Gene Tunney

Gene Tunney (1897-1978), American boxer, champion in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight categories. He was born James Joseph Tunney in New York City. A member of the United States Marine Corps during World War I (1914-18), Tunney won the light heavyweight championship of the American Expeditionary Force in Paris in 1919. In 1922 he briefly held the American light heavyweight title; he regained the title in 1923 but abandoned it when he turned heavyweight. In 1926 Tunney won the world heavyweight title by defeating the American boxer Jack Dempsey. Tunney again defeated Dempsey in a controversial fight in 1927, during which Dempsey's delay in moving to a neutral corner after knocking down Tunney resulted in the famous “long count” that allowed Tunney time to recover. In 1928 Tunney retired, having gone undefeated in his heavyweight career. During World War II (1939-45), Tunney headed the U.S. Navy physical fitness program. He later served as a director of several corporations.