Interesting article on Greb

[JAB5239]

Nothing I haven't read before and a few inconsistencies, but I always enjoy a new perspective.

https://www.adirondacklife.com/2024/...ke-love-story/

[them_apples]

Greb has such an interesting story. He’s such a unique player.

1. invented his own style that nobody before or since has replicated

2. They could never prepare for Greb because he is the only one with this style, so often the first fight was the worst fight (for his oponents). Pacquiao is also kinda similar.

3.consisted of short rapid fire combinations likened to a swarm of wasps, mixed in with hard sinking punches in a change of tempo. He would disorient the opponent with the wasps and work off of that for his power shots. At least from what I gather from descriptions. He was also very hard to hit, extremely fast on his feet and had ATG stamina.

4. he would do clever things like fein fatigue for up to 2 rounds only to finish the last 4 rounds at a blistering tempo. Fighters often were caught off guard and overwhelmed after being competitive for most of the fight.

5.he would pump up and down like he was jumping but his feet wouldn’t leave the ground. He would attack this way sometimes. Another move you couldn’t prepare for when he springs it out of knowhere.

6. he had a move called the “greb roll” where he would duck out to the side the opponent is punching on and counter in such a way that he throws 4 punches in rythm off the counter. It would look like a smooth combination of right and left crosses (which is normally not something you do in boxing)

7. for training Greb fought as much as he could leading up to bigger fights. So while he spread up to 45 fights a year out, they coagulated before major fights. He would literally fight himself into shape. He could fight twice a week sometimes, and I am sure the odd time even 3. This way he didn’t need to pay for sparring partners (a very german way of thinking lol). He also claimed this got him in fearsome shape. He never had stamina issues, even later on in his career.

my personal opinion, his unconventional style probably prevented him from becoming famous. He was ducked blatantly. I have read books where a list of great fighters are presented, and greb beat every single one of them (even dempsey if we go by sparring). Yet NO mention of greb.

Greb claimed he regretted sparring Dempsey, because “now he won’t fight me”.

his favourite quote was “give no quarter, and ask for non in return”

also remember Greb was a middleweight, but he frequently fought just as much at light heavyweight, weighing in at 168 lbs. he beat all the best light heavies and fought black fighters as well.

[Slugfester]

Good little article.