Harry Greb:'Nobody can get (Dempsey) in good enough condition to whip Gene'

[BigStereotype]

Jorgenson never mentioned that quote in his autobiography of Greb.... also that quote is meaningless it is like Bernard Hopkins claiming no one can get Lewis in shape to fight Vitali.

Whether or not you agree with it is entirely different. You can take Harry Greb's biographer at his word in a Harry Greb biography, especially that quote shows up multiple times. Taking a Harry Greb biographer at his word when he comes up with an unsourced and outlandish claim like Lewis being an obvious steroid abuser is. If you're going to go that far, how do we know Lincoln actually gave the Gettysburg address? Nobody around actually saw him do it.

[Joeyzagz]

Jorgenson never mentioned that quote in his autobiography of Greb.... also that quote is meaningless it is like Bernard Hopkins claiming no one can get Lewis in shape to fight Vitali.

Bernard Hopkins never beat Vitali and never sparred with Lennox. Nice try though


The main difference between Fair's quote and Jorgensens opinion on steroids, is that we have been hearing for decades about how Greb dominated Jack in sparring...from different sources.

The steroid thing hasnt been corroborated with any credible sources and is basically heresay on Jorgensens part.

[sonnyboyx2]

Bernard Hopkins never beat Vitali and never sparred with Lennox. Nice try though


The main difference between Fair's quote and Jorgensens opinion on steroids, is that we have been hearing for decades about how Greb dominated Jack in sparring...from different sources.

The steroid thing hasnt been corroborated with any credible sources and is basically heresay on Jorgensens part.

Then we can bring up the Lewis v Ruiz sparring sessions

[Wild Blue Yonda]

It's one of Boxing's great, lasting debates --- who'd have won between a prime Dempsey, & the Tunney who twice beat him so convincingly?

Would've been a fantastic tussle, & near-even betting, for mine.

[Barn]

It's one of Boxing's great, lasting debates --- who'd have won between a prime Dempsey, & the Tunney who twice beat him so convincingly?

Would've been a fantastic tussle, & near-even betting, for mine.

A prime Dempsey vs Prime Tunney could easily be a fight of the decade candidate.

[TheGreatA]

Greb later said that Dempsey would easily beat Tunney, but this was probably in an attempt to shift the odds as Greb supposedly made a large amount of money betting on Tunney to win. A shrewd man he was.

[Kid McCoy]

I would put my money on a prime dempsey knocking greb out if they would ever met

Maybe Dempsey would have won. He would have been favourite but I don't see it as a certainty. Greb handled their common opponents at least as well as Dempsey did. He won lop-sided decisions over Gibbons and Brennan not long before they fought Dempsey. He beat Tunney, which Dempsey couldn't do. Carpentier wouldn't even spar with Greb.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Maybe Dempsey would have won. He would have been favourite but I don't see it as a certainty. Greb handled their common opponents at least as well as Dempsey did. He won lop-sided decisions over Gibbons and Brennan not long before they fought Dempsey. He beat Tunney, which Dempsey couldn't do. Carpentier wouldn't even spar with Greb.

In fairness though, while Greb did beat Tunney once, he also lost a few fights to him. He had more cracks at Tunney than Dempsey did. That, & Dempsey's own peak had passed him by when he finally did face Tunney. The first fight, Dempsey was not just beyond his better years, but he was sickly coming in, & was battling three years of ring-rust to boot. Those take a good chunk of the gloss off of Tunney's first victory.

As for their rematch, Dempsey was definitely in better condition. The reflexes had faded & the explosiveness now was on display only in spurts (the 7th round, the most famous example), but he had knocked out a strong, talented young man in Sharkey (albeit, controversially), & was a more formidable fighter than he had been first-time around. Tunney did beat him again almost as easily as the first time, to give him his due.

How Dempsey would've fared in his pomp against the Tunney who schooled him is, as said, a very old debate. I tend to marginally, marginally favour Dempsey, but those who've followed my posts for the short time I've been here have seen the deep respect I have for Tunney, whom I consider to be the greatest LHW of all-time. He'd be nearly 50-50 with a prime Dempsey. Very nearly.

[Great John L]

In all honesty, I can't see Harry ever beating Jack. Harry was a great fighter, but I think the sparring session gets too much credit. Jack was so much bigger, way stronger, faster hands, more vicious, and he was also a great boxer. He got out of control sometiems but when he was focused he was an amazingly skilled boxer.

Catching up to Harry and solving his wild style may be a little difficult, but I think before long Jack will whip out a left hook and take him out.

[Barn]

Greb later said that Dempsey would easily beat Tunney, but this was probably in an attempt to shift the odds as Greb supposedly made a large amount of money betting on Tunney to win. A shrewd man he was.

You gotta love Greb same with the way he won the title it was amazing, saying he had only been out partying but, came out in the best shape in his career and Johnny Wilson was under prepared.