Stanley Ketchel vs Harry Greb

Greb has the better record. Impossible to say with certainty who would win, least of all without footage, but given that Ketchel liked to load up his shots and Greb liked to avoid them, I would hazard a guess he'd take Stanley to school.

 

I don’t really think that was the case.
By all accounts he was a nightmare to tag, opponents simply found it hard to get set.

 

Greb did not eat punches. He was considered one of the hardest guys to hit of his era.

 

Since there is no good film footage of either man in action you must rely on experts who did watch them both live and in person. That being the case my choice is Ketchel.

 

Greb is just way too proven, I can't see someone relying so much on raw agression and punching power beating Harry. Greb by clear decision.

 

Ketchell had more than that. He wasn't exactly a technician, but he was tricky.

Still I'm a long way from favouring him. He'd be giving up a bit of size, and Greb has the better record. Style wise, maybe an edge to Ketchel due to having the better power but I don't think it'd be enough.

If they fought a series I think Ketchel could pick up a win against him, especially in a longer fight.

 

I can only see Bob Fitzsimmons going undefeated in a series against Greb, and even then only in a trilogy

 

I dont know if Greb does necessarilly have the better record. They had different types of records. Greb mostly took fighters the distance, winning on newspaper decisions. Ketchell didnt have the same longevity but he rarely needed a newspaper to make the call.

Given that Ketchell was the more exciting fighter (in the sense that he created more KOs which in turn created a bigger buzz and myth of invincibility) you would expect that the newspapers would be more likely to give the nod to Ketchell in a close fight, or at least you would think there would be a slight bias. That is usually how it works.

I think it is possible but unlikely that Ketchell knocks out Greb, so it will come down to the decision. I personally favour Greb with most likely split decisions in a series, probably 2-2 like with the Gibbons Greb Series. Interestingly, if a poll was taken of those who saw both fight live, i am fairly certain that Ketchell would start favourite.

 

I am huge Greb and Ketchell fan, that would be the fight of the century. I think Greb would probably decision Stanley.

 

I wouldnt bet against Greb, certainly not in this fight. What Ketchel did, cleaning up the MW division like he did, was impressive. It was a mess when he came in. However, it also wasnt very strong. The best guy during Ketchel's short prime was Papke. He fought Paper winning three times, once by KO, and losing by KO once. Once of those decisions, their fourth, could have easily gone to Papke and was controversial. The next two best MWs active during Ketchel's short time at the top were Klaus (who was just entering the top of the division) and Langford. Both guys beat Ketchel. I dont rate Papke or Klaus in Greb's class. Beyond those three names on Ketchel's resume his body of work dramatically drops off in terms of quality (barring Jack Johnson who shouldnt count against Ketchel's body of work at MW). People have always wondered what would have been had Ketchel lived. Above and beyond the fact that Ketchel was a physical wreck when he died as a result of the beating he suffered at the hands of Johnson and his wild living which reputedly included an addiction to opium, there was the fact that the division was about to explode with talent. You had guys like Gibbons, Clabby, McGoorty, Klaus, Dillon, Houck, and Jeff Smith were within a year or two of entering their primes and all would have been better than anyone Ketchel defeated at MW. Had he not been killed and had he not been a physical wreck who was planning to retire quietly I dont think his reign lasts much longer. I think the increase in the level of talent would have had a big impact on his legacy.

 

Of course, he was too good to be only agressive puncher. It was simplification, I just don't think that Ketchel could KO Greb and I see him struggling with Harry's quickness.

 

I think you're selling Ketchell short.

I don't think it's fair to count the Langford fight against Ketchell. Ketchell was giving up weight, past his prime and against a P4P all time great, still he helf his own, causing Langford problems, who at best edged it, and it was considered that a longer fight would be needed.

I don't think his Klaus fight means much, other than Ketchell was past it and out of shape

Plus Ketchell had other very good wins, like O'Brien, Sullivan and Hugo Kelly

 

I think this fight would make Hagler Hearns look like a folk dance