoor Hockey Arena, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States W KO 3 10 Wiki
"The end came after a little more than two minutes of fighting when Tunney backed Madden into a corner, gained his opening with a left jab and then crossed a crushing right to Madden's jaw," (AP) putting Madden down for nine. A left hook to the jaw then sent Madden down for the count.

1925-07-03 186 Jack Herman 188 7-10-0

Kansas City, Missouri, United States W KO 2 10 Wiki
1925-06-05 181½ Tommy Gibbons 179 94-4-2

Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, United States W KO 12 15 Wiki
1925-03-27 181 Harry Greb 167½ 234-18-17

St. Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
~ referee: George Barton ~
"Tunney gave Greb as thorough a beating as he has ever received. So completely was Greb outclassed and outfought in six of the ten rounds that he resorted to a defensive fight after the third and thereafter was guilty of persistent holding and stalling varied only by rare flashes of offensive fighting, which Tunney quickly terminated by a devastating attack. Tunney concentrated his fire almost entirely on Greb's heart and body, landing with deadly accuracy and telling effect. After a flashy start, Greb went on the defensive and let entire rounds go by without making more than a weak show of attack, without landing a decisive punch, even on those rare occasions when he undertook to do the leading." (Associated Press)

1924-12-08 178½ Jeff Smith 166½ 105-26-4

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States W NWS 15 15 Wiki
American Light Heavyweight Title
Newspaper decision from the Pittsburgh Post. Tunney won decisively. Smith knocked down in the 12th round.

1924-11-10 Buddy McHale 0-1-0
Memphis, Tennessee, United States W KO 2 8 Wiki
1924-10-27 Harry Foley 14-9-2

Memphis, Tennessee, United States W KO 1 8 Wiki
1924-09-27 Ray Neuman 4-6-7

Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, United States W PTS 10 10 Wiki
This fight has often been omitted from Tunney's record, but was reported by the Pittsburgh Post. It was a very slow and dull affair. Tunney was fined by the Pennsylvania Boxing Commission for "pulling punches."

1924-09-17 175 Harry Greb 166 225-18-15

Olympic Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, United States D NWS 10 10 Wiki
~ referee: Matt Hinkel ~
Referee stated he would have ruled a draw;
Lima News (AP) called it a draw, but reported that many ringsiders, including those from Pittsburgh thought Tunney had the edge;
Lincoln State Journal stated majority of ringside reporters had it a draw;
Zanesville Signal (INS wire) gave edge to Greb 5-4-1; Oakland Tribune said majority thought it a draw, although Tunney "possibly entitled to the shade";
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune (United News wire) said newspapermen gave Greb "all but the tenth round"

1924-08-18 Joe Lohman 15-27-12

Fairmont Arena, Columbus, Ohio, United States W TKO 8 12 Wiki
~ referee: Matt Hinkel ~
Lohman went down six times before the referee stopped the bout.

1924-07-24 173¼ Georges Carpentier 173 86-13-5

Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, United States W TKO 15 15 Wiki
~ time: 0:14 ~
Attendance: 30,000. Tunney had the better of the fight until the tenth when he gave Carpentier a frightful beating, knocking him down three times. Georges fought back heroically, but near the end of the 14th round he went down and the count was at six when the bell rang. Carpentier came out for the 15th but the referee soon stopped it because the Frenchman was in no condition to continue. There was some question that Tunney landed a low blow to floor Carpentier in the 14th, but it was reported that privately-taken films showed no indication of a foul.

1924-06-26 183 Erminio Spalla 191 32-5-3

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States W TKO 7 12 Wiki
~ referee: Eddie Purdy | judge: Tommy Shortell | judge: George Kelly ~

1924-03-17 176 Jimmy Delaney 171 33-3-4

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
Tunney won the newspaper decision." (Nevada State Journal and Chicago Tribune.

1924-02-15 177½ Martin Burke 182¾ 31-17-6

Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States W PTS 15 15 Wiki
1924-01-24 Ray Thompson 0-2-0

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States W KO 2 10 Wiki
1924-01-15 178 Harry Foley 189½ 13-6-2

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
Newspaper decision from the Pittsburgh Post.

1923-12-10 175 Harry Greb 171½ 213-16-15

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States W PTS 15 15 Wiki
~ referee: Lou Magnolia ~
American Light Heavyweight Title
The concensus was that Tunney won 9 rounds, Greb four, and two were even. Tunney mounted a body attack that allowed him to dominate the fight from rounds 8 to 14. The first seven rounds were evenly fought and Greb rallied strongly to win the 15th. Greb landed many more punches but Tunney's were harder and cleaner. There were no knockdowns.

