TUNNEY, GENE

(James Joseph Tunney), 1898–1978, American boxer, b. New York City. He began boxing in neighborhood clubs. In World War I, he served in the U.S. marines and in Paris won (1919) the light-heavyweight championship of the American Expeditionary Forces. In 1922 he defeated Battling Levinsky for the American light-heavyweight title, but lost it the same year to Harry Greb—the only fighter to defeat Tunney in the professional ring. Tunney regained this title in 1923. In 1926, Tunney defeated Jack Dempsey in a 10-round decision in Philadelphia and became the world heavyweight champion. In Chicago a year later, Tunney repeated this performance in a return bout with Dempsey; the decision was the subject of much controversy because of the famous "long count" after Tunney was knocked down in the seventh round. Tunney—well proportioned, handsome, and intellectually inclined—retired from the ring as heavyweight champion in 1928. In World War II he served (1940–45) in the U.S. navy, directing the program to keep navy personnel physically fit. After the war he successfully engaged in business. He wrote A Man Must Fight (1932) and Arms for Living (1942).

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright© 2004, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V. All rights reserved.

-48403-