26 Facts About Gene Tunney

James Joseph Tunney was an American professional boxer who competed from 1915 to 1928.

Gene Tunney held the world heavyweight title from 1926 to 1928, and the American light heavyweight title twice between 1922 and 1923.

Gene Tunney knocked out Georges Carpentier and defeated Jack Dempsey twice; first in 1926 and again in 1927.

Gene Tunney retired undefeated as a heavyweight after his victory over Tom Heeney in 1928, after which Tunney was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.

Gene Tunney settled in New York City, where she met John Tunney, from Cill Aodain, Kiltimagh.

At an early age, Gene Tunney was inspired by President Theodore Roosevelt to become physically fit.

Gene Tunney fought some 68 official professional fights, losing only one, to Harry Greb, while fighting as a light heavyweight.

Gene Tunney fought many other fights whose scoring was unofficial, judged by newspaper reporters.

Gene Tunney was regarded as an extremely skillful boxer who excelled in defense.

Already the US Expeditionary Forces champion, Gene Tunney spent the winter of 1921 as a lumberjack in northern Ontario for the JR Booth Company of Ottawa, without revealing he was a champion boxer.

Gene Tunney had a brief acting career, starring in the movie The Fighting Marine in 1926.

Gene Tunney was elected as Ring Magazine's first-ever 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.

Gene Tunney enlisted the Marine Corps during World War I and served as Private with 11th Marine Regiment in France and later in Germany during the occupation of the Rhineland in 1919.

Gene Tunney saw no combat and spent most of the war in the Marine boxing team, becoming US Expeditionary Forces champion.

Gene Tunney was demobilized following the war, but remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, ultimately reaching the rank of Major in the Connecticut Naval Militia.

Gene Tunney headed the Navy's physical fitness programme for the duration of the war and made an inspection trip to Hawaii and the surrounding area.

Gene Tunney was consecutively promoted to the ranks of Commander and Captain and retired shortly following the War.

Gene Tunney 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.

In 1928, Gene Tunney married a wealthy socialite Mary "Polly" Lauder.

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

Gene Tunney died on November 7,1978, at the Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut at the age of eighty-one, after suffering from a circulation ailment.

Gene Tunney was interred at Long Ridge Union Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.

Gene 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 Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb and Mickey Walker were commanding center stage.

Gene Tunney generally preferred to stay outside and nullify any attacks, while using quick counters to keep the opponent off balance.

Gene Tunney was never knocked out, while only ever being knocked down once, that in his second fight with Dempsey in the infamous Long Count.

In 1932, Gene Tunney published a book called A Man Must Fight, in which he gave comments on his career and boxing techniques.