Harry Greb vs. Jack Johnson

One of my main points is that Jack did not have many "best nights". Greb had dozens of them.

 

Maybe. Johnson got stopped by Bearcat Wright who was nothing special though.

 

He was 205 for Ketchel and 208 for Jeffries and in terrific shape for both ..

 

As is the concept of Greb being "slaughtered" by Jack Johnson. Or him not having "a snowball's chance in hell". Or that he'd be "blown away". Or that it "wouldn't even be a contest". (all your words)

It would absolutely be a contest. One I can assure you that Johnson would train long and hard for. Jack was no dummy. He would have studied how well Greb did against the big boys. He had a big ego and if there was one thing he wouldn't want it would be to allow himself to be smacked around and humiliated as so many other heavyweights were by Greb. Johnson would come in focused, ready and NOT smiling.

Harry absolutely would have a snowball's chance in hell and Johnson would know it.

 

First off on his record ... if you're going to honest look at Johnson's career those three fights really are

Hart - A highway robbery decision loss
O'Brien - a bout Johnson laughed his way through and did not take seriously
Choynski - a once in a career type KO loss to a far more experienced, all time pound for pound puncher ..

Second, we can make a case for Greb ... we made a ton for him against Dempsey, a far bigger puncher than Johnson .. however, based on styles, skill sets and size I would favor Jack big ... his speed would make the difference ..

 

Why do people keep calling the Hart bout highway robbery. Thats bull**** as Adam Pollack illustrates quite well in his book on Hart. Debateable and highway robbery are two different things. And no Powerpuncher the terms werent that Johnson had to dominate or KO Hart to win. There had been a rash of unsatisfying fights of late (some of which Johnson himself had participated in). Both Hart and Johnson were told that they would have to make a fight of it and not loaf through rounds (as Johnson was well known to do before and after) or he would be penalized for it. Johnson, true to form did what he chose and loafed through several rounds and as a result the decision was given to the more aggressive fighter. Despite that fact judging by descriptions you can still make a case for Hart, and no I dont buy that simply because someone voted for Hart they were racist thats a lazy cop out.

 

Look what Jack Johnson did to a 160lb Sam Langford. Was Harry Greb any better than Sam? Doubt it.


Everytime I watch film of Johnson vs a short middleweight(burns, ketchel), he looks absolutely devastating and toys with them at his mercy.

 

Sam got bigger and better from that point, as did McVey and Jeanette.

 

As did Jack Johnson

 

McVea and Jeanette were not in Greb's league.

 

I'd pick Johnson to win but I'd definitely give Greb a few of the early rounds.

 

but langford and ketchel were. Look what Johnson did to them. He didn't just beat them. He toyed with them for the most part. Both were the same size as greb.

 

You're comparing apples and avocadoes. Ketchel and Langford's styles were absolutely nothing like Greb's. You can't use those fights as any indicator whatsoever as to how a Johnson-Greb fight would go.

 

Yes he did, he was kod by Joe Choynski in 1901 ,Choynski is described by Fitzsimmons,Corbett,Jjeffries,and Johnson as the hardest hitter they faced.
Johnson was next kod by Jess Willard. when he was 37 years old and after 26 rds in the Cuban sun. Harry Greb has a 16% ko record.
You figure it out.