Gibbons admitted that Dempsey almost had him out in the early rounds, so I think that even he was playing chicken with a train.
Is that the Greb v Gibbons fight after which the press said neither would make a credible opponent for Dempsey? Tommy Gibbons lost the decision after a 15 round bout last night with Harry Greb, that was expected to develop the next opponent for Jack Dempsey. His arms flying around like the spokes on a speedster, Greb tore into the St. Paul boxer from the opening gong and set such a pace that Gibbons couldn't keep up with him and could never set himself for one of the punches that were expected to drop the jumping jack in front of him or take some of the steam out of what seemed to be a perpetual motion machine. As a fight it was a disappointment. It was furiously fast and hotly contested, but the impression stood out all over that either one would be easy for Dempsey. Neither Greb nor Gibbons was punished. Both bled a little around the mouth. Beyond puffed lips neither was marked at the end of the battle. Gibbons looked as if he had left himself in the gym. He has more speed than he showed. Against the flying Pittsburgh boy he looked slow and awkward. He allowed Greb to do the leading and set the pace and he seemed unable to get started." -United Press
Or their first 1920 one when Gibbons gave Greb a hiding ,or doesn't that one count? Newspaper win for Gibbons according to the Pittsburgh Post. Greb "took the licking of his life." Gibbons won 7 rounds, Greb only two (narrowly), and the third round was even. "Gibbons astonished the fans with the speed and accuracy of his punches, and his ability to make Harry miss and look bad. Gibbons has made a believer of this writer (Florent Gibson), who did not believe him of the same caliber as Greb. Ringsiders declared..that Harry looked awfully bad and didn't fight his usual fight." Gibbons "seemed to solve Greb's attack with ease." He marked up Greb badly but didn't hurt him too much. "Gibbons was the aggressor at all stages. He had Harry backing away from the start..and this is unusual." Greb even had to hold in the last three rounds. Greb occasionally switched around and surprised Gibbons, but not much. Gibbons made Greb's right hand almost useless. Greb did win the 5th and 6th rounds but he definitely took a licking This would be the Gibbons that ko'd Kid Norfolk in 6 rounds, the guy you say Dempsey ducked? The guy Dempsey convincingly beat?
Why dont you pull all of the reports for the elimination instead of just searching for one AP report that isnt glowing of Greb? You could even find Dempey's own comments after the fight were he said Greb was one of the best he'd ever seen and more than qualified to challenge for the title. Then he went to Europe, came back, and changed his tune when matchmakers started sending him offers. However, I would note that the report you focused on stated that Gibbons would be easy for Dempsey as well and yet despite that fact Dempsey chose to defend against the loser of the elimination bout... How sad.
You crept in like Iago with what you imagined was a telling comment, I merely responded to it. I didn't search for any report, I took those straight off Box rec. Do you have a problem with their accuracy? Did Dempsey have anything to do with these fights being billed as eliminators for title shots at him? I ask because when Harry Wills was fighting black no hopers like Jack Thompson etc, the fights were always billed as For The Coloured Championship despite the opponents being abysmal and their records and current form being cr*p. I'm specifically referring to Clem Johnson 10-11-2 Buddy Jackson 1-1-0 Bill Tate 15-15-0 Andy Johnson 2-4-0 What Im getting at is promoters can call fights whatever they want ,it sells tickets , but how much credence you should give it is up to the individual. Now, do you want to make a pick or continue this off topic sparring which would be better served on the timeline thread?
i have asked this question a few times, I am pretty sure that one doesnt count Is it true that the Greb absolutely thrashed Gibbons 2-2 in their series? :think
They swapped thrashings, but it's true that Greb's thrashing of Gibbons was billed as a title eliminator for Dempsey.