Charley's not beating Harry by pitching singular shots and somehow putting Greb into a defensive shell. As talented as Burley was, he never possessed the experience Harry had already accrued entering 1919. This one's going the distance. Greb's rightful record against Tunney (when already past peak) may well have been 3-2. Charley himself was 0-2 against a young Charles. I think the gulf in work rate would have been too much for the sometimes reactive Burley to overcome.
Persuasive and seems to be backed up with the little bit of Burley footage we have. Another in a great string of match-ups lately on the board.
A fight between Burley and Overlin might have given a bit of a glimpse of how this would look...I think both have the style to frustrate the other. Greb's speed, workrate, and strength against Burley's timing, power, and stance. Myopic logic says that Greb's workrate carries the day...but if you look at Burley's own speed,footwork, jab, and how he can get extremely hard shots off at strange angles, you would have to approach a fighter like that with care...even if you're name is Harry Greb...I think both guys pretty much check each other...Very hard to tab a winner.
A little insight about this fantasy fight...Ken Overlin, one of our best "underated" middleweights who while in the twilight of his career, beat the rising MW Ezzard Charles in 1942 and then drew with Ezzard, had this to say about Harry Greb...Overlin, who was called the "poor man's Harry Greb", said : " I am convinced that Harry Greb would lick me and my top contender, one after the other, with no rest between ". Heady words by the "poor man's Harry Greb "...Overlin who was aware of Charles beating Charley Burley twice in 1942, saw all of these great fighters, and knew of the greatness of Harry Greb...As for a bout between Greb and Burley, I pick Greb because of his amazing amount of punches he landed in a 15 round bout when in his prime, and remember folks, Greb had an iron chin that took blasts from heavyweights during his long career...How do you beat a MW, you can't outwork, and you can't ko ? Answer, you can't ! ...
:goodfor someone of burley's style to beat greb he would have to be ridiculously strong and able to clinch and stiffle greb's attack. he would need to force greb into his fight, slowing the pace to a tactical war. he would need to make the fight about feints and counters, fought at middle distance and inside ONLY when it suited him. the entire texture of the fight would have to be dictated TO greb. i don't see any fighter in history capable of that at 160. not burley and maybe not even langford
Bumping this very old thread to get a few more opinions on a matchup I was thinking about today: The two best fighters in the history of Pittsburgh, both ATG middleweights with contrasting styles, battling for the soul of the city. @Seamus and @mcvey - you’re both exempted… unless your opinions on this matchup have changed since 2012? Any other takers?
