Greb and the Heavyweights- Tommy Gibbons

I wasn't trying to re-write history, just pointing out minor historical detail, since we started discussing what was considered low blow by the time of Dempsey-Sharkey bout.

 

A shame because I hear all the time that Greb fought everybody but he didn't... he never fought Carpentier and I have no idea what the reasons were except that maybe the war took a lot out of the French champion... to me he was a great fighter but he also was not active for a few year while Greb notches up like 100 fights...... I can't make excuses because I don't know any of the reasons... but that left jab alone could have caused Greb problems... I don't know if Greb faced a better jab or a fighter that closely resembles Carpentier as the Frenchman was very unique like Greb was... be interesting to see what would have happened if they fought a trilogy... Georges Carpentier was a great fighter... an amazing talent

 

The point is Dempseys job was not to try to make any fight happen. His job was as champion fight the fights his manager worked out with promoters. That's it! The fact that Dempsey ABANDONDED historical norms and AS WORLDS HWT BOXING CHAMPION went out in an effort HIMSELF to make the bout occur SHOULD BE APPLUDED. IT WAS UNPRECEDENTED ACTIONS BY A CURRENT WORLDS HWT BOXING CHAMPION.

 

He could have fought Wills. He chose not too.

If Canelo refuses to face Golovkin should we allow him to hide behind Oscar and absolve him of blame?

 

One other tidbit is there was no "bell" for the Dempsey Willard fight. From what I have read the bell that was to be used was broken and instead a "whistle" was used to signify the beginning and end of rounds. This was one of the reasons, plus the crowds screams, that few heard the whistle signifying the first rounds end.

 

Silly. Fighters especially in those days did not choose who they fought. Went against all historical precedent. Fighters fought. Managers and promoters made the fights. Period.

 

Fighters fight today and managers and promoters make the fights.

Does that mean we can give Canelo a pass if he does not face Golovkin?

 

There was no precedent for a worlds hwt champion doing what Dempsey did to try to make a fight occur. Again he should be applauded. Instead people like you that do not have a real grasp of the Ali era try to convince others they know about events 80-100 years ago. Learn known history don't do your best to revise and distort it.

 

If Dempsey would have pushed for the fight, the fight would have happened.

His reluctance to pursue a fight with Wills is something he's rightly criticised for. He failed to face his outstanding contender.

His reluctance to face Greb isn't that bad at first glance, but then when you realise that Dempsey faced those who Greb beaten it makes you question his stance.

He made his money, he died a happy man. None of our musing have any real world impact. But for people who love to research the history of this sport, these are valid criticisms.

Rocky gets lauded for facing all of his challengers, as does Louis. Should we remove that praise and instead thank the promoters?

 

Completely false. DEMPSEY AS WORLDS HWT CHAMPION TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO MAKE THE BOUT OCCUR. UNPRESIDENTED behavior for a sitting worlds hwt champion to act as manager and promoter but this is what he did in an effort to make the bout happen. The power that be, the very racist American society blocked every attempt to make the bout happen. This is well known historical fact from that time period. Why try to change known and very understood history???? Where are you coming from to want so badly to change events that happened 90 years ago?