Greb over Dempsey? Why not

I've always picked Greb over Dempsey in a short fight and Dempsey over Greb in a longer one. I think that it's a tall ask for Greb to hold up against Dempsey's clearly superior firepower over a long fight.

That said, I think you put up a good argument for why a Greb win shouldn't be off the cards.

 

I agree that Sharkey completely outboxed Dempsey, and even as a fan of Dempsey, i will admit that Dempsey's low blows helped him win. I just don't think the 1927 Dempsey was even half the fighter the 1919 version was.

I respect your opinion. We will agree to disagree here. IMO Greb's chin wasn't tested vs a true heavyweight hitter for me to favour him over Dempsey or even give him a shot. I think Dempsey tko's him.

 

weren't some of these exhibitons? Perhaps that explains why these were 4 rounds. Here is a report.

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Jack_Dempsey_vs._Willie_Meehan_(5th_meeting)


"Willie Meehan, local pugilist, now a seaman in the navy, outpointed Jack Dempsey, claimant to the world’s heavyweight championship, in three of the four rounds of their bout at a patriotic boxing exhibition here tonight.

Meehan nearly took the count in the second round, but rallied in the next and blanketed Dempsey with blows to the body.

The bout was witnessed by approximately 12,000 persons. It was one of a series of events given to obtain funds to purchase gymnasium equipment for naval training stations. Approximately $18,000 was raised."

I don't know if Dempsey was going all out in some of these exhibitions. The above 5th meeting between them seems to have been for the Navy.

 

It is a tricky one.

Greb undoubtedly had the tools to trouble Dempsey, and Dempsey knew it.

On the other hand, Greb never faced a finisher close to Dempsey in class.

If you need a tie breaker, then Dempsey as champion would have dictated the rules.

 

Dempsey only weighed less than188lb once in a title fight 187 ,against Willard.For his fights against Firpo,Sharkey and Tunney the lightest he weighed was 190lbs.
Gibbons was having his last fight against Tunney ,that was not a prime version of him.
Like wise against Sharkey, Dempsey has engaged in 1 fight in the previous 4 years, he no longer had the speed or stamina of his prime.
Anyone attempting to draw valid comparisons from those fights is either stupid ,dishonest,or both. All these boxer movers that," gave Dempsey fits "which ones beat him in his prime?

 

I think if there's ever a HW champ I'd favour Greb to beat, it would be Jeffries.

 

I know you're playing with Mendoza here, but I don't think Jeffries is the best choice for Greb.

 

TBH he has more chance of outpointing Jeffries than he does of surviving Dempsey, we have a yard stick in Corbett for that one!

 

Dempsey looks better on film so I have to go with him.

 

Corbett is bigger than Greb and he was a mover, not a swarmer. Not a true comparison to me.

 

Corbett was a mover but an old one, and not that much heavier than Greb,Jeffries was strong as a bull, but slower than Dempsey and without his explosiveness.If a past prime Corbett could go23 rds with him and be leading, I'd give Greb a shot at outpointing him over say 15rds but I wouldn't make him favourite to do so.

 

Do you think Toney's chin could take Peter's punches at 170 lbs? Perhaps the added weight increases durability to some degree.