TUNNEY WINS: THE AFTERMATH

LITTLE did anyone realise at the time, but Dempsey-tunney II was practically the last hurrah for both.

Save for exhibitions and a crazy mixed match against a wrestler, Dempsey never boxed again. Tunney defended his title one more time, then retired as well.

Despite the brilliance of Tunney’s career in which he was defeated just once (by Harry Greb, whom he fought five times), his legacy, even more so than Dempsey’s, is associated with the long count. It was the biggest moment of his career, in terms of the attention it generated. Whereas Dempsey consistently captured the public’s imagination over a long period of time: The thrashing of Jess Willard; the first million-dollar gate against Georges Carpenter; the fiasco that left Shelby, Montana broke when he defended the title against Tommy Gibbons; the thriller with Luis Firpo; knocking Jack Sharkey cold. The long count was merely an extension to the Dempsey legend.

Even after he retired, the public never completely warmed to Tunney. He was admired, but the long count is what he was remembered for above all else. In many ways, it overshadowed his great career accomplishments.

However, Tunney did not seem to care. Although Gene would attend fight shows from time to time he was not emotionally invested in the sport. That might explain in part why he retired in his prime.

It took the loss of his title to Tunney in Philadelphia, the scene of their first fight, to finally endear Dempsey to the public. When his wife at the time, the actress Estelle Taylor, asked Dempsey what happened, the former champion replied, “Honey, I forgot to duck.” The public ate it up. Practically overnight Dempsey went from villain to hero, becoming the sentimental favorite in their rematch.

The perception has always been that Tunney emerged as the beneficiary of the long count, Dempsey as its victim. Perhaps, but what it actually did for Tunney’s reputation is arguable.

Even so, 92 years on, that count is still being debated and the sport’s history is all the richer for it.