BoxRec

I was reading an article that was talking about Greb, and in it said that Greb tried like crazy to get a fight with Dempsey. I must confess I'd never heard this before, and would like to hear more on this if anybody has any information. I presume it would be around 1922 to 1923 when Greb was campaigning as a LH.

So, mostly I'm asking for any additional info:newspaper clippings you can post here, books you've read that talk about it, etc., and for the sake of keeping up a lively post, what do you think would have happened had they fought? Not necessarily who would have won and in what round, because I don't think anyone would favor Greb, but stylistically how they would match up and what a victory for either man would have meant to their legacies, because if any fighter was crazy enough to go toe-to-toe with Dempsey, its Greb.

While Greb was one of the greatest ever, I think Dempsey would have knocked him out. Greb beat a lot of great light heavyweights as well as heavyweights. In my opinion, Grebs biggest asset in those bouts was his speed and of course his toughness, but in Dempsey he would be facing a heavyweight who was about as quick as a middleweight and punching power that would, even as tough as Greb was, knock him cold.

BOxing Monthly magazine article by Geoff Poundes 1991 not sure of the month.Greb and Dempsey sparred on two occasions. Once was when Dempsey was in training for his title defense against Billy Miske.Greb embarassed Dempsey. Newspapers the next day said Greb makes Dempsey look like kitten. After that Kearns refused to let Dempsey near Greb.

Got to agree

Dempsey whilst at his best would have been to big and strong for Greb at his best.

But Dempsey like most of the early champions lost interest once he won the title...but the Gene Tunney comparison makes me think Dempsey would be too big for Greb.

expug wrote:BOxing Monthly magazine article by Geoff Poundes 1991 not sure of the month.Greb and Dempsey sparred on two occasions. Once was when Dempsey was in training for his title defense against Billy Miske.Greb embarassed Dempsey. Newspapers the next day said Greb makes Dempsey look like kitten. After that Kearns refused to let Dempsey near Greb.

I am a Greb fan. Greb was an amazing once in a life time type of talent.

Besides besting Dempsey in sparring sessions, Greb in fact had an easier time with some of Dempsey’s opponents. Cross reference the common ring opponents between the two and you will see.

Some say Wills got the shaft from Dempsey. True, so did Greb as he was clearly better than some guys Dempsey gave title shots to.

Greb was very fast. How fast? Jack Johnson was a man who had little praise of others. He said Greb is the fastest thing he's ever seen. Greb was tougher than shoe leather, with never ending stamina, and a bob and weave type of defense.

Dempsey would need to get to Greb early otherwise he would be in for a tough fight.

Greb was not a only top middle weight; he was also a top light heavyweight. Is 175 that far off from 183-190? I think not.

pound per pound wrote: I am a Greb fan. Greb was an amazing once in a life time type of talent.

Besides besting Dempsey in sparring sessions, Greb in fact had an easier time with some of Dempsey’s opponents. Cross reference the common ring opponents between the two and you will see.

Some say Wills got the shaft from Dempsey. True, so did Greb as he was clearly better than some guys Dempsey gave title shots to.

Greb was very fast. How fast? Jack Johnson was a man who had little praise of others. He said Greb is the fastest thing he's ever seen. Greb was tougher than shoe leather, with never ending stamina, and a bob and weave type of defense.

Dempsey would need to get to Greb early otherwise he would be in for a tough fight.

Greb was not a only top middle weight; he was also a top light heavyweight. Is 175 that far off from 183-190? I think not.

That's how I envision it also. When I first read of it, I thought Greb must have been nuts, that Dempsey would slaughter him. Then I thought about what Greb did at LH and that he was one crazy SOB and wouldn't go down easily. Though I do see it ending like Barry stated, I can see Greb strengthening late and possibly besting Dempsey by decision. This would have been a fight I would love to have seen made, as Greb is definetely deserving of a shot as some of those who did, and would not be a mismatch as many might think of when matching a middleweight with a heavyweight.

Outstanding Harry Greb website http://www.HarryGreb.com. Just found it. Check it out Greb fans you wont be dissapointed.

i like greb and i like dempsey, but i think dempsey pounds greb up, and KO him in the mid rounds

what poorly regarded hw gave greb trouble? greb came forward and slugged? thats news to me, he moved around, bobbed and weaved and hit from all angles. he was hard as hell to hit clean and the best evidence to me is that doc kearns himself felt that greb could beat dempsey and refused to match them. nuff said.

nuff said if you're a greb nuthugger.harry had enough trouble with men his own size.gibbons was 2-2 i think.
off topic slightly,
just as a matter of interest klompton,how was greb floored in the norfolk fight?

I don't recall Kearns ever saying that he thought Greb would beat Dempsey, unless it was after Kearns and Dempsey split, after which Kearns then said a lot of untrue crap about Dempsey out of anger, but I don't recall him ever honestly saying that Greb could beat Dempsey!

dalek wrote:nuff said if you're a greb nuthugger.harry had enough trouble with men his own size.gibbons was 2-2 i think.
off topic slightly,
just as a matter of interest klompton,how was greb floored in the norfolk fight?

I understand what your saying, but comparing Gibbons and Dempsey is way off. Gibbons was a defensive wizard, so was Tunney to a lesser degree. Dempsey was good, but nowhere near great defensively. And take into account that his fights with Tunney occurred when he had already nearly gone blind in one eye. It was hard as hell to beat Tunney anyway, Greb did it with one eye.

>>>It was hard as hell to beat Tunney anyway, Greb did it with one eye.<<<

According to most...it's not a fact though!

i'm not comparing styles.i'm saying he had enough trouble with smaller great fighters.kid norfolk is another who was a lightheavy.i see no evidence that backs up greb beating dempsey.to suggest it can only come from people who suffer from i view harry greb with rose tinted glasses syndrome.nuff said.