Dempsey vs Harry Greb

Theron · 09-30-2012, 03:27 AM

So far from what i've heard about the sparring sessions it sounds like Dempsey wouldn't have had much of a chance if they actually fought. If they did what would be the result k.o, decision ect over 15 rounds? And was there anything Dempsey could do in your opinion to help his chances? [IMG]***********.harrygreb.com/dempsey_greb.gif[/IMG] [IMG]***********.ringwise.com/images/Dempsey-Greb-Sparring-1920.jpg[/IMG]

McGrain · 09-30-2012, 05:44 AM

"Winning" a very short sparring contest is to a 15 round title fight what night is to day. That should be obvious enough.

On the other hand, you now have to prepare yourself for an avalanche of people telling you Greb had no chance to win, which is strange.

FastHands(beeb) · 09-30-2012, 05:48 AM

Isn't there a quote attributed to Greb somewhere where he admits something along the lines that he didn't think he would beat Dempsey in an actual bout? Or is that hearsay?

lufcrazy · 09-30-2012, 05:56 AM

I think Greb can certainly win on points.

The weight difference here isn't that big, Greb, from what I've read was quicker, more active and more accurate.

Without seeing any footage I can't pick a winner, but I certainly don't agree with those writing Greb off. I also don't agree with those putting much stock in the sparring session.

It's a shame, just like the Wills fight, that we hae two greats who competed in this division at the same time as Dempsey and we can't conclusively say who the best man was.

McGrain · 09-30-2012, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastHands(beeb)

Isn't there a quote attributed to Greb somewhere where he admits something along the lines that he didn't think he would beat Dempsey in an actual bout? Or is that hearsay?

Greb chased a fight with Dempsey from before the Mauler was champion, until he was way past prime. The last time a fight was seriously mooted between the two was as a warm up for Dempsey's bout with Wills

around a year before he met Wills, and at that point, Greb didn't seem particularly confident - he had also withdrawn his offer to fight the champ for free.

But in his prime he was confident. No reason not to be really, he tended to do very well against the guys Dempsey had met.

FastHands(beeb) · 09-30-2012, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGrain

Greb chased a fight with Dempsey from before the Mauler was champion, until he was way past prime. The last time a fight was seriously mooted between the two was as a warm up for Dempsey's bout with Wills

around a year before he met Wills, and at that point, Greb didn't seem particularly confident - he had also withdrawn his offer to fight the champ for free.

But in his prime he was confident. No reason not to be really, he tended to do very well against the guys Dempsey had met.

McG - thanks for responding to my post. I knew I had read something but it was a long time ago & I couldn't remember the specifics...if, as you say, Greb withdrew his offer to fight Dempsey for free, that would certainly indicate a drop in confidence.

SP_Mauler · 09-30-2012, 06:32 AM

First photo of them together is awesome aswell as scary. They're both staring at you as to say "we got a problem"

Pachilles · 09-30-2012, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastHands(beeb)

McG - thanks for responding to my post. I knew I had read something but it was a long time ago & I couldn't remember the specifics...if, as you say, Greb withdrew his offer to fight Dempsey for free, that would certainly indicate a drop in confidence.

Dropped to just the standard procedure of fighting him for money.

What shows here is Dempsey's lack of confidence, in that he wouldnt meet this brazen challenger who would fight him for free

McGrain · 09-30-2012, 07:03 AM

Wills said he wanted to fight him for free too.

brickfists · 09-30-2012, 07:10 AM

The fact that Dempsey refused to fight Greb tells me all i need to know about his confidence and chances of actually winning

burt bienstock · 09-30-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastHands(beeb)

Isn't there a quote attributed to Greb somewhere where he admits something along the lines that he didn't think he would beat Dempsey in an actual bout? Or is that hearsay?

FH, no this quote that Harry Greb uttered to a boxing writer " after 5 or so
rounds, Dempsey would kill me ",I read several times in old boxing magazines of the 1940s...
So why did Greb, believing this challenge Dempsey for a bout? He would have made more money for that one bout than a year of fighting town to town, and as the Bio of Greb's book reads ,"Harry Greb was fearless"...

FastHands(beeb) · 09-30-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pachilles

Dropped to just the standard procedure of fighting him for money.

What shows here is Dempsey's lack of confidence, in that he wouldnt meet this brazen challenger who would fight him for free

I was agreeing with McGrain.

