I've read that he looks similar to Ken Overlin stylistically. From the very brief highlight I've seen, it's not an easy style to deal with.
Obviously we can only go on the hundreds of written accounts ... I see him almost Calzeghe like ... hundreds of punches from all angles with lightning speed and exceptional conditioning ... throw in an iron cin and you have it ... Look at Cal vs Kessler, times it by ten and you have Greb.
I always picture it Calzaghe on the outside and Hopkins on the inside. How accurate that is I'll probably never know.
Imagine Greb doing a damned fine impression of both Micky Ward and Emmanuel (Augustus) Burton at the same time in their best exchanges, and you have something like it. The Human Windmill
Tommy Loughran said Greb had freakish ability on the lines of endurance ,he started fast and accelerated as the fight went on. Loughran, and Tunney said, to have any chance with him you had to start as quick as him and throw straight ,short punches inside ,to his abdomen and chest area. I don't doubt he had power, but, because he was ever on the move ,never setting himself to punch ,his ko ratio ,isnt impressive. And, he was the Pittsburgh Windmill, not as some say the Human Windmill. He is rated where he is ,despite lack of footage ,because of the breadth and depth of the record he left for us to marvel at. Arguably, the greatest p4p of all time.And ,if he is not in your top 4 or 5 ,maybe you should relocate to the General Forum? Only kidding, well, actually ,no, I'm not.:good
I think Greb's style pretty unique. I dont really see the similarities with Calzaghe at all. If I have time I might get round to uploading Greb-Tunney 1 sometime this week, because claerly most people here have never seen it.
BIG DEE HERE= First of all his name was and is Edward Henry Greb not Harold Greb. Two, Harry Greb died of cardiac arrest after surgery on his nose and nasal passages not eye surgery. I have no problem with his style as I knew somebody who saw him fight and he was a fighter himself. Another man I met who saw him fight was Jimmy McLarnin who told me that he had several styles he fought with depending who he was fighting. If it was a big heavyweight he would box and attack quickly then move before he could recieve anything in return. McLarnin told me in the late 70s that Greb was a masterfull boxer when he wanted to but he liked to brawl and that worked for him because of his natural gifts. McLarnin said Greb was the fastest fighter he ever saw of any weight class above featherweight. Mickey Walker said Greb could punch as hard as any middleweight he ever fought but never stayed in one place long enough to set his feet for leverage. Walker said in their fight he almost took him out with one punch in the 14th rd but Greb hammered him in the corner and wouldn`t let him fall to the canvas After Jack Johnson came out of prison he sparred with Greb in Chicago. They sparred 3 rds after it was done Johnson offered to manage him but Greb turned him down. For the rest of Jack Johnson`s life he said Harry Greb was the fastest fighter he was ever in the ring with and that he didn`t land more that a few punches on him in those 3 rds they sparred together. McLarnin called him a swarmer-boxer and when you did hit him you didn`t hurt him. He said Greb had a great chin and the greatest endurance- stamina of any fighter he ever saw including Rocky Marciano. HARRY GREB WAS THE GREATEST MIDDLWEIGHT AND P4P FIGHTER WHO EVER LIVED IN MY OPINION. AFTER 47 YEARS OF STUDYING BOXING HISTORY I HAVEN`T CHANGED MY MIND ON THIS ONE BIT. HARRY GREB IS GOING ON MY TOMBSTONE AS THE GREATEST MIDDLEWEIGHT OF ALL TIME
Dee, The cause of death is open for debate........... Greb was in-shape and physically healthy at age 31 when he croaked, despite his bad retina problems from too many ring wars.............. Yet, back in '26 it is known now that Greb was goin' blind, and the ring wars had caught up to him...... He did kick-off on a doctor's table while undergoing surgery for his ****ed up eyes........ Ether probably played a factor, as well......... Of course his heart stopped upon death; no doubt....... But his operation was for a combo of eye and nasal injuries in 1926......... Greb had some problems from the ring and a car accident......... Still, all in all, operations were tricky and serious as hell in 1926......... They still are today.... but with advanced medicine and better knowledge, **** like what happened to Greb is more so remote in 2009............... Cheers......... MR.BILL:bbb
Greb didnt die of Cardiac Arrest. And its not up to debate what he died of. I have his death certificate. It states clearly what he died of. You can read about it in my book when it comes out.