4. Harry Greb Decisions Gene Tunney for Light-Heavyweight Title, 1923
Munhall’s Harry Greb was one of the greatest fighters in boxing history. Known as “the Pittsburgh Windmill,” he had the ferocity of a street fighter in the ring. In his career, he fought in nearly 300 bouts and, while suffering two TKOs, was never knocked out. He won the light-heavyweight title from Gene Tunney in 1922 and the middleweight title from Johnny Wilson the following year. He also successfully defended his middleweight title against the welterweight champion, Mickey Walker. Greb fought Tunney five times. In their first bout, Greb soundly defeated the previously undefeated light-heavyweight champion. A few months later, Tunney regained his crown from Greb in a controversial decision. After two draws, Tunney soundly defeated Greb in their fifth and final meeting. Tunney claimed that in his loss to Greb in their first meeting, he suffered the most savage beating of his career.
Greb Light-Heavy Champion
Pittsburgher Wins U.S. Title in 15-Round Battle with Tunney
Ten Thousand Fistiana Followers in Madison Square Garden, New York, See Hitherto Undefeated Ex-Soldier Lose Laurels in Grueling Bout—Blood Pours from Eye, Nose, Mouth
NEW YORK—May 23—The dope panned out properly in Madison Square Garden tonight when Harry Greb, Pittsburgh’s greatest fighter, left the ring at the conclusion of a hard 15-round bout with Gene Tunney. He was the new American light-heavyweight champion, and the logical next opponent for