FastHands(beeb) · 09-30-2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burt bienstock

FH, no this quote that Harry Greb uttered to a boxing writer " after 5 or so
rounds, Dempsey would kill me ",I read several times in old boxing magazines of the 1940s...
So why did Greb, believing this challenge Dempsey for a bout? He would have made more money for that one bout than a year of fighting town to town, and as the Bio of Greb's book reads ,"Harry Greb was fearless"...

BB (hope you are keeping well), what you quote is something along the lines of what I remember reading

burt bienstock · 09-30-2012, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FastHands(beeb)

BB (hope you are keeping well), what you quote is something along the lines of what I remember reading

Yes FH, read it several times I sure did...We must remember now, during Dempsey's reign there was not as much demand for Dempsey to fight
Harry Greb as there is today on ESB...Especially after Dempsey kod the
Orchard man Carpentier in 1921, who was even bigger than Harry Greb.
Would Harry Greb, my favourite fighter of alltimes have had a chance to
beat Dempsey, both at their bests ? I believe he had a very slight chance of lasting the distance against a much stronger heavyweight, faster than
many middleweights of that time...Harry Greb's main forte was SPEED and
his absolute best weight was about 158-65 at most, so Dempsey at 187 or so would outweigh Harry by about 20 pounds...Harry Greb used to say that "I love to fight the big boys, cause they get in their own way"...
Dempsey's braintrust figured that to fight a middleweight like Greb would be a no win situation. If Dempsey loses, he loses his title and fortune. If Dempsey kos Greb, people would say," why doesn't Dempsey pick on someone his own size". Truly a no-win situation...

McGrain · 09-30-2012, 12:28 PM

It must just be stressed that nobody outside of Burt, including Kompton and Bill Paxton have seen or reproduced this quote.

09-30-2012, 03:27 AM	#1
Theron Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3,308 vCash: 773	Dempsey vs Harry Greb So far from what i've heard about the sparring sessions it sounds like Dempsey wouldn't have had much of a chance if they actually fought. If they did what would be the result k.o, decision ect over 15 rounds? And was there anything Dempsey could do in your opinion to help his chances? [IMG]*********.harrygreb.com/dempsey_greb.gif[/IMG] [IMG]*********.ringwise.com/images/Dempsey-Greb-Sparring-1920.jpg[/IMG]
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09-30-2012, 05:44 AM	#2
McGrain Diamond Dog East Side VIP Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 34,759 vCash: 1000	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb "Winning" a very short sparring contest is to a 15 round title fight what night is to day. That should be obvious enough. On the other hand, you now have to prepare yourself for an avalanche of people telling you Greb had no chance to win, which is strange.
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09-30-2012, 05:48 AM	#3
FastHands(beeb) Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London, England Posts: 645 vCash: 500	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb Isn't there a quote attributed to Greb somewhere where he admits something along the lines that he didn't think he would beat Dempsey in an actual bout? Or is that hearsay?
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09-30-2012, 05:56 AM	#4
lufcrazy requiescat in pace East Side VIP Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: England, Up North Posts: 22,448 vCash: 330	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb I think Greb can certainly win on points. The weight difference here isn't that big, Greb, from what I've read was quicker, more active and more accurate. Without seeing any footage I can't pick a winner, but I certainly don't agree with those writing Greb off. I also don't agree with those putting much stock in the sparring session. It's a shame, just like the Wills fight, that we hae two greats who competed in this division at the same time as Dempsey and we can't conclusively say who the best man was.
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09-30-2012, 06:32 AM	#7
SP_Mauler Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,118 vCash: 75	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb First photo of them together is awesome aswell as scary. They're both staring at you as to say "we got a problem"
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09-30-2012, 07:03 AM	#9
McGrain Diamond Dog East Side VIP Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 34,759 vCash: 1000	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb Wills said he wanted to fight him for free too.
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09-30-2012, 07:10 AM	#10
brickfists The Nonpareil ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 4,348 vCash: 542	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb The fact that Dempsey refused to fight Greb tells me all i need to know about his confidence and chances of actually winning
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09-30-2012, 12:28 PM	#15
McGrain Diamond Dog East Side VIP Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 34,759 vCash: 1000	Re: Dempsey vs Harry Greb It must just be stressed that nobody outside of Burt, including Kompton and Bill Paxton have seen or reproduced this quote.
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