Does Harry Greb have a case for being the most dominat sportsman in history?

finishing my essay then i'll be right with ya

 

My knowledge of Greb is growing but still limited so I'll say my bit then **** off out of here.

Phenomenal.

Do you think any other sportsman could maintain that level of sharpness and intensity to perform at the peak of their ability every ten days for a three year period?

 

45 fights in a year where he had two broken hands and illness, sidelining him for 2 months in total throughout the annum.

Nuff said.

 

Exactly.

So what would be required of a fighter today in order to reah the heights of Grebs achievement.
No fighter will ever fight as often at such a level again, so how do we find a balance?

 

And quite the opposite.

It's a beautiful thought.

 

it's all that, especially those intangibles that make it so unlikely. the other thing you need is the level of competition available to bring out your greatness

 

So frustrating. The greatest fighter of all time and no footage.

I'm genuinely depressed.

It's been intriguing, informative and, as always, emotional.

Night lads :good

 

hmmm, i see your point. but sustained greatness against good competition will get you into the top 5 but not the top spot. robinson's talent is what usually gets him into the top 2 but it's his consistency against, at worst, the second worst level of competition that makes the argument more compelling. i think it holds true for the guys just under the top spots: duran, pep, and (MUCH further down on most lists) jones. it's the long periods against only decent/good competition, no matter the dominance, that holds them down

 

What was Grebs overall fight record?

I always seem to find different answers when I look.

I've also read that a few people have seen Walker vs Greb fight footage, not sure how much credibility it has though.

 

Yes! It is truly difficult to comprehend his accomplishments. 45 & 0 in a 1 yr period has been the most striking to me. How can a person get hit in the ribs over & over & still go out & win over & over & willing to take on anyone. I love Fitz who someone earlier commented on, but Greb never got the chance from Dempsey to gain the HW belt. I know the lack of film is a problem, but I find it harder to justify the not #1, than the #1 PFP spot. His record is more impressive than SRR, who I hardly find undeserving of his usual top spot. I think RJJ is great as an early posted said, but he was never willing to fight Lewis for the HW belt that no doubt from anyone who examines the record would conclude that Greb would do eventhough he is smaller than Jones. BTW, I respect other sports, but WTF accomplishments in another sport can compare with 45-0 in a single year at the top level in boxing?

 

Fleaman, My father an avid fight fan, saw the immortal Harry Greb brutalize, the great 15 pound heavier Tunney ,in 1922 at MSG.Tunney bled like a pig through the 15 rd.ordeal.Greb and the growing Tunney fought 4 more times, splitting the bouts by public opinion of the time.Tunney was getting bigger and stronger, by then while Greb with over 200 bouts, and BLIND in one eye,was past his peak......Mind boggling,to even Compete with the much larger great Gene Tunney, let alone beat Tunney......Can you even imagine Ray Robinson, {who I saw in his prime] with about 200 bouts , meeting and whipping much larger great fighters as Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore,Lloyd Marshall, etc. time and again, and with one eye to boot?. Impossible to conjure.....In 1951 ,at a boxing seminar in New Hampshire, I asked Ruby Goldstein, agreat lightweight in the 1920s, a question..I asked him " who would win in a fight between Harry Greb and Ray Robinson,at their best?Goldstein, answered it would be a "man against a boy"..I asked him " who was the man"? His answer was Harry Greb.....Goldstein saw Greb and Robinson in their primes...Yes Harry Greb, his likes we will never see again.........

 

Thanks Burt, good post :good