Serious thoughts on this Harry Greb shadow boxing video?

Greb fought in the 1920s, not the early 1900s. You even don't know that...

 

I was talking about Gans, not Greb. Somebody posted a video of Gans. That's who I was talking about when you quoted me. Do some checking the next time you write dumb ****.

 

Fair enough, so what makes Gans less impressive than 1940s fighters, other than different video quality and earlier birth date?

 

His skillset, it sucks in comparison.
Most of the time he just throws a punch and leans back.

 

Thats funny because you could say the same thing about Mayweather and Gans actually shares a lot of stylistic similarities to Mayweather including the shoulder roll. But Im sure you think Mayweather invented that...

 

Very detailed analysis.

Which is the same thing a lot of fighters still do now.

 

His record tells us things about how good he was but the film gives us at least a glimpse of how he fought.

I don’t think we can make any huge leaps of faith from it as far as how he’d fare against more modern opposition, but it’s what we have.

(And it’s enormously comical.)

 

I seen his sparring video as well, how he beat Tunney is beyond me

 

Some have watched this training film of Harry Greb and find the purported shadow boxing and sparring in it so grotesque as to completely belie his reputation. Others point out that, if we don’t have any film of his matches, we do of some for those he fought and beat, and so have a point of reference as to his ability. In particular, Gene Tunney appears to have been a superb boxer, so Greb must have been good to have beaten him at least once and to have remained competitive throughout their series.

The apparent discrepancy between Greb’s reputation and how he appears in the training film is resolved if one understands that the supposed shadow boxing and sparring in it are nothing of the sort, but are exercises intended to develop his strength and stamina over a range of motion that corresponds to that which would be required in boxing. They do not exhibit his boxing technique as such but are comparable to the strength and agility drills performed by American footballers, as, for example, high stepping through a line of car tires or, for that matter, to the speed bag work out that is also shown in the film.

Harry Greb may have been past his prime when the film was taken but, if so, his prime must have been considerable indeed. I find him to be a superbly conditioned athlete with a powerful and supple physique. While his actual technique must remain a mystery, at least until a film of him in a bout turns up, it suggests that he was well capable of the performances that made him a legend in his own time and ever after.

 

Wow, this thread sure is interesting.

Yes, Greb does look like **** in the video. I don't think anyone doubts that. However, context is also needed.

ALL boxers with shadow boxing footage from the 1920s look goofy and weird. Look at Dempsey in this video:

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He looks silly! No question! However, we all know how much of a beast he was in the ring right? My theory is that shadow boxing as an art didn't really exist at the time as it did now, or maybe it did and Greb was just goofing off. Hopefully this isn't a reflection on his skills as a fighter, but we won't know without fight footage.

 

We also have some great footage of boxers Greb has beat, that would clearly be able to hold their own today:

Tommy Gibbons:

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Tommy Loughran (there are probably better performances of him out there but I found this one very impressive considering how undersized he was, also shows off some of his great defense and footwork):

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Mickey Walker:

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Gene Tunney:

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If you look at old footage boxers look silly running with their canes, shadow boxing in tight circles, etc .. we see it w Dempsey, Carpenter, many others ... on film especially the higher quality time corrected they look a lot better ... Greb is a unique case because of his reported style and lack of film but even from the film that exists loosening up he looks pretty fast to me ..

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. (see :38)

AS otherwise stated , his record against verifiable competition speaks for itself ...

 

His shadow boxing might look pretty bad, but it kinda fits the context of his style. He was an incredibly well conditioned, awkward speed freak. He definitely seems like the type to sacrifice fundamentals in reliance of his great chin and stamina. This footage is not only an example at how goofy athletes looked training back then, but it's also proof of how unorthodox Greb really was.

 

Didn't just beat him but put him in the hospital.

 

You have to understand something. In those days, fighters fought so regularly that they didn't do training camps. When they did do camps, the reason was to allow time to promote a fight. So, when they are filming the training, it is exaggerated and theatrical to promote the fight.