Serious thoughts on this Harry Greb shadow boxing video?

Well with 100+ fights, you are correct did. But most of Greb's matches were 10 or 12 rounds, very similar to today.

Greb's official win over Tunney happened when Tunney was a bit pre-prime, and Tunney suffered a busted nose in round one that gave him trouble until the final bell in the 15th. I've read both a punch and headbutt caused the damage. It was probably a punch, but without film, you never know. Toward the end of the series, it was Tunney, and Greb refused the 6th match

 

We know, you're not a Greb enthusiast.
But this thread is questioning his credibility as fighter by comparing him against novice boxers.

You're splitting hairs over how great he was.
But this thread is basically asking if he could handle amateur level fighters today, with this shadow boxing clip being used as the supporting evidence.

 

How do you know that? I find Greb's record impressive.

Greb in his own time was described as amateurish. Even Klompton would be forced to admit that. So how he looked really isn't that deabtable. He was also described as very fast. Some say dirty.

How he would translate into modern times is a mystery. He certainly wasn't a puncher, and I think would have trouble with harder hitters who could infight, or had a longer power jab or straight right hand, which Tunney possessed.

 

Actually it seems funny that so many not just you are seemingly taking the video so serious...the question must be asked then how bad was everyone he beat to even suggest this is the real Greb in a fight and that someone would train a fighter to beat him off this is undercutting everyone who was legendary from Tunney, Brennan and Walker to the sparring matching with Dempsey that had Dempsey out of breath and gave some the opinion that Dempsey's management wanted no part of him.

My opinion of the clip is I don't take it as he was that serious but the style of light sparring and movement appears normal for the era but I am more curious about how he really fought and if he fought like this then my question would be how he beat so many hence the reason I give it no real credence....yes I think nothing of the clip I do not consider it something I would judge a fighter from as it appears clear to me Greb was not interested in showing off and putting on a show...everything he does in the clip seems exaggerated and not serious....I would never consider it gospel or insight into how the man fought nor would I consider it worthy of hey my amateur fighter would kill this guy with his better fundamentals which is a ludicrous statement.

If the topic was did Greb really fight as bad as he looked in this clip then my answer is obvious and my opinion is as follows his resume, eyewitness accounts and opponent opinions tells me this wasn't the Greb who climbs into the ring and morphs into a tenacious wolverine as described....

Now as a trainer you know just like they did then that fundamentals are everything starting out but when a fighter figures out where he is comfortable and successful you don't mess with success if the fighter can do it well and it works....the jab comes from the shoulder but some fighters throw it from the waste or chest, hands up some fighters are better with hands down, twist your lead foot while hooking and turn your hand over Cotto many times never did that....the uppercut is supposed to be tight the right should be straight but experienced fighters modify the basics to their ability....fighters are not supposed to switch from orthodox to southpaw but some can do it well switching feet while hitting like Dempsey, Hagler and GGG do is not text book but they were good at it.....Personally as a trainer and a fan I never look at a style that is successful and question it I study to understand...but like everyone else I take a young guy from no knowledge I teach fundamentals when I take over a seasoned fighter I look to see what he is having issues with then solve it but if he does something unorthodox but is successful at it I don't mess with it unless it is an issue.

 

What exactly does it say?

 

So in other words, he doesn't know what he's talking about?

 

But in your opinion, he SHOULD know, right?

 

Yes, I see what you mean. Those with the wrong opinion must be set straight.

But where were you a couple of days ago, when someone claimed that Usyk would get flattened by feather-fisted old-timers like Conn and Maxim? I didn't see you (or anybody else) object to this. No one jumped in and said something like: "c'mon man, you must know this isn't very realistic". Why is that? Is it because an opinion like that is the "correct" one to have on a Classic forum?

 

Of course Greb’s credentials can be questioned just like any fighter, there should be no sacred cows.
It was the fact some, based on a piece of film which has no significance whatsoever as to his abilities as a fighter, used that footage to mock him and state novice fighters today would beat him.
This while completely ignoring his outstanding record which at the very least is as comparable with any of the ATG’s some would say it’s the best.
Why would they ignore the resume and concentrate on a few seconds of film, because they think he looks awkward?
It’s well stated from the time that he wasn’t an aesthetically pleasing fighter.

 

Hey, sorry for not falling into the group think of thinking Greb had no boxing fundamentals because of a warm up shadow boxing clip.

Sorry that when I see one of the best boxers ever doing something that looks odd, I immediately assume that my expectations and perceptions are the problem, rather than his boxing skills. It seems extremely logical and common sense to me, but hey, he must be the problem. Not all knowing boxing master me.

 

You don't have to assume anything tho or try to somehow make it into something it's quite clearly not. It just needs to be treated for what it is. A little clip like this isn't empirical evidence of anything any which way. It's just someone frigging around or warming up whatever. It's really no biggie. It's surprising so many are trying to make it out to be something so important - either way.

 

I can fairly assume he was a great boxer despite this unconventional shadow boxing clip.

 

Exactly.

 

This is bull****. The majority of reports say Greb broke Tunneys nose with the first punch of the fight. Handwringing over how Tunney would have done without a broken nose rendered by a legal punch is like arguing that fighter A would have beaten fighter B if Fighter A hadnt been knocked out by fighter B. Its ignorant. It also totally ignores the fact that youve been duly educated on numerous times: that a VAST majority of observers felt Greb defeated Tunney in their second and fourth fights and that it was Tunney, not Greb, who refused a sixth fight. The idea that Tunney was pre-prime despite having been a pro for 7 years, was 25, and having something like 50 fights under his belt seems like a pretty weak argument. Especially if you are going to argue Greb was prime when they first fought despite being blind and having the ringwear of four times the number of Tunneys fights over a career that was just two years longer. It also ignores the fact that by the time you think Tunney finally entered his prime and managed to beat Greb convincingly that Greb entered the ring with a broken rib, blind in one eye, ringwear from over 250 fights and a 12 year career while knocking on the door of 31 being years old. And again, was still ready to come back for more. I wish before you sat down at your libraries computer, pulled the newspapers out of your shoes, and set your tinfoil hat on the table next to you you would actually try read some of the books around you and learn something before you pop off about things you clearly dont know.

 

I would be forced? Go back and search this forum for a combination of the words Greb and amateurish and you will find me quoting contemporaries using that description before you ever uttered the name Greb. The ammunition for your ridiculous point comes directly from me, you just lack the memory and cognitive skills to recognize that or formulate it into a coherent thought.