Jack Dempsey vs. Harry Greb -- what if

[pundit]

In the early 1920s Greb challenged Dempsey publicly for the heavyweight title, but never got a shot. They sparred a few times around 1920, and Greb appeared to get the better of Dempsey. Here is a quote from a boxing webpage:

Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey said that Greb was “The fastest fighter I ever saw. Hell. Greb is faster than (lightweight champion) Benny Leonard.” In 1920 Greb, who was in training for Billy Miske [I believe Demspey was in training for Miske, nbot Greb, P], sparred Dempsey a few rounds. The sparring sessions were so good that thousands of fans showed up just to watch. According to eyewitnesses Greb “slapped the crouching heavyweight champion around, and bounced away before Dempsey could do more than cock a punch.” Jack Kearns, Dempsey’s manager, ran Greb out of camp. There was much talk of a Dempsey-Greb match for the heavyweight championship, but it never came off. It seems Jack Kearns was unwilling to take the chance.

Now some say that Dempsey would have been to big and strong for Greb, but Dempsey weighted 185 pounds in most of his fights, and Greb fought plentiful fighters of similar or even bigger size (Renault, Weinert, Miske, Tunney) and was never troubled by their superior strenght.

Could Greb have beaten Dempsey? I believe yes.

P

[Ezzard]

over 10 I think he could, but over 15 I think Dempsey would beat him.

[Seamus]

No matter how good or fast, Greb was, against Dempsey he'd always be one punch away from being knocked out.

[pundit]

No matter how good or fast, Greb was, against Dempsey he'd always be one punch away from being knocked out.

Doesns't this apply to almost any opponent?

[BoxBuzz]

In the early 1920s Greb challenged Dempsey publicly for the heavyweight title, but never got a shot. They sparred a few times around 1920, and Greb appeared to get the better of Dempsey. Here is a quote from a boxing webpage:

Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey said that Greb was “The fastest fighter I ever saw. Hell. Greb is faster than (lightweight champion) Benny Leonard.” In 1920 Greb, who was in training for Billy Miske [I believe Demspey was in training for Miske, nbot Greb, P], sparred Dempsey a few rounds. The sparring sessions were so good that thousands of fans showed up just to watch. According to eyewitnesses Greb “slapped the crouching heavyweight champion around, and bounced away before Dempsey could do more than cock a punch.” Jack Kearns, Dempsey’s manager, ran Greb out of camp. There was much talk of a Dempsey-Greb match for the heavyweight championship, but it never came off. It seems Jack Kearns was unwilling to take the chance.

Now some say that Dempsey would have been to big and strong for Greb, but Dempsey weighted 185 pounds in most of his fights, and Greb fought plentiful fighters of similar or even bigger size (Renault, Weinert, Miske, Tunney) and was never troubled by their superior strenght.

Could Greb have beaten Dempsey? I believe yes.

P

I'd lean Dempsey and bet on him all things being even. ..And is it really fair to say that Greb was not "troubled" by Tunney's strength? I'm not trying to split hairs here but the Greb Tunney conflict was very competitive correct? From what I know...I'd at least have you consider that perhaps Tunney's name does not apply in that statement. Though I think I know what your driving at so your point is not completely lost with me.

[JC]

Also Tunney and Demspy utalised their size and strength in completely different ways.

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

Now some say that Dempsey would have been to big and strong for Greb, but Dempsey weighted 185 pounds in most of his fights, and Greb fought plentiful fighters of similar or even bigger size (Renault, Weinert, Miske, Tunney) and was never troubled by their superior strenght.

Could Greb have beaten Dempsey? I believe yes.

a peak dempsey is way too much for greb IMO. he would have overpowered the 160lb man.


dempseys a top 5 heavyweight of all time, and at his peak he was one of the most destructive, skilled, dangerous heavyweights ever.


renault, weinhert, miske? all of these guys were boxers with no firepower. none of these guys especially renaul and weinhart dont come close to matching dempsey in skill level. greb fought tunney but again tunney was not a huge puncher.


greb never fought a power punching heavyweight. greb never faced a heavyweight with the punching abiltiies and power of jack dempsey.


greb also wasnt a slick fast moving boxer like a conn. greb was a rough physical fighter who would play right into dempseys hands.




look wut happened when mickey walker fought max schmeling?


look wut happened when sam langford fought jack johnson?


look wut happened when tommy burns fought jack johnson?



these ATG heavyweights are too much for the ATG middleweights

[pundit]

dempseys a top 5 heavyweight of all time, and at his peak he was one of the most destructive, skilled, dangerous heavyweights ever.

This is - emphatically - a matter of opinion.

[granberry]

What if Jack Dempsey fought Pancho Villa?

Dempsey wouldn't have had a chance.

[GordonChen]

Jack Dempsey destroys him lmao bro is comparing a flyweight to a heavyweight and says it win against it really

[goose 5]

You honestly don't think he was being sarcastic ?

[GordonChen]

My bad btw could you delete the post so I can do it aswell

[Benny The Kid]

Now some say that Dempsey would have been to big and strong for Greb, but Dempsey weighted 185 pounds in most of his fights, and Greb fought plentiful fighters of similar or even bigger size (Renault, Weinert, Miske, Tunney) and was never troubled by their superior strenght.

Could Greb have beaten Dempsey? I believe yes.

a peak dempsey is way too much for greb IMO. he would have overpowered the 160lb man.


dempseys a top 5 heavyweight of all time, and at his peak he was one of the most destructive, skilled, dangerous heavyweights ever.


renault, weinhert, miske? all of these guys were boxers with no firepower. none of these guys especially renaul and weinhart dont come close to matching dempsey in skill level. greb fought tunney but again tunney was not a huge puncher.


greb never fought a power punching heavyweight. greb never faced a heavyweight with the punching abiltiies and power of jack dempsey.


greb also wasnt a slick fast moving boxer like a conn. greb was a rough physical fighter who would play right into dempseys hands.




look wut happened when mickey walker fought max schmeling?


look wut happened when sam langford fought jack johnson?


look wut happened when tommy burns fought jack johnson?



these ATG heavyweights are too much for the ATG middleweights

Greb was on the top of the food chain. He could win this fight no doubt about it. If Prime Tommy Gibbons could go the distance then Harry Greb could get a win.

If there's anything that my boxing simulation taught me is that it's very unlikely that Dempsey would win 5 out of 5 fights. Which one Greb wins is anyone's guess but it could be the very first encounter.
These Top shelf Lightheavy's can easily spring upsets. Look at what Tommy Loughran did.

Johnson got beat by several lightheavyweights for every example you provide there's counter example.

Johnson lost to chonyski who very much was a lightheavy he lost to Hank Griffin. Just like Choynski decade's earlier Greb could do the same. Regardless of where Dempsey's career was at

Dempsey might win the majority of the 5 fight's but he ain't sweeping Greb I know that much.

The very top Lightheavy's can spring upsets in most Era's up to the 90's maybe when Fighters grew enormous in size.

Billy Conn almost did it way past the 20's. Bob Fitz almost did it to Jeffries. Sure they both lost but what i'm saying is they wouldn't lost 5 out 5 fights. Whatever one they win could easily be fight number 1.