Gene Tunney vs Ezzard Charles
Our Light Heavyweight final actually features two former Heavyweight champions in Gene Tunney and Ezzard Charles. Both were at their best at the Light Heavyweight level and both are considered to be near the top of a short list of the greatest Light Heavyweights ever.
The first round was even and surprisingly fast paced given the styles of the two fighters. Tunney stunned Charles with a hard right to the top of the head early in the round. Charles rallied late in the round landing a hard left hook which shook Tunney. Tunney dominated the second round with effective movement and sharp combination punching. Tunney continued his momentum in the 3rd and 4th controlling the action with pinpoint, accurate punching. He increasingly targeted the left eye of Charles which was now swollen.
The 5th round and 6th featured little meaningful action as the fighters engaged in a chess match at long range. Charles landed a hard right in the 7th which appeared to hurt Tunney, changing the flow of the fight. Charles dominated the 8th and 9th rounds as Tunney was now on the defensive, throwing very few punches. The Cincinnati Cobra had worked his way back into the fight. Charles continued to have the advantage in the 10th round landing sharp combinations that kept the “Fighting Marine” off balance.
Tunney turned the tide in the 11th finding Charles with the right hand with greater frequency. By the end of the 12th Charles’ vision was seriously compromised as a result of Tunney’s sharp punching. Ezzard seemed to tiring and Tunney rocked him Charles a nice left hook right cross combination in the 13th.
Both men appeared to be breathing heavily in a slow paced round 14. Charles landed a crisp combination towards the end to steal the round. The two men mostly clutched and grabbed during a dull 15th round with neither seeming to have the energy to mount a rally. The bell rang and the fight would go to the scorecards.
Judge Jerry Roth scores: 144-141 Gene Tunney
Judge Chuck Minker scores: 143-142 Ezzard Charles
Judge Tony Castellano scores: 144-143………………..Gene Tunney
Gene Tunney wins the tournament!
TUNNEY WINS SD 15!
Our Light Heavyweight final actually features two former Heavyweight champions in Gene Tunney and Ezzard Charles. Both were at their best at the Light Heavyweight level and both are considered to be near the top of a short list of the greatest Light Heavyweights ever.
The first round was even and surprisingly fast paced given the styles of the two fighters. Tunney stunned Charles with a hard right to the top of the head early in the round. Charles rallied late in the round landing a hard left hook which shook Tunney. Tunney dominated the second round with effective movement and sharp combination punching. Tunney continued his momentum in the 3rd and 4th controlling the action with pinpoint, accurate punching. He increasingly targeted the left eye of Charles which was now swollen.
The 5th round and 6th featured little meaningful action as the fighters engaged in a chess match at long range. Charles landed a hard right in the 7th which appeared to hurt Tunney, changing the flow of the fight. Charles dominated the 8th and 9th rounds as Tunney was now on the defensive, throwing very few punches. The Cincinnati Cobra had worked his way back into the fight. Charles continued to have the advantage in the 10th round landing sharp combinations that kept the “Fighting Marine” off balance.
Tunney turned the tide in the 11th finding Charles with the right hand with greater frequency. By the end of the 12th Charles’ vision was seriously compromised as a result of Tunney’s sharp punching. Ezzard seemed to tiring and Tunney rocked him Charles a nice left hook right cross combination in the 13th.
Both men appeared to be breathing heavily in a slow paced round 14. Charles landed a crisp combination towards the end to steal the round. The two men mostly clutched and grabbed during a dull 15th round with neither seeming to have the energy to mount a rally. The bell rang and the fight would go to the scorecards.
Judge Jerry Roth scores: 144-141 Gene Tunney
Judge Chuck Minker scores: 143-142 Ezzard Charles
Judge Tony Castellano scores: 144-143………………..Gene Tunney
Gene Tunney wins the tournament!
TUNNEY WINS SD 15!