1923-07-31 174 Dan O'Dowd 175 12-15-2

Queensboro Stadium, Long Island City, New York, United States W PTS 12 12 Wiki
1923-05-16 175 Jimmy Delaney 21-1-1

Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
"Gene Tunney, American light heavy weight champion, had a shade the better of Jim Delaney, of St. Paul, Minn., in a ten-round no-decision contest here, in the opinion of newspaper men at the ringside. Tunney injured his right hand in the second round and was unable to use it effectively for the remaining eight rounds. For the last three rounds he did not even attempt to punch with it. Physicians who examined (Tunney's) hand after the fight said it had been badly fractured." (Indianapolis Star)

1923-05-07 Jack Clifford 3-21-0

Detroit, Michigan, United States W TKO 8 10 Wiki
Clifford "was stopped at the end of the eighth on account of a bad cut over the left eye." (Appleton Post Crescent)

1923-02-23 174 Harry Greb 165½ 206-14-15

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States W PTS 15 15 Wiki
~ referee: Patsy Haley ~
American Light Heavyweight Title
Most experts thought that Tunney had an edge by his cleaner blows. Regis Welsh of the Pittsburgh Post thought that Greb was robbed. Greb was the aggressor and Tunney the counterpuncher. Greb was made to observe the rules closely and this undoubtedly curbed his usual free-wheeling style. The fight was undoubtedly closely contested.

1923-02-03 176 Chuck Wiggins 174 34-19-8

Commonwealth S.C., New York City, New York, United States W PTS 12 12 Wiki
1923-01-29 Jack Renault 21-5-2

Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States NC NC 4 8 Wiki
~ referee: Pep O'Brien ~
Referee O'Brien stopped the fight becuase neither man was trying (Chicago Tribune).

1922-11-29 178½ Charley Weinert 184¾ 54-15-2

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States W KO 4 15 Wiki
1922-11-03 178 Jack Hanlon 171 2-12-2

Rink S.C., Brooklyn, New York, United States W KO 1 12 Wiki
~ time: 1:22 ~
Tunney broke Hanlon's jaw.

1922-10-27 176 Chuck Wiggins 174 34-18-7

Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, United States W PTS 10 10 Wiki
1922-08-24 173 Tommy Loughran 163 24-2-2

Baker Bowl, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States W NWS 8 8 Wiki
Tunney won the newspaper decision according to the New York Times. Loughran was knocked down in the 1st round by a right hand.

1922-08-17 176 Charley Weinert 184 53-14-2

Broad A.C., Newark, New Jersey, United States W NWS 12 12 Wiki
(New York Times)

1922-08-04 174 Ray Thompson 180 0-0-0
Casino A.C., Long Branch, New Jersey, United States W KO 3 10 Wiki
Sometimes incorrectly recorded as occurring April 8.

1922-07-07 174 Fay Keiser 167 17-17-4

Arena, Rockaway Beach, New York, United States W PTS 12 12 Wiki
1922-05-23 174½ Harry Greb 162¼ 193-14-15

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States L UD 15 15 Wiki
~ referee: Billy McPartland | judge: Tommy Shortell | judge: Elmer Hurley ~
American Light Heavyweight Title
Bout broadcast on radio by KDKA
Pittsburgh Post reported that Tunney fought extremely well. He made a great fight for 10 rounds, but Greb set a pace in the last five that overwhelmed Gene. Tunney's eyebrows were cut and he bled at the nose and mouth. Greb fought his usual fight, all over his man, and chopping him up. Tunney fought Greb much better than Tommy Gibbons had done in New York.

1922-04-10 176 Jack Burke 176 11-4-1

Motor Square Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States W TKO 9 10 Wiki
Burke also down twice in the eighth round.

1922-03-03 174 Fay Keiser 170 15-15-3

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
Tunney won the newspaper decision. (Lima News and the Pittsburgh Post)

1922-02-14 175 Whitey Wenzel 165 26-21-11

Ice Palace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States W TKO 4 8 Wiki
1922-02-11 175 Jack Clifford 182 1-18-0

Rink S.C., Brooklyn, New York, United States W TKO 6 12 Wiki
1922-01-13 172 Battling Levinsky 176½ 168-43-34

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States W PTS 12 12 Wiki
American Light Heavyweight Championship

1921-12-22 175½ Eddie O'Hare 167½ 7-2-2

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States W KO 6 8 Wiki
O'Hare died from an accident during a holiday in Maine shortly after this fight

1921-10-25 176 Wolf Larsen 173½ 3-2-0

Pioneer S.C., New York City, New York, United States W TKO 7 12 Wiki
~ time: 1:35 | referee: Artie McGovern ~

1921-10-14 178 Jack Burke 184½ 5-3-1

Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, United States W TKO 3 8 Wiki
1921-09-26 Herbert Crossley 27-5-6

Dyckman Oval, New York City, New York, United States W PTS 7 7 Wiki
Fight cut short from 15 rounds, to fit the time schedule

1921-08-18 176 Eddie Josephs 178 3-4-1

Sisco Field, Staten Island, New York, United States W PTS 12 12 Wiki
1921-08-04 178 Martin Burke 175½ 18-9-2

Dyckman Oval, New York City, New York, United States W PTS 10 10 Wiki
1921-07-02 185 Soldier Jones 175 10-10-0

Boyle's Thirty Acres, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W TKO 7 8 Wiki
~ referee: Danny Sullivan ~
Tunney "appeared off-form and unimpressive". Jones was "a slow moving and wild-swinging novice without any apparent knowledge of boxing" (New York Times). This bout was a preliminary to the Dempsey - Carpentier fight.

1921-06-28 Johnny Ambrose 0-1-0
Pioneer A.C., New York City, New York, United States W KO 1 10 Wiki
~ time: 2:45 ~

1920-12-07 Leo Houck 129-30-20

4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
(New York Times) Houck was floored in the 7th round.

1920-11-25 175 Leo Houck 173 129-29-20

Olympia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States W NWS 6 6 Wiki
Tunney won according to the Philadelphia Record.

1920-10-25 Paul Samson Koerner 7-4-1

Paterson, New Jersey, United States W NWS 10 10 Wiki
Newspaper decision from the Pittsburgh Post.

1920-10-22 Ray Smith 3-4-0

Camden, New Jersey, United States W TKO 2 8 Wiki
1920-06-28 Ole Anderson 7-9-5

4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W TKO 3 8 Wiki
1920-06-07 Jeff Madden 1-8-1

4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W TKO 2 8 Wiki
1920-04-09 Jack Clifford 1-13-0

Johnson City, New York, United States W KO 3 10 Wiki
1920-04-05 175 KO Sullivan 170 2-6-1

1st Regiment Armory, Newark, New Jersey, United States W KO 1 8 Wiki
1920-03-04 Ed Kinley 1-7-1

City A.C., Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W KO 5 8 Wiki
1920-02-02 Al Roberts 4-2-0

1st Regiment Armory, Newark, New Jersey, United States W KO 8 8 Wiki
1920-01-26 Jim Monahan 0-0-0
4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W TKO 1 8 Wiki
~ time: 2:50 ~

1920-01-20 Bud Nelson 0-0-0
Schuetzen Park, Bayonne, New Jersey, United States W KO 1 8 Wiki
1920-01-01 Whitey Allen 4-8-0

Schuetzen Park, Bayonne, New Jersey, United States W KO 2 8 Wiki
1919-12-29 175 Bob Pearce 166 0-0-0
4th Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W KO 2 8 Wiki
1919-12-16 Dan O'Dowd 0-2-0

Schuetzen Park, Bayonne, New Jersey, United States W NWS 8 8 Wiki
Newspaper decision from Jack Kincaid (New York area newspapers).

1919-04-26 Ted Jamieson 1-1-0

Paris, Paris, France W PTS 10 10 Wiki
Service fight. Tunney won the light-heavyweight championship of the American Expeditionary Forces. Report from Stars and Stripes (Mike DeLisa).

1919-04-14 KO Sullivan 2-5-1

Paris, Paris, France W PTS 10 10 Wiki
Service bout. Semifinal for American Expeditionary Forces light-heavyweight championship. Report from Stars and Stripes (Mike DeLisa).

1919-03-31 Dare Lewis 0-0-0
Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France W KO 3 0 Wiki
Service bout. Report from Stars and Stripes (Mike DeLisa).

1919-01-27 Bob Martin 0-0-0
Paris, Paris, France W PTS 4 4 Wiki
Service bout. From Stars and Stripes (Mike DeLisa).

1918-12-20 Tommy Gavigan 18-11-7

Romorantin, Loir-et-Cher, France D PTS 10 10 Wiki
Service bout, date uncertain.

1918-12-10 Howard Morrow 10-12-6

Romorantin, Loir-et-Cher, France W KO 6 0 Wiki
Service bout, date uncertain.

1918-12-05 Victor K O Marchand 1-4-0

Paris, Paris, France W KO 2 0 Wiki
Service bout, date uncertain.

1918-11-20 Johnny Newton 6-2-2

Romorantin, Loir-et-Cher, France W KO 6 0 Wiki
Service bout, date uncertain.

1918-11-01 Hank Werhl 0-1-0
Romorantin, Loir-et-Cher, France W KO 6 0 Wiki
Service bout, date uncertain.

1918-07-08 Young Guerini 3-15-2

Armory A.A., Jersey City, New Jersey, United States W KO 1 8 Wiki
1918-01-15 Hugh Weir 2-1-1

New York City, New York, United States W KO 3 10 Wiki
Although January 15, 1918 is the date usually given for this fight, it may have occurred previously or outside New York because of the expiration of the Frawley Boxing Law.

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