Is Willie Pep 'The Greatest'?

And you can't argue it since there isn't proof of what actually unfolded. I won't go off hear say, it's a very slippery slope when applied to boxing.

 

Its arguable thes series should have been 2-2-1 as newspaper sources were split on these fights. And either way we certainly know how good Tunney was. We also know Greb kicked Dempsey's ass in sparring to the point Jack would never give him a shot for the heavyweight title but instead defended against many guys Greb had already beaten, some more than once.

 

Newspaper accounts are proof. If thats not enough how about Dempseys own words? How about all the greats we can see on film that he did beat? Add to the mix incredible durability and longevity at the top in an era very deep in talent with only one title.

 

Tunney got the best of him no matter which way you look at it. Reports say Tunney beat the hell out of him. I don't think there was a case in any of the fights where greb did the same.

Dempsey lost to many sparring partners, hell he even lost to welters.

You're placing too much into sparring. It's sparring, things happen and fighters lose to lesser fighters during training.

 

There are no reports of Greb beating the hell out of Tunney? Have you read about the first fight? Read Tunney's own words about that fight? And as far as the Dempsey sparring goes, you would need to show me a more famous account of Dempseyb being beaten up like that in sparring. But the real proof is Dempsey fighting Grebs leftovers instead of Harry himself.

 

He so lost or drew against some less than spectacular fighters, does that not mean anything?

You're basically placing faith in a fighter off of words without having any tangible evidence. I'm not saying he's not an atg, but I can't say he is either. It still amazes me how anyone can place a boxer that they've never seen fight in the top 10

 

http://www.harrygreb.com/homepagewithframeset.html

I never saw the great military generals in history either. Does that mean the werent great?

 

Exactly what do you know about those fighters or the circumstances leading up to those fights? Is it not more than possible Greb could have been hurt or sick going into many fights considering the era and how often he fought? You need to open your mind up my friend.

 

A general is more comparable to a trainer not the actual fighter. Nice try.

 

I don't know about TBE but his family has one hell of a Cafe here in Hard Hittin New Britain Willie Pep's Corner Cafe...

 

I DONT KNOW! that's my point. I've never said that I do. Who is to say that those same circumstances couldn't be applied to some of his wins as well.

Opening my eyes does nothing because i would be opening them in the dark. You're the blind follower,and I'm the blind sceptic. All the same at the end of the day.

 

Its a comparison you obviously cant refute.

 

No its not all the same at the end of the day. You have skepticism. I have proof in the form of video of ighters he beat, newspaper accounts, fighter testimony and even the fact Dempsey ducked him to ake on lesser fighters. If all that isnt proof you must believe Grebs accomplishments were being fabricated nearly a century ago so people like yourself could be skeptical today. Sorry, but you just cant believe that. The guy beat a boat load of great fighters whether you want to recognize it or not.

 

If fight footage of Greb existed many would still be unimpressed simply because he was owner of a hectic style, not all smooth moves n' lightening ala Robinson. In no way does that diminish his legacy.

Alongside Greb, Langford had a career which could legitimately rate above Robinson's.

Pep has a regular tenancy in the top ten, never #1, but if you're talking about a single victory the rematch against Saddler was golden. Consider that, not only did many view Pep as a lesser force after his plane crash, but Saddler had demolished him in 4 rounds. To climb those steps once more and flip the script as he did is the very essence of greatness.

 

And you don't think articles out there exist which say Tito beat dlh and that Bradley beat pacquiao. I have proof tha khan beat pacquiao in sparring... Does that mean pacquiao is ducking khan because he fought Algeri and rios? No obviously not.

There are always circumstances, but neither you not myself know what they were in the early 1900s. And Dempsey took on Tunney, the man with a winning record over greb,at the end of his career.