For some reason, Boxrec isn't correctly displaying the records of some fighters. When you search Harry Greb, you can see his record listed as 262-17-18, but when you actually click on his page his record is listed as 107-8-3. Same for Benny Leonard, his search page record is 186-22-9 but the actual page reads 90-6-1. Anyone know why? Is it just me?
Correct. One is his official record. The others are fights that officially went down as no-decisions, where both guys agreed beforehand if no one scored a knockout that an official winner wouldn't be declared. They should just be listed as no-decisions, since that's how they appeared in all official record books before websites like Boxrec existed. It's misleading putting "W" next to a newspaper decision. Just because people at the time were wagering doesn't change the fact that you couldn't win if you didn't stop the guy. A sports team today can lose by 5, when they were supposed to lose by 10, and you win your bet, but that doesn't mean THEY WON the game according to the rules of the actual game.
I am guessing that ChrisJS is correct about the no-decisions. We need to remember that BoxRec is a collective labor of love by a large number of dedicated volunteers, none of whom are perfect. Like the members of this forum, they love boxing and choose to participate in preserving its history as editors for many of the same reasons as we participate in this forum. If you find errors, you can become part of the solution by becoming an editor and entering in your corrections with an explanation of your research. I have been an editor in the past, but it takes time and resolve which I no longer have.
Agree 100%! If both boxers entered the ring under the assumption, that (barring a knockout) neither would be credited with a W or an L, that would forever be attached to their fight... it's not difficult to imagine, that they wouldn't always be giving their all. They had no way of knowing, that many decades later historians would study reports on these fights - and based on their findings name a winner, in fights that weren't supposed to have a winner or loser when they actually took place. Somehow I don't think, that's right!