Heavyweight Champions You Figure Greb Would Beat

[Bundana]

Because Greb is a gladiator, his personality would figure out ways to beat many heavyweights. Greb isnāt a fighter who would just run in a brawl with bigger men, he would overpower smaller men, run circles around larger men. One of the reasons he only had about a 40 percent Ko ratio is because he was often fighting far outside of his weight class.

for example against a heavyweight like Holyfield, he stands a very good chance of overwhelming him for 12 rounds while Holyfield swings at air. Greb didnāt fight like any other boxer, he had moves he made up all by himself and worked them into his craft by fighting 40+ times a year. Greb was a unicorn. He was shunned by boxings largest promoters it seems, but people really donāt understand this guys personality or the type of man he was.

against a taller heavyweight like Lewis, once again instead of only thinking about what happens if Lewis lands, consider thinking how much he may struggle hitting a short speedy buzzsaw with no fear of heavyweights. A true gladiator. He died young.

So a small 5'8", 170 pounder with a 71" reach and no punch to speak of... will run circles around big heavyweights (like Lewis), who will have trouble hitting him? Sure, go on dreaming... which is all you can do, since you have never even seen Greb fight!

[Willie Pep 229]

Never over Fitz, Really? I'm interested in the reasoning for this opinion.

Fair question.

I see Fitzsimmons as a fighter who was forced to battle HWs fighters (180-190) regularly.

Two things come of this.

A career full of taking big shots from bigger men. Something Greb never really experienced save for Tunney, in the latter fights which he lost.

Second Fitz learned to deliver blows that could hurt bigger men, again something Greb never had the opportunity to display, or failed to display when given the opportunity.

I think of Fitz as a bit of a freak. Much stronger than his size and able to hit harder than most men his size.

I should mention here, with all these fights, including Fitz, I can see Greb being ahead on the score cards (even 'stealing' decisions over 12 rounds) but I don't see him being able to take the fights all the way home.

If Greb beat these guys it's going to be like his decision over Tommy Gibbons. Landing many ineffective punches that runs him up to a PTS win, but not really being able to actually hurt these men.

From Boxrec

New York Times. Greb landed "a million punches" and had the upper hand throughout. . . . One report states "...Greb threw a million punches but never hurt Gibbons as he seldom set."

If Greb is to beat any of these HW Champion he is going to need short ten round fights and judges to declare him a winner. I doubt he can put any of them down, including Fitz.

[them_apples]

So a small 5'8", 170 pounder with a 71" reach and no punch to speak of... will run circles around big heavyweights (like Lewis), who will have trouble hitting him? Sure, go on dreaming... which is all you can do, since you have never even seen Greb fight!

Whats even funnier is you have seen all these guys fight but you yourself have no idea who would win these matches. The true dreamer is yourself. How you picture these fights turning out would be so far off the mark from reality.

[them_apples]

The thing is what fans donā€™t understand about Grebs heavyweight bouts, he didnā€™t run and squeak out decisions. He actually massacred them sometimes by overwhelming them with speed and awkward attacks. One way he would attack is to leap up and down but not let his feet leave the canvas. Before they knew what was happening Greb was on them.

[Bundana]

Whats even funnier is you have seen all these guys fight but you yourself have no idea who would win these matches. The true dreamer is yourself. How you picture these fights turning out would be so far off the mark from reality.

You're right, I (and everybody else) have no way of knowing, who would actually win these matches. It's pure speculation - which we base on what we know, about the fighters in question.

But when you say, that how I envision these dream fights to play out is so far off the mark from reality - does this mean, that you believe, you have a more qualified understanding of what would happen, than I do?

[Kid Cauliflower]

I do not condemn speculation, The thread asks for speculation, so of course I approve. Picking winners is all about speculation, whether in a current fight or a mythical matchup. So speculate freely. All I care about are sincere replies.

Do folk figure Willard is just too big?

[Willie Pep 229]

I do not condemn speculation, The thread asks for speculation, so of course I approve. Picking winners is all about speculation, whether in a current fight or a mythical matchup. So speculate freely. All I care about are sincere replies.

Do folk figure Willard is just too big?

I say discuss it like we are a few friends in a pub having a few pints.

Everyone's opinion 'counts' because everyone's opinion is fun.

I don't understand why some posters think there is a right and wrong to any of this. There can't be. All these guys are dead and we will never KNOW!

[JAB5239]

Fair question.

I see Fitzsimmons as a fighter who was forced to battle HWs fighters (180-190) regularly.

Two things come of this.

A career full of taking big shots from bigger men. Something Greb never really experienced save for Tunney, in the latter fights which he lost.

Second Fitz learned to deliver blows that could hurt bigger men, again something Greb never had the opportunity to display, or failed to display when given the opportunity.

I think of Fitz as a bit of a freak. Much stronger than his size and able to hit harder than most men his size.

I should mention here, with all these fights, including Fitz, I can see Greb being ahead on the score cards (even 'stealing' decisions over 12 rounds) but I don't see him being able to take the fights all the way home.

If Greb beat these guys it's going to be like his decision over Tommy Gibbons. Landing many ineffective punches that runs him up to a PTS win, but not really being able to actually hurt these men.

From Boxrec

New York Times. Greb landed "a million punches" and had the upper hand throughout. . . . One report states "...Greb threw a million punches but never hurt Gibbons as he seldom set."

If Greb is to beat any of these HW Champion he is going to need short ten round fights and judges to declare him a winner. I doubt he can put any of them down, including Fitz.

Not ignoring this, I just want to think on it a bit before responding. I appreciate the reply.

[billeau2]

"Featered Fisted." Every big man on the list beats him down. He can't go face first into Max Bear, he'd tear his head off.

The few I left-off at the top I have no opinion. The bottom part of the list I don't consider champions. (See your edited post above.)

Greb struggled with MWs strength wise and even found Mickey Walker difficult. Big HW fighters who can punch would wear him down and finish him. He lacked the punch to keep them off him. Greb usually supplemented his lack of power with relentless activity, i.e. the infamous windmill attack. He can get away with that in sparing with Dempsey, and look good doing it. It would be a different story if Dempsey doesn't spar with him, but instead attacks him.)

He can't get away with the windmill against large men who can punch, i.e. HW Champions.

Very astute and sobering realization. I think greb will find weaknesses as a pressure fighter. But unfortunately you can only pressure when you have certain conditions on your side. This puts grab at a major disadvantage for all the reasons stated above by pep.

[billeau2]

I do not condemn speculation, The thread asks for speculation, so of course I approve. Picking winners is all about speculation, whether in a current fight or a mythical matchup. So speculate freely. All I care about are sincere replies.

Do folk figure Willard is just too big?

Well Chomsky was once asked about different wars in the world and whether they were righteous or not. His reply was to ask how much better the world would be if the United States support of some of the worst strong men ceased.

I'm going to use a similar narrative here and say, "before we even talk about Willard, Greb was simply not a heavyweight. And the question remains if he could ever really be competitive against a marquee heavyweight.

Let's also remember that Tunney was an ATG light heavyweight champion who was so good, that he could beat great heavyweights.