Whitey Wenzel - the poor guy who had to fight Harry Greb 10 times. Greb's prototype?

No, not edible, Greg. But I hear it smokes pretty well. :smoke :nut

I've seen this stuff. The desert between L.A. and Vegas is "loaded" with it.

 

Ok thanks for that.

 

Man I gotta search this **** up myself.................I mean WTF???!!?!? I'ma take a look at your link, NO I will go to the home of all well-researched truths.........................................................




wikipedia

 

your just getting old :good

 

wow, nice read, cheers

 

1914 was the year that Greb began fighting Whitey Wenzel twice in the month of January. Wenzel was a Pittsburgh lad who would end up fighting Greb 10 times in all.

This is the most any fighter would ever fight Greb. There fights became local favorites that everyone wanted to see. When those two clased, fight fans knew they were going to see a good tough battle.

Wenzel wasn't to become a famous boxer, but during the first few years of Greb's pro career he provided the tough ''schooling'' Greb needed in the prizering.

Otto ''Whitey'' Wenzel was a Middleweight who originally fought out of the northside of Pittsburgh. Wenzel had been fighting Professionally for four years, learning alot in the ring and accumulating a big local following, before he fought Greb in the first of there 10 fights.

Newspapers would write about his upcoming fights, have interviews with him and publish pictures of him all the time.

He was one of the local boys a fighter would have to go through if he were to move up the ranks so to speak. Wenzel would battle many of Greb's opponents including George Lewis, ''Irish'' Gorgas, Al Grayber, George Lewis, John Floey, ''Battling'' Sherbine, Fay Keiser, Al Rogers, Jerry Cole, Kid Manuel, Buck Crouse, and many others.

Some of the fights Wenzel would win, some he would lose, and some would end up draws. But all were exciting due to the fact that he always gave his best.

The fans and crowds loved him due to him being a game scrapper. There was never a easy fight with him, because he always went into the ring to win and do whatever it took and always gave his best.

The first two times they fought Wenzel was a little taller and heavier than Greb, both took place at the Old City Hall and both were scheduled six rounds contests. The fights were rough, relentless and bloody affairs. Each fighter would alternate winning a round or two. In the early rounds, both men threw alot of punchers back and fourth, and Greb would come out ahead, but not by much. However it started to get nasty and ugly.

In there second bout, Greb split Wenzel's lip and then puffed his cheek in the early going. Wenzel came back and punched Greb so hard his face started to bleed. This really upset Greb. So he started fighting wildly until the round ended. The middle rounds were full of tough hard fighting with Weznel getting a little tired and slowing down a touch.

Greb picked it up in the later rounds and won a close newspaper decision. They would fight two more times in 1914 and both fights ended in draws, according to the newspapers. Once again the fights were close and tough, but once again Greb finished stronger, winning the last round, with Wenzel a little leg-weary.

The fights had a box office draw total of around $600 a fight, with general admission costing fifty cents, one dollar for closer seats.

The crowds were both followers of Greb and Wenzel. The following year Greb and Wenzel would fight in March, April, and May. Greb would win two out of the three bouts. The crowds would get bigger, as word spread what great fights these were.

Greb would start a round against Wenzel with a right hand or a uppercut and would be able to land without to much trouble. Wenzel would always try to throw lots of uppercuts hoping one would find it's target.

This was around the time Greb started to figure out his style and beating him without much trouble and at his own game.

1916 they would two more bouts. By this time do Greb had become a much better fighter. Greb won there May 6th fight with ease. He dazzaled Winzel with fast and clever footwork.

Greb done the same when they met in 1917........

Wenzel hadn't fought may 10 rounders in his career. It would all end up to much for Wezel to handle. In the last round he won just rounds 1 and 3. This fight and the series would take alot out of Wezel, who stopped boxing for a year afterward taking up management instead.

Greb was just to good of a fighter for Wezel at this point and completey dominated there final bout with lots of energy to spare.

Wenzel would eventually return, he would go on to fight George Chip and Gene Tunney.

 

Tunney would stop Wenzel in 4.......

 

This moron is either Bill Paxton, author of the mistake ridden bio on Harry or someone who can do no better than copy the mistakes from Paxton's website.

Hey Bill, when was Wenzel's last fight with Greb? You laud your knowledge of Greb and say he last fought Wenzel in June of 1916 but I could swear they fought a year and half later in 1917.

 

Are you talking to me or the thread starter? Anyway if you are talking to me....

First off......Am not Bill Paxton.

Second off. I don't own his book on Harry Greb.

Thrid off........I have actually read some iffy reports on the book.