Was Greb-Wiggins Filmed?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by bman100, Apr 28, 2013.


  1. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Harry Greb fought Chuck Wiggins in a 6 rounder on the undercard of Dempsey-Miske 2. Dempsey's title match against Miske was filmed and I'm sure I've heard that the entire 3 round fight exists somewhere.


    Does anyone know if this means also that Greb's undercard fight against Wiggins was filmed? Greb was supposed to have been amazing in this fight, it was supposed to have been one of his best performances (maybe it was his peak.) If true, this fight would probably show more about Harry than his fight against Walker when he had slowed down a lot.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Your certainly correct in citing this fight as tip top Greb
    He and Chuck fought like a couppla hellcats for 6 rounds
    EW Dickerson of the Grand Rapids Herald, who referred many of Harry's fights
    often cited this match for Grebs excellent form.
     
  3. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oh ,to have seen the greatest fighter ever in his absolute prime in 1920.
    Greb was but 26 years old, and 2 years later defined himself forever with his battering of the heavier great LH, Gene Tunney...
     
  4. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Sounds like a great one. Didn't reporters say Greb looked better than Dempsey and that if the Greb from Wiggins was matched with the Dempsey from the Miske fight, Greb would win?

    But what do you think S, you think it was filmed?
     
  5. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    All I can say with certainty was the main event was definitely filmed.
     
  6. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    OK. But just as a guess What do say the chances are that cameras were rolling when Greb was fighting? Like were undercards filmed back then or did they only broadcast the main events?
     
  7. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well I never heard of anybody in the entire folklore of Harry Greb
    claim to have seen film of him fighting Chuck Wiggins.
    Idea!!
    If you want to search all of Miskes hometown paps for any evidence of this film being screened in twin city's during Sept 1920 please have at it and let us know what you find.
     
  8. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Thanks. I'll see what I can find.
     
  9. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Oops, boo boo
    They wouldn't have let a boxing film travel interstate back in them days.
    Better to check in Michigan.
     
  10. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    OK will do. Thanks (again) for the heads up.
     
  11. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well it never played in Detroit as i just checked Detroit Free Press (1858-1922)
    You figure it would have.



    DEMPSEY WINS WITH KNOCKOUT IN THIRD ROUND: Miske, In Distress Because of Blow to Heart, ***s to Keep Up Guard. CHAMPION SENDS LEFT TO JAW FOR KNOCKDOWN Challenger Takes Count of Nine, Then Staggers to Feet for Last Blow.
    Bullion, Harry. Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 07 Sep 1920: 1.
    ... All the world, or its element, tonight is again acclaiming Dempsey the

    Citation/AbstractFull text - PDF (85 KB)‎
    28
    Preview Successfully Defends His Title in Battle at Benton Harbor Labor Day
    Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 07 Sep 1920: 15.
    CitationFull text - PDF (38 KB)‎
    29
    Preview Other 28 -- No Title
    Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 07 Sep 1920: 15.
    CitationFull text - PDF (15 KB)‎
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    Preview DEMPSEY'S BIT IS TIDY CHUNK: Champion Gets $55,000 in Pay for Slaying Billy Miske Labor Day. Receipts Run $134,904--Defeated Boxer is Handed $25,000 for His Trouble.
    Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 08 Sep 1920: 14.
    ... Jack Dempsey, world's heavyweight champion,
    ...battering Billy Miske, the St. Paul challenger, to defeat in the thire round of

    Citation/AbstractFull text - PDF (30 KB)‎
    31
    Preview BIGGER ACTED 'IN GOOD FAITH': Athletic Board Passes Resolutions on Benton Harbor Ticket Episode.
    Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 10 Nov 1920: 12.
    ...of the reasons for issuing free admission tickets to the recent Dempsey-Miske

    Citation/AbstractFull text - PDF (29 KB)‎
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    Preview BILL BRENNAN FIT FOR SCRAP WITH DEMPSEY: Challenger in Happy Frame of Mind as Championship Battle Draws Near. DEMPSEY SHORT-ENDER Champion Is Believed To Be Invincible, and Only Miracle Can Tumble Him.
    Bullion, Harry. Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 12 Dec 1920: A1.
    ... of the fate which overlook less Willard and Bitly Miske as the result of
    ...assault of Jack Dempsey, Bill Brennan, conquered once by the withering fire

    Citation/AbstractFull text - PDF (78 KB)‎
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    Preview DEMPSEY, FIT, READY TO LEAP INTO BATTLE: Champion at Peak of Condition Could Take Ring Against Carpentier in 48 Hours With Confience; Has Stinging punch; Will Weigh 190 Lbs. When He Steps Into Ring July 2
    Bullion, Harry. Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 06 June 1921: 9.
    ... To put Jack Dempsey-into ring in defense of his fistic laurels it would nt

    Citation/AbstractFull text - PDF (66 KB)‎
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    Preview HARD PUNCHING SPEED ON CARD: National Club Arranges Attractive Program for Navin Field Thursday Bob Roper and "Chuck" Wiggins Are Featured-in Headliner
    Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) [Detroit, Mich] 24 July 1921: 21.
    Citation/AbstractFull text - PDF (41 KB)‎
    * Duplicates are removed from your search and from your result count.
     
  12. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I have not found much also.


    Just outta curiosity is Detroit important for fight films?
     
  13. ripcity

    ripcity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    If it was filmed. The film dose not exeist anymore. Unless it's stored correctly film deterrates.
     
  14. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    No, but in this search it is because Miske vs Dempsey went down in Benton Harbor and the film could only appear in that state due to laws applying to boxing film in those days.
     
  15. bman100

    bman100 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    OK thanks. I figured maybe they would have showed the fight in New York mostly because that's where boxing was biggest at the time. I'll change to looking at Detroit.