Harry Greb vs Sam Langford

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Flea Man, Oct 5, 2009.


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  1. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    I can't imagine how many times this thread has been done.

    Which incarnations of both men would make for a competitive matchup? if the 'best' versions of both men at Light-Heavy (I assume Greb would be conceding a fair few lbs) who would win?

    Would Greb be able to dart in and out without being caught with a Langford haymaker? Would Langford be able to time Greb? Or would Greb he hopelessly outgunned against a giant killer even more proficient than he?

    Maybe there are different versions of both men that mean you see different outcomes?

    For me, I think Langford takes it. Until recently I discounted the 'old time' fighters ('Bah! We've advanced so much since then' 'they wouldn't have a clue what's going on!' LOL) but having immersed myself into the footage a bit more lately (i.e appreciating the innovation and of course toughness and the possible awkwardness a modern figher may experience fighting a pre-Louis fighter) I've started to become more receptive to 'rating' older fighters.

    Langford DOES look pretty 'modern' on film. There can be no doubt about his chin and he wings his shots in like a smaller stature Foreman (with more speed and therefore more snap but less thunderous heaviness IMO) and given the people he stopped and the weights in which he ascended to there can be little argument that he hit very hard, be it for his time or, even today (older fighters thin gloves might hurt 'Modern' fighters, although todays fighters' padded gloves allow them to sit down on their punches more and they of course have th ability to study footage and modern science/training)

    Now, these are two of the P4P greats, there can be no doubt, both of their resumes speak for themselves.

    I'm still pretty much in the dark about both men (have both the Greb and Langford books on the way so looking forward to delve into both futher) so don't even mind if I get flamed :D

    Who takes it over 15. And what weight would either man show up in? Would light-Heavy Langford (and which performance from Langford would you choose, even if it's one where he gave up poundage to a Heavy) just be too much for Greb?

    Which opponent of Greb's would you say would be a good gauge as to what his performance may be like in the Langford fight?

    I may be waffling, I'll leave it up to the more knowledgable posters, even I just get diverted to an old thread that has described this in detail:good:good
     
    Flea Man, Oct 5, 2009
    Flea Man, Oct 5, 2009
    #1
  2. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I gotta go with Sammy to beat Harry at a catch-weight............. I gotta' look back at the books, but I'm not sure S.L. could make 160 pounds without cutting off a leg.......

    From what I've read, Harold Greb was a windmill winger of wild punches in punches, but generally effective........ Inspite of Greb's big biceps, he was not a serious puncher.... Greb was a winger / banger.......

    I gotta assume Sammy was more technical and slightly bigger than Harry boy........ Sammy smacks him around for the win..............

    MR.BILL

    P.S.

    At 175, Greb's ass gets kicked fo sho............. Greb was not the same above 168 pounds..........
     
    MRBILL, Oct 5, 2009
    MRBILL, Oct 5, 2009
    #2
  3. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    That's what I'm saying. Greb would nondoubt give away lbs but was known for fighting bigger guys, the question is would Langford be a step too far?
     
    Flea Man, Oct 5, 2009
    Flea Man, Oct 5, 2009
    #3
  4. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes...... Lang would be that step too far for Grebbermeister.......:deal

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Oct 5, 2009
    MRBILL, Oct 5, 2009
    #4
  5. Big N Bad

    Big N Bad Well-Known Member Full Member

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    good post:good

    From watching langford vs bill lang, i can see langford has some good moves. he slips the jab and lands crushing body shots, has good a solid jab, blocks well with an open palm. he stalks his opponents down just like big george did.
    alot of people have compared langford to george foreman and i totally agree, the way he stalks his opponents down, blocking and slipping their shots and getting closer. then he starts throwing his powerful punches foreman like.
    i also like how you have described his power - more speed and snap than foreman but not the same heavieness. spot on. only i think because of his explosiveness they may have caused an even more devastating effect on his opponents. ever wondered why he has the 2nd highest ko's in history? foreman is one of the heaviest hitters ever, sometimes i just watch his fights just to hear them thudding punches land -BOOM BOOM

    skill wise harry greb may trouble langford. I question how would greb handle langfords (tua like) power?
    langford was knocking heavyweights spark out who ither never been knocked out or rarely. harry wills and joe jeannette who was only stopped twice in 165 fights!!
     
    Big N Bad, Oct 5, 2009
    Big N Bad, Oct 5, 2009
    #5
  6. JudgeDredd

    JudgeDredd Well-Known Member Full Member

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    As much as I hate to say it, from what I know of Langford, he'd be a bit too much for Greb
     
    JudgeDredd, Oct 5, 2009
    JudgeDredd, Oct 5, 2009
    #6
  7. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Greb and Langford were about the same weight - 165 pounds in their best condition.

    Langford would beat Greb, IMO.
     
    Unforgiven, Oct 5, 2009
    Unforgiven, Oct 5, 2009
    #7
  8. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Nobody was ever able to take Harry out once he hit his stride. Over the distance, it would be a matter of quality versus quantity. Sam took out Wills twice when Harry was moving in for the kill. Greb would never attempt to do this, but aim for a decision win all the way. Many of Langford's opponents were afraid of him, but Ketchel apparently wasn't, and fought him to a standstill. Harry wouldn't have been scared of him either. I don't see Sam prevailing over 15 rounds against the kind of volume Greb would snow on him.

    Greb UD 15 Langford
     
    Duodenum, Oct 5, 2009
    Duodenum, Oct 5, 2009
    #8
  9. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    I agree. I don't see where people get off thinking Langford was a bad matchup for Greb rather than vice-versa. Probably just going by the "puncher>swarmer" method of thinking.
     
    Sweet Pea, Oct 5, 2009
    Sweet Pea, Oct 5, 2009
    #9
  10. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    I'm going to quit watching boxing and just make predictions from reading newspaper clippings, obviously you can make judgements with far more certainty
     
    PowerPuncher, Oct 5, 2009
    PowerPuncher, Oct 5, 2009
    #10
  11. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    That's not true at all, but it's pretty much on par with everything else you post, so I couldn't have expected much different.:good
     
    Sweet Pea, Oct 5, 2009
    Sweet Pea, Oct 5, 2009
    #11
  12. KTFO

    KTFO Guest

    Greb by comfortable UD
     
    KTFO, Oct 5, 2009
    KTFO, Oct 5, 2009
    #12
  13. BENNY BLANCO

    BENNY BLANCO R.I.P. Brooklyn1550 Full Member

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    :lol: So damn true. This reminds me of a hilarious debate Sweet Pea had with DanePuglist on another forum in regards to Harry Greb.
     
    BENNY BLANCO, Oct 5, 2009
    BENNY BLANCO, Oct 5, 2009
    #13
  14. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It depends on what stage of there careers, they fought...Greb handled Tunney and some other strong Light Heavys....Langford was rugged and hit hard but I see this being a close fight for the most part
     
    Bummy Davis, Oct 5, 2009
    Bummy Davis, Oct 5, 2009
    #14
  15. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    WTF?:patsch

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Oct 5, 2009
    MRBILL, Oct 5, 2009
    #15
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