How much of a chance would Benny Leonard have against Greb?

not his fight.

 

Personally, I think Duran was the Lightweight GOAT but of course, this point is arguable, especially when it comes down to (Benny) Leonard! (pun intended)

I think Harry Greb was much more whirlwind than Marvin Hagler, who could be measured, calculated and cold in his attacks. This style would bring a nightmare to Leonard IMO.

 

I rank Leonard #1 at LW based solely on fights contested at and around LW, and #8 p4p all time, but I'd give him practically no chance.

Greb went 54-0-2 between May 1920 and February 1923. During that time he beat 186lbs HW contender Charley Weinert, as well as ATG LHWs Gene Tunney, Tommy Laughran and Tommy Gibbons. No way a LW, even one as great as Leonard, beats him.

 

Floyd Patterson beating Sonny Liston is more probable.

Benny was a scientific savvant, to an extent very rarely seen in the sport's history. But Greb was 3 inches taller and 30 lbs heavier, and made a career of beating fighters similar to Benny's ilk (though obviously not quite at that level), only they were Middleweights and Light Heavyweights instead of Lightweights.

If a Lightweight beating a Welterweight champion is so rare that it happens only a few times in history, then just imagine what it would be like beating a Middleweight who regularly feasted on ATG Light Heavweights and gave a future Heavyweight champion the beating of his life. It just doesn't happen.

 

Hi Guys.
Nothing too heavy, just an aside, interesting that it would be Leonard that was instrumental in Tunney's wins over Harry, advising Gene that the best and only way to slow the Windmill down, would be hard and frequent right hands to Grebs heart .
stay safe fellow posters.

 

Harry would make sure Benny's greased back hair would get seriously messy.

 

Benny looks better on film.

 

Nah man, bad take. Have you seen Greb shadow Boxing ? He was Boxing twenty men I tell ya, cut from a different cloth he was, good ol' Harry.

 

This is undeniable, when I saw the title of this thread I immediately thought , no chance at all. Greb would grind him down for a stoppage. Physically Duran was stronger than Benny but I can't see a path to victory for him either against Greb. Either man going the distance would be a feat in itself.

 

None ,imo.

 

I do not understand why this is even a question.
Both are ATGs, but the size & weight disadvantage is prohibitive.
Better you match up a mere contender at MW-or in ring weight as up to 160-than a fighter that at his best was so dominant.
At their peaks Greb was fully 20% heavier in lean mass, eyeballing his weights on box rec he averaged not less than @ 165 lbs.
Signing in gets you the fight weights for both boxers when available...
[url]https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/9019[/url]

Especially with Greb being so fast with such a high workrate, so the much smaller man would not even be able to outwork him, & has an adamantine chin. with superb endurance...
Why would you think this *might* be at all a competitive fight?

 

5% tops

 

You are a good-natured & discerning poster.
I never suggested you said the fight would be competive-but you asked if it could be.

You would have a point even with Duran against Hagler if you say maintained that if Duran was peak he had a shot...
Even that would be a stretch, but it is not at all comparable to Benny Leanord.

Besides that Duran would not be best at 160 relative to other fighters...
Benny both never fought above 153-although we all know at his best as a Lighweight... Plus would not have the power, size & frame to pull off beating a natural MW or above effectively.
Small note: although called a MW, Harry usually weighed in at least a few lbs. above that...

It would be an unsual fighter who had the potential to be as good as he was at his best in real life in a much heavier division.
Even Hearns-with a much greater height & wingspan-was best at a max of @154 lbs.