Live Fast, Die Young: The Life and Times of Harry Greb

I place Tunney ahead of those guys. My post wasn't in reference to his abilities as a fighter. Just his safety-first approach to picking and choosing, then stacking the deck.

I now have the Greb-Tunney series 4-1 in Greb's favor. And that ain't no lie. :smoke

 

Interesting, because in the book it seems as if you favored Greb in the 3rd fight, citing the fans booing Gene, etc. Did I misread/misinterpret?

 

As someone who is a native of Montana, I have been interested in the history of boxing in that state. While looking at early 1920s newspapers on microfilm, I noticed that people at local Montana American Legion Posts staging boxing shows dealt with boxing people from Minnesota for about two years before the bout between Jack Dempsey and Tommy Gibbons took place. As a result, I wonder what would have happened if Harry Greb, not Gibbons, was from Minnesota.

- Chuck Johnston

 

"Live Fast, Die Young" is a tome! Mine came in the mail yesterday and I started reading it this morning.

The cover looks great and it would look good on a mantle, so long as the mantle is sturdy because this is one big book.

--And I'll be reading every damn word because you are THE authority on Greb.

It starts off with a beautiful treatment of working class life in Pittsburgh in the late 19th century. Very well done and I have to say that your decision to include so many photographs in lieu of film was very wise. It brings you closer to the period, the men, the events.

I'll be reading this one at red lights.

 

I'm nearing the end and I must admit, I'm a bit depressed that the ride is almost over.

 

Just got my copy and started reading. Phoenomenal job, here.

I figured all of the "Looks like a textbook" anecdotes were, well, just that, hyperboles or embellishments. But ****, here I go, it's a freaking textbook!!

I'm 2 chapters in and these tough-as-**** body-ruining Pittsburgh regional ranks almost remind me of the hellacious Mexico ranks that have produced so many warriors.

 

Gets kinda sad after the Walker fight. You know what's coming. Oh well, 700 pages on Choynski is beckoning after some non-boxing reading....

 

This might interest you so....;

Choynski, quoted in 1918.

"Leonard? Pretty fair, but not in the
same class with Gans, Erne or McFadden. Isn't set when he hits. Has his
right foot off the floor when he punches
No foundation. Fighters can't hit when
they aren't set. He's the best lightweight of a bad lot. That let's him out."
"What do you think of Mike Gibbons?" he was asked.
"Fancy boxer, but hasn't the right
spirit," replied Joe. "His style is not
bad, but he can't hit. Jabs, jabs, jabs.
No hooks, no uppercuts, no right
crosses. Footwork fair. Better ring
general than the rest. No chance with
Tommy Ryan. Billy West or Kid McCoy.
They would cut him to pieces.
"Ted Lewis? Jumping jack. Can't
see him. I tell you they're a bunch of
ham and egg fighters. Too bad they weren't around In the old days. They
would have made good punching bags
for real fighters. Greb is positively a clown."

 

About what I expect.

 

My copy of Steve Compton's biography of Harry Greb has arrived. I was completely unprepared for the massiveness of the book. While I have not read it (how could I within such a short time?), I can tell everyone that the biography raises the bar when it comes to boxing books. To say the least, it is well-worth the money.

- Chuck Johnston

 

I agree. Through this effort, Klompton has done a great service to boxing fans telling the story of this great fighter.:good:good

 

How can it be well worth the money if you say you haven't read it? :?

Do you judge a book by it's cover? :nut