Harry Greb vs Jack Dempsey

"Harry Greb, the Pittsburgh lightheavyweight, gave a spectacular demonstration in his three rounds boxing with the champion. Dempsey had intended boxing only two rounds with Greb, but the Pittsburgher showed him so many gloves that he asked for another.

Greb, although 25 pounds lighter than Dempsey, went along in fine shape and repeatedly made Dempsey miss with his famous left hooks and countered wiht swings to the body and head. Greb boxed in a whirlwind style and Dempsey could do little with him."

There it is.

 

Training is just that training. Sparring is not a real fight.

Greb was 5'8 165 pounds.

Dempsey 6'1 190 pounds plus he threw atom bombs as punches. We are talking Dempsey on his best night and at his best he kos any middleweight and quickly. First solid punch to the body or head ends the fight. Dempsey ko 3. If a hwt states (hwt champion mind you) he could not believe how hard Dempsey could hit what's a middleweight going to think?

 

Sparring in a gym means nothing at all. How many times at Stillman's gym had I seen journeymen fighters kick the hell out of main event fighters for a couple of rounds.? But put them together in a meaningful main event and the main event fighter crushes his sparring partner...

 

S, thanks for this, I love to read the words of people who actually saw these two greats in action. I have been collecting articles on the Greb - Dempsey saga in chronological order I have posted a few already, if you have more please post, thanks again.

 

HARRY GREB MAKING BID FOR SHORT DEMPSEY BOUT
The Washington times., April 22, 1922
Harry Greb, the Pittsburgh mauler, fairly despises himself, as far as confidence is concerned. Harry thinks so lightly of his ability that he is positive he can outpoint any fighter in the world. In his list Harry doesn't except Jack Dempsey, the daddy of 'em all. Greb figures on taking the world champion into camp in a short-round battle. In all probability Greb and Dempsey will clash in an eight-round bout at Philadelphia on July 4. This match was broached after the masterly manner in which Greb took the highly-praised Tom Gibbons into camp. Before that the experts looked askance at a bout between
Harry and Jawn. After the Gibbons surprise they shifted and remarked that in a short gallop the champion would have his hands full trying to stop the persistent and annoying fighter from Pittsburgh. The conquest of Gibbons convlnced Greb that he should seek higher honors, and that's the reason the Dempsey match is on the fire. Just at present Greb Is uplifting the drammer at Hurtig and Seamon's In Harlem. He does a little of this and a little of that, and all In all makes a hit. This "doing
his stuff" gives him a nice rest and also brings In many dollars.
Greb is always In good shape and looked to be ready to enter the ring at a moment's notice as he went through his stunts yesterday. After his stunt every afternoon Greb Is visited by numerous friends who think he's the greatest fighter that ever came down the pike.
Greb would naturally like to get a whack at Johnny Wilson's middleweight crown. That seems a hopeless quest, for John declared a few days ago that he would never fight Harry. The latter also seeks a quarrel with Gene Tunney, the lightheavyweight champion.
It is possible Greb may fight Tunney If the rival managers can arrive at an amicable agreement.
Harry wants to fight Tunney to a decision, while "Doc" Bagley figures a meeting In Boyle's Arena at Jersey City would be better. Over across the river no decisions rule.
Bagley feels that a bigger crowd could see the s**** in that locality than in this city. In discussing his chances in a bout with Dempsey, the Pittsburgh Mauler Is positive his speed would carry him safely over the short route.
"I have been battling heavy men most of my life," he asserted, "and have always won. Of course I'm not
crazy enough to say that Dempsey Is like the others. He's a wonderful fighter. Just the same I have
enough confidence In myself to say that I could keep on top of him for eight rounds."

 

Greb and Dempsey along with Joe Louis and Ray Robinson are my all-time favorite fighters...We will never see their like again...

 

Wow, seems like Greb did very well in sparring against him.

He has a better chance than I thought, but still gotta go with Dempsey!

 

Great as Greb was, he was a middleweight, and I don't see Dempsey having trouble with any MW in a real fight.

 

I seem to actually remember Greb quoted to the effect that Dempsey would have been far too powerful for him down the long stretch. But in an 8 rounder I'd take Greb.

 

AH, just read the rest of the thread. Seems like Burt read the same article I did.

 

Most people on here pick Hopkins, Jones and Toney to beat Dempsey so Greb has a decent shot.

Never seen him fight though so I can't comment.

 

Yep the reason is that Dempsey was whorin around, drinking and partying and gettin fat on good food and had become inactive, he sort of reminds me of Tszyu (without the women and the drinking but he was eating himself fat).... in other words a guy at his prime who becomes past his prime not from hard gruelling fights and wear and tear but more like not wanting to be in prime... tired of boxing. Dempsey just found there were better things in life, he had no real need for boxing anymore... just like tszyu

 

Exactly :good So many articles have been written over the years claiming "So and So flattened Ali in sparring" or So and So kicked the tar out of Dempsey in a training session" As you say,when it comes to the REAL thing,it's a totally different scenario. All about mentalities.

 

Greb would be a highly dangerous opponent for Dempsey but The Mauler's heavier natural weight would be the deciding factor.

 

In all respect for Greb this is fantasy, and I would be put over coals if I did a thread like Harry Greb vs Pete Herman... or Harry Greb vs Muhammad Ali, these are also fantasy and dare I say it, predictable.