Gene Tunney was an Undefeated World Heavyweight Champion Both of Gene Tunney's parents came from Kiltimagh.

He was born in 1897 in New York City.

Gene's boxing career began in New York's West Side but took off while serving in the US Marine Corps during the first World War.

• He won the Light Heavyweight Championship of the American Expeditionary Forces in Paris, 1919

• In 1922 he won the US Lightweight title but, having lost it to Harry Greb, the only boxer to defeat him, regained it from Greb in 1923

• He defeated Jack Dempsey in 1926 in 10 rounds in Philadelphia and became World Champion

• World Champion again in Chicago in 1927

• He retired in 1928 after successfully defending his title against New Zealand's Tom Heeney.

Gene Tunney remains the only undefeated Heavyweight Champion in history.

Tunney raised the status of boxing and afterwards became a successful business executive and freelance writer. His article on boxing 'A Man must Fight' 1922, is a classic of its genre.

Tunney is survived by his wife Polly Lauder Tunney (died in 2008) and four sons.