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If you look at longevity, Moore has the clear edge. He also has the edge in power, still holding the record for recorded knockouts at 143. However, you must also look at each fighter's losses.
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While Moore fought much longer, thus rendering most of his losses irrelevant, it's his series of losses to Ezzard Charles that I focus on here. The fact that Tunney has only one loss, to Harry Greb, is also a moot point for the same reason that Moore's losses to Charles is an issue.
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Moore lost to a slightly smaller man with power that is in the same neighborhood as that of Tunney. Tunney and Charles have their respective differences but Tunney would trouble Moore for the same reasons that Charles did.
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To make a bit more sense of this, lets look at two fighters who are more popular than any of the above, Muhammad ALI and Larry Holmes.
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I have long held the belief that while Holmes loses a close points win to ALI, he would beat anyone ALI would beat, but more decisively. It's all in the styles. Holmes is no speed demon but he's fast and accurate enough to trouble anyone except ALI in that regard. He's also no a powerhouse like Foreman or Shavers. But, unlike ALI, he hits hard enough to hurt and eventually wear down any heavyweight.
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This takes me back to Charles and Tunney and why both would beat Moore. Ezzard Charles is in the neighborhood with Sugar Ray Robinson in terms of overall greatness. It's his outside life that hindered his career. He's not a big heavyweight so he doesn't rank very high among the big boys.
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The same holds true for Tunney. While he's no powerhouse, he hits hard enough to trouble any fighter under 200 lbs. The difference is that he might be a shade below Charles in power, not by much, but he makes up for it in foot work and ring generalship.
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Moore can crack. The problem here is that Charles punched all kinds of holes in his defense. Tunney would do the same but he would move a bit more and punch just a little less. Still, it would be enough to get the job done. Moore is cagey so he would certainly hear the final bell. But Tunney would make him look just a little less "great" than he really is. He wins clearly on points.
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Tunney W15 UD.
Excellent answer from Galactus. I could not add more than the possibility, remote as it may be, that Moore could have also inserted an upset win in a three fight series with Tunney. Moore already fought in the modern era of boxing but Tunney although part of the sport's so-called classical era, was a fighter ahead of his time in mentality and approach to the fight game.
Gene Tunney.
Gene Tunney hands down. Too big for Moore
Moore
Tunney by UD
