Mysterious Billy Pickles sparring footage -- found!

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018.


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  1. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    There was a rumor for decades that some footage survived of the early 20th century defensive master Mysterious Billy Pickles sparring with Harry Greb.

    Most historians dismissed this as a myth, since (1) Greb never existed, and (2) Pickles was too elusive to be captured on film.

    Fortunately, @reznick recently cleaned up some footage of Greb. @janitor and @choklab (who first brought Pickles to my attention) assure me that Greb's opponent bears all the hallmarks of Billy Pickles, including his ability to evade detection on film.

    I'll leave it to the experts to analyze this, but notice how awkwardly Greb looks when he tries to keep up with Pickles.

    This content is protected




    Just don't be too harsh with the critiques. Remember that this was filmed before Ali invented the human fist, which is why Greb is wearing fake mittens.
     
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    #1
    Colonel Sanders, choklab, It's Ovah and 3 others like this.
  2. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    Stop already with the Greb shadow boxing....it's getting as old as a Henny Young man joke about his wife.
     
    FrankinDallas, Oct 14, 2018
    FrankinDallas, Oct 14, 2018
    #2
    greynotsoold likes this.
  3. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    This may look like a cynical attempt to inject new life into the Greb shadowboxing joke. But I can assure you that it's actually a cynical attempt to write Choklab's character into the McMustache Mythos.
     
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    #3
    SHADAPBLAD likes this.
  4. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Billy Pickles adapted well to the post Corbett style of boxing well, displaying punches, footwork and feet
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Oct 14, 2018
    BitPlayerVesti, Oct 14, 2018
    #4
    cross_trainer and choklab like this.
  5. SambaKing1993

    SambaKing1993 Don't do it Zachary! Full Member

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    Is Billy Pickles a pseudonym for Sandy Saddler?
     
    SambaKing1993, Oct 14, 2018
    SambaKing1993, Oct 14, 2018
    #5
  6. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    You're thinking of Michigan Billy Pickles.
     
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    #6
    choklab and SHADAPBLAD like this.
  7. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    Amazing camera work!
     
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    #7
  8. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    Umm that’s Harry Greb

    Billy Pickles was Philippino
     
    reznick, Oct 14, 2018
    reznick, Oct 14, 2018
    #8
  9. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    No, no, the guy fighting Greb.
     
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    cross_trainer, Oct 14, 2018
    #9
  10. Rope-a-Dope

    Rope-a-Dope Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Rope-a-Dope, Oct 14, 2018
    Rope-a-Dope, Oct 14, 2018
    #10
    SHADAPBLAD and cross_trainer like this.
  11. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    That is Filipino....and I am pretty sure I read that he was actually Tagalog??
     
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 14, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Oct 14, 2018
    #11
  12. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    reznick, Oct 14, 2018
    reznick, Oct 14, 2018
    #12
  13. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    Do not sell Philip Pino short. Barney Gilpin was a future champ if not for his blood feud with Young Harry Mcarthy.
     
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    Nighttrain, Oct 14, 2018
    #13
    cross_trainer likes this.
  14. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Mysterious Billy Pickles wasn’t just the finest fighter that ever lived, he is considered the father of the arm pull turn, the double corkscrew and the Adams Apple Chop.

    And it wasn’t just boxing moves that Pickles fathered. In just one year mysterious Billy sired 72 sons in 72 different towns, and the sisters of those boys all grew to be taller than Jes Willard.
     
    choklab, Oct 15, 2018
    choklab, Oct 15, 2018
    #14
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  15. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I am very feel me good. Full Member

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    Pickles is turning him so effortlessly there, it's a wonder Greb wasn't totally dumbfounded. If it was any other fighter they'd have quit on their stool, after a damn good picklin'.
     
    It's Ovah, Oct 15, 2018
    It's Ovah, Oct 15, 2018
    #15
    choklab and cross_trainer like this.
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