Tunney and Greb. An old SI article by James R. Fair

Uh Big Dee you are wrong. the book was pulled from the shelves. Ive interviewed Greb's family about the subject. Fair fabricated many MANY stories in his book. Period. The book being 60 years old does not account for why it is so rare. Copies of that book regularly go for over $100 there plenty of books that old and older from more obscure writers on subject far more pupular than boxing that dont sell for half that. You will never see a second edition copy of that book for simple fact that the original publishers pulled it during its initial run. I could run through that book and point out a lie or a stretch of the truth on nearly every page. If I can I know damn good and well that Greb's family and friends could too.

Tunney did not break three of Greb's ribs after all less than a month later Greb was in the ring with with the best body puncher in the middleweight division at that time, Johnny Wilson. Its doubtful he would have gone through with that fight with three broken ribs. Ive had broken ribs and anyone else who has knows how bad it hurts just to laugh much less throw a punch or recieve one.

Its possible that Greb asked Tunney to letup in the later rounds of their fight. Tunney threw in a hell of a body beating but its interesting to note that Tunney didnt start spreading that story until LONG after Greb had passed away. I tend to doubt it. However, it is true that after the fight Greb told Tunney in the dressing room that he would not fight him anymore as Tunney had gotten too big and strong (he outweighed Greb by 14 pounds that night). Greb later renegged and agreed to fight Tunney again in Miami in early 1926 but the bout fell through because Tunney was in the hunt for a shot at Dempsey and focusing solely on that.

To the poster who said Tunney got thumbed before the second Dempsey fight. Actually it was headbutt by none other than Greb's former foe Chuck Wiggins. The press made a big issue of it. I have several photos of Tunney sparring with Wiggins and those two hanging out in camp together.

 

Tunney was so damn tough.

All accounts of the first. Tunney-Greb fight tell a similar tale, the bloodiest fight ever, and an incredible show of courage and mental and physical toughness.
Makes modern fights seem like little playground games.