Boxing's Heavyweight Championship Lineage
- <
- Jack Johnson
- Jess Willard
- Jack Dempsey
- Gene Tunney
- >
Gene Tunney
1926-28
Known as "The Fighting Marine," Tunney was a thinking man's heavyweight, known for his defense and slick boxing skills. A former light heavyweight champion, Tunney won the heavyweight title by upsetting Jack Dempsey in 1926. He then won the rematch a year later in the famous "Long Count Fight," in which Tunney -- knocked down for the only time in his career -- benefitted from extra recovery time when Dempsey refused to retreat to a neutral corner.
Tunney retired as champion in 1928 at age 31, with his only loss coming against Harry Greb (in the first of their five bouts together) as a light heavyweight.
Advertisement
ESPN Video
- 00:43
High schooler with Down syndrome sinks 3-pointer
Leslie County (Ky.) High School's Ethan Wolfe, who has Down syndrome, checks into the game and knocks down a 3-pointer.
- 02:04
Hurts surprises family with donation toward a new home
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts surprises a family, whose child is battling cancer, with a $30,000 donation to go toward a new home.
- 01:25
Ron Rivera rings the bell after final day of cancer treatment
Washington coach Ron Rivera receives an ovation as he walks down the hospital hallway to ring the bell after his final day of cancer treatment.
