Is Tommy Gibbons' win over Harry Greb the greatest win in boxing history?

I'm referring to their second match in May 15, 1920. In this match, Gibbons handed Greb a whoopin that surprised the entire crowd and boxing world. Note that this was a prime Harry Greb, who's record between 1918-1922 was 105-1, and he had just come off of his incredible 1919 streak.

Gibbons decisively beat a peak Greb. Even if he lost their third match later that year, that's still an insane feat nobody else accomplished. Do you think this win is often overlooked?

 

I think its overlooked, as is Tommy's run in general from debut up until his 1st ever defeat, in the third Greb fight.

Greatest win in boxing history? Gibbons was naturally a little bigger than Greb and at 166lbs outweighed him by 1lb. Why would it be a greater win than that of the 147lbs Soilder Bartfield over a 15lbs heavier Greb from 2.5 years earlier?

Both were 10 round newspaper decisions, Gibbons maybe ever so slightly wider (7-2 with 1 even vs 5-2 with 3 even, according to reports), but Bartfield was substantially smaller.

 

Greb Tunney I was a more comprehensive beat down.

I don't think we can leave Louis-Schmeling or Douglas-Tyson out of this conversation.

 

Not. It's Jake LaMotta's win over Ray "Sugar" Robinson. I hope whoever beat the GOAT boxer first counts.

 

Not only Greb was better in 1920 than he was in 1917, but the Gibbons fight was much more decisive when reading the newspapers. While Bartfield's win is impressive, there are still quite a few reports that favoured Greb

 

the context speaks for it, but beating a guy for the second time doesn't seem to meet that very high criteria for me.

anyone know what the odds were?

 

Fair enough.

I consider a WW beating a 1917 Greb more difficult than a LHW beating a 1920 Greb.

Tommy Gibbons had a vastly greater career than Soldier Bartfield, though, and I think he's often forgotten &/or underrated, so I won't push the issue.

 

I agree, Gibbons is rarely mentioned if Greb isn't mentioned. He is, IMO, one of the most impressive past boxers on film.

 

If it is ? Then what does that say about Soldier Bartfields win over Greb ? It was Grebs only loss in over 3 years ... And Greb had 14 pounds on him .. you guys are all missing the boat

 

I'd already beaten you to it in this thread. I agree, a WW beating arguably the greatest MW & greatest p4p fighter of all time, whilst outweighed by 14.5lbs, is even greater than the brilliant LHW Tommy Gibbons beating the same guy 3-years later.

 

Tommy Gibbons was no better than Clinton Woods in terms of box talent

 

Gibbons had a more consistent career, thats true, but I dont think he ever reached the heights Bartfield did. Consider this. Bartfield beat Greb, Jack Britton, Mike Gibbons, Ted Kid Lewis among several other title claimants and top contenders. He beat Greb and Gibbons, two of the greatest fighters in history in their primes. I dont think he won a series against any of the big names he beat but he has better scalps on his record than Tommy in my opinion. I would probably consider Bartfield's win over Greb, who was probably just entering his prime equal to Gibbons win over Greb in 1920.

 

FOTC or Rumble in the Jungle for me.

 

Yes, whilst Soldier Bartfield lost far too often for me to consider him as great as Tommy Gibbons, his best few wins arguably surpass those of Tommy, or indeed of most fighters in history.

Yeah, from a P4P perspective, I consider Bartfield's win over Greb at least equal to either of Tommy's wins over the same.