A Summary of Greb

[KananKrus]

Harry Greb is best known as the only fighter to defeat the great "fighting marine" Gene Tunney! These boxing icons fought five times...


Greb wins the first - ... American Light Heavyweight Title Bout broadcast on radio by KDKA
"Pittsburgh Post reported that Tunney fought extremely well. He made a great fight for 10 rounds, but Greb set a pace in the last five that overwhelmed Gene. Tunney's eyebrows were cut and he bled at the nose and mouth. Greb fought his usual fight, all over his man, and chopping him up. Tunney fought Greb much better than Tommy Gibbons had done in New York."


They rematched four more times... with Tunney winning two in a row... a NC, and ending the saga with a win.

The first rematch - "Most experts thought that Tunney had an edge by his cleaner blows. Regis Welsh of the Pittsburgh Post thought that Greb was robbed. Greb was the aggressor and Tunney the counterpuncher. Greb was made to observe the rules closely and this undoubtedly curbed his usual free-wheeling style. The fight was undoubtedly closely contested"

The second rematch - "The concensus was that Tunney won 9 rounds, Greb four, and two were even. Tunney mounted a body attack that allowed him to dominate the fight from rounds 8 to 14. The first seven rounds were evenly fought and Greb rallied strongly to win the 15th. Greb landed many more punches but Tunney's were harder and cleaner. There were no knockdowns."


The third rematch -"Referee stated he would have ruled a draw;
Stuart M. Bell from Cleveland Plain Dealer scored for Greb 6-3-1;
Lima News (AP) called it a draw, but reported that many ringsiders, including those from Pittsburgh thought Tunney had the edge; Lincoln State Journal stated majority of ringside reporters had it a draw; Oakland Tribune said majority thought it a draw, although Tunney "possibly entitled to the shade"; Ray Coll in Pittsburgh Gazette-Times scored it a draw;
Zanesville Signal (INS wire) gave edge to Greb 5-4-1; Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune/Milwaukee Journal (United News wire) said newspapermen gave Greb "all but the tenth round"; Jim Jab from Pittsburg Press scored for Greb 7-3"

The last -"Tunney gave Greb as thorough a beating as he has ever received. So completely was Greb outclassed and outfought in six of the ten rounds that he resorted to a defensive fight after the third and thereafter was guilty of persistent holding and stalling varied only by rare flashes of offensive fighting, which Tunney quickly terminated by a devastating attack. Tunney concentrated his fire almost entirely on Greb's heart and body, landing with deadly accuracy and telling effect. After a flashy start, Greb went on the defensive and let entire rounds go by without making more than a weak show of attack, without landing a decisive punch, even on those rare occasions when he undertook to do the leading." (Associated Press)



Harry Greb videos:










Gene Tunney highlight videos




"The Long Count."...
Tunney vs Dempsey

[marbleheadmaui]

Harry Greb is best known as the only fighter to defeat the great "fighting marine" Gene Tunney! These boxing icons fought five times...


Greb wins the first - ... American Light Heavyweight Title Bout broadcast on radio by KDKA
"Pittsburgh Post reported that Tunney fought extremely well. He made a great fight for 10 rounds, but Greb set a pace in the last five that overwhelmed Gene. Tunney's eyebrows were cut and he bled at the nose and mouth. Greb fought his usual fight, all over his man, and chopping him up. Tunney fought Greb much better than Tommy Gibbons had done in New York."


They rematched four more times... with Tunney winning two in a row... a NC, and ending the saga with a win.

The first rematch - "Most experts thought that Tunney had an edge by his cleaner blows. Regis Welsh of the Pittsburgh Post thought that Greb was robbed. Greb was the aggressor and Tunney the counterpuncher. Greb was made to observe the rules closely and this undoubtedly curbed his usual free-wheeling style. The fight was undoubtedly closely contested"

The second rematch - "The concensus was that Tunney won 9 rounds, Greb four, and two were even. Tunney mounted a body attack that allowed him to dominate the fight from rounds 8 to 14. The first seven rounds were evenly fought and Greb rallied strongly to win the 15th. Greb landed many more punches but Tunney's were harder and cleaner. There were no knockdowns."


The third rematch -"Referee stated he would have ruled a draw;
Stuart M. Bell from Cleveland Plain Dealer scored for Greb 6-3-1;
Lima News (AP) called it a draw, but reported that many ringsiders, including those from Pittsburgh thought Tunney had the edge; Lincoln State Journal stated majority of ringside reporters had it a draw; Oakland Tribune said majority thought it a draw, although Tunney "possibly entitled to the shade"; Ray Coll in Pittsburgh Gazette-Times scored it a draw;
Zanesville Signal (INS wire) gave edge to Greb 5-4-1; Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune/Milwaukee Journal (United News wire) said newspapermen gave Greb "all but the tenth round"; Jim Jab from Pittsburg Press scored for Greb 7-3"

The last -"Tunney gave Greb as thorough a beating as he has ever received. So completely was Greb outclassed and outfought in six of the ten rounds that he resorted to a defensive fight after the third and thereafter was guilty of persistent holding and stalling varied only by rare flashes of offensive fighting, which Tunney quickly terminated by a devastating attack. Tunney concentrated his fire almost entirely on Greb's heart and body, landing with deadly accuracy and telling effect. After a flashy start, Greb went on the defensive and let entire rounds go by without making more than a weak show of attack, without landing a decisive punch, even on those rare occasions when he undertook to do the leading." (Associated Press)



Harry Greb videos:










Gene Tunney highlight videos




"The Long Count."...
Tunney vs Dempsey

Great post. Thanks!