BoxRec

I would like to know had Darcy lived long enough rather than dying at age 21 would face the great middleweight champion of the era Harry Greb?

Have any ideas at all?

If they had met around 1917-18 it would have been a pretty open fight. I'd lean towards Greb because of the experience factor.
Darcy was already struggeling to make middlewight in his last fight and he would have been a full fledged light-heavy by the time Greb reached his peak at middle.

I think Darcy vs. Gene Tunney and Georges Charpentier would have been the biggest fights for Darcy in the US (or Europe), not Greb.
One can easily imagine the promotors playing "war hero vs. draft dodger" angle for the promotions.
Darcy might well have wound up at heavyweight. He already held the Australian Heavyweight title.


-KOKid-

Interesting one.

This is really dependant on when they fought. Greb challenged him in 1917 and they got in a little war of words through the press but nothing ever came of it. Greb was really starting to come into his own in 1917 but didnt peak until 1919. Ive said before and Ill say it again: Fighting at home with all of the advantages is a lot easier than fighting on the road. I dont think Darcy would have been the same fighter in the USA in 1917 that he was in Australia in 1916. Another factor is the weight. Darcy rarely had to make the real middleweight limit of 158. In Australia they set the limit at 160. When Darcy arrived in the USA he weighed something like 180+ pounds. Going up and down takes a lot out of a fighter and in my opinion it shortens their career. We are talking about an era of same day weigh ins, not 36 hours between. I think the problem for Darcy is that Greb combines so many things into one package that make him so difficult to beat. Darcy didnt look great against George KO Brown because Brown was so tough and durable, but Greb was at least as tough and durable. Darcy had problems getting rid of Jimmy Clabby because of Clabby's speed. Darcy had problems with Gus Christie because of Christie's strength (according to the Sydney Morning Herald Christie had no worse than a draw after 9 rounds). Now what happens when you combine Brown's durability, with a guy faster than Clabby, and at least as strong as Christie, who also happens to be a tireless volume puncher, with excellent defense and an incredibly awkward style/rythmn? I think Id favor Greb at any time after mid/late 1917 by a decision. Anytime prior to late 1916/early 1917 Id favor Darcy on points.

Oh, and by the way, they were attempting to match Darcy and Carpentier in 1917. That would have likely been the biggest bout in history, at least to that time. But, Carpentier refused to take a break from the service until the war was over. This contrast between Carpentier's dedication to his country and Darcy's midnight flight from Australia to avoid conscription was noted by many and really shined a light on Darcy and didnt help him any.