Why was Harry Greb disliked?

I think he is referring to Engel who by the time he signed with Greb was located in NY and working with Billy Gibson.

 

No, he managed himself for about a month or two in very early 1923 then went back to Red Mason who he stayed with until the spring/summer of 1926. He was then briefly managed by Jimmy Johnston, basically for one fight, and then reconciled with Mason as his career ended.

 

The simple answer is that Mason was great when it came to developing a guy, building him up, keeping him busy, and getting fights around Penn, Ohio, Maryland, etc. However Mason didnt have strong national connections or clout and wasnt really great at looking at the big picture, taking a fighter to the next level. He was a guy who would have been content to have Greb fighting twice a week for a thousand dollars a pop when Greb could have been fighting once a month (not necessarily something Greb would have even wanted as he liked to stay busy) for $10,000 with occasional $20,000, $40,000 or even more, sized purse thrown in. This was what Engel was good at. He had connections all over the country and in Europe. He had been to the big dance before and knew how to get Greb there. He took Greb to that next level but was never able to deliver the plumb that Greb was looking for: Dempsey. That combined with several other factors caused Greb to dump him and eventually go back to Mason.

 

thanks man :good

 

Yes Klompton, the situation you described is what I was referring to. I understand your point that Engel wasn't a native New Yorker but I recall reading that Greb went to New York during this period under Engel's management.

There's so much fact, fiction, and mystique surrounding Greb. I live in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, so it certainly adds to my fascination. I lived on the North Side of Pittsburgh for a couple years (trained and fought there in my late teens). Greb fought at a place called 'The Grotto'. I lived about a block away from a place called 'The Grotto'. For some reason, I'm not sure it's the same place but I intend to resolve that question.

Anyway, i love the insight in this thread!

 

Oops, I may be getting mixed up. I'm reading the book about Charlie Burley right now. Someone fought at the Grotto on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Sorry, I better shut up now!!

 

im assuming you've visited harrys grave by now??

 

No!! Not a bad idea though. I have been to Tommy Loughran's which is in Hollidaysburg, PA (a couple hours east of Pittsburgh).

 

You drove two hrs to Loughrans and havent walked across town to Greb's???atsch

 

u can visit greb, red mason, billy conn, all in the same.

 

I'll make a day of it on my way to the airport to visit Salvador Sanchez's as Azumah Nelson and Wilfredo Gomez did ;-).

 

I'm from east of Pittsburgh. Lived in the city for several years during college. I'm not a doctor, it just took me a long time to finish college .

Loughran died in the summer of '82 (I think). Went to the site with my grandfather. I thought it was cool and read about Loughran. Sounded like a great fighter. Recently, I've been blessed to see him on film, and the reality exceeded my expectations. I found Loughran, Ross, Canzoneri, Kid Chocolate, and recently Sam Langford to be extremely impressive on film.

I hope somebody finds and shares Greb film. I have a feeling we'd all be amazed.