Larry Holmes v Gene Tunney who wins?

Question

both in their prime. 15 rounds.

Answer 1

Both are great boxers but Larry has an advantage in reach. Larry by unanimous decision.

Answer 2

tunney might be too fast for holmes....holmes reach might be a problem for tunney!!!

i'm gonna go with tunney here to outpoint holmes here by decision, but larry is always dangerous.

Answer 3

Gene's a smart guy.  That's why he would never fight Holmes.  But let's just suppose he did fight Larry.  People amaze me with their mythical assessment of Dempsey and Tunney.  Both of them score low on my list for one simple reason.   Neither of them fought the best avaliable competition.  

People complain about Rocky Marciano's quality of opposition.   At least Rocky fought the best AVALIABLE competition.  Neither Gene nor Jack did.  

Tunney would run circles around Larry for the first three rounds.  People credit Tunney so much for his footwork.  He was one of the best in that respect.  Larry was no turtle himself.  Holmes could do it all.  He could FIGHT the BOXERS and BOX the FIGHTERS.  People speak as if the few runners of the division's history can not possibly be hit.  Even Ali, the best of the runners, could still be hit.  The difference is, unlike many runners, he could also FIGHT.

Gene wins the first three rounds until Larry is warned for shoving Gene to the ropes and landing a few stiff rights, one which nearly puts Tunney on the canvas.  Tunney fights his way out and runs some more.  The big difference between Old Dempsey and Prime Holmes is that all that running won't mean anything once Larry catches Gene..........and he will.

By the middle rounds Tunney is running a bit less because the score is now even.   He did a lot of running earlier but realized that Holmes would not allow him to score whenever he slowed down enough to throw punches.  Unlike Dempsey, Holmes was able to fire back.  

The jab neutralizes Tunney's attempt to dart in and out when he stops to punch.  Now Larry has taken option number one away from him.  Remember when Larry was behind on points to his carbon copy Carl Williams?  "How would I beat my younger self?"  He broke Carl down with body shots, something people Larry couldn't do.   Tunney would feel some of this too.

By round 9 Tunney is now behind on points.  Hard to believe?  ALL runners have to stop to punch.  NOT all of them can do much if the opponent has the tools to neutrialize the offense.  Larry HAS the tools.  Tunney's offense would be rendered near useless.  

A right to the chin puts Tunney on the mat in round 11.  He rise and jumps back on the bicycle.  This time it's more survival than stratagy.  Holmes corners Tunney who bravely fights back.  A right to the side of the head puts Tunney on the ropes.  Another right puts him in deep trouble.  Larry is now landing right hands as Tunney attempts to escape.  

The referee steps in just before the end of the round.

Holmes by TKO in 11

Answer 4

Larry Holmes

Answer 5

Larry

Answer 6

Holmes definetly has the size advantage and of course that great jab.  Tunney also had great boxing skills and would not be an easy fight for Holmes.  Tunney may have had some of the best footwork other than Ali ever seen in a boxing ring for a heavyweight and underrated in my opinion.  This would be a very close and exciting fight.  I have Tunney edging out a split decision here.

Answer 7

If Holmes had an exploitable weakness, it was against smaller, faster boxers.  If Michael Spinks could out slick Larry, Tunney would as well.  The Holmes that Spinks beat was a step slower than Larry Holmes at the top of his game, but Tunney was far superior to Spinks by any comparison.  

Thumbs up to maurice, I too think Tunney would edge Holmes in a close disputed decision.

Answer 8

galacticus has it right in this one it would be an easy victory for holmes.