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James Joseph "Gene" Tunney (May 25, 1897 - November 7, 1978) was the heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-28 who defeated Jack Dempsey in 1926 and 1927 in what became known as The Long Count Fight and retired undefeated after winning against Tom Heeney in 1928.
Tunney, who was a U.S. Marine, only had one loss in his entire professional career - a 15 round decision to Harry Greb for the American Light Heavyweight title, a defeat which he later avenged in four more fights against Greb. As a Heavyweight, Tunney was never defeated.
Tunney also fought Tommy Loughran, Tommy Gibbons,
Georges Carpentier and many other great boxers of the time.
Tunney also had an acting career, starring in the movie - "The Fighting Marine" - made in 1926.
He was elected as Ring Magazine's first ever Fighter of the Year in 1928. He was elected to the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1980. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He was elected to the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
On his passing in 1978, Gene Tunney was interred in the Long Ridge Union Cemetery in Stamford, Connecticut.
Gene Tunney was the father of John V. Tunney, who was a Senator and Representative from California from 1965 until 1977.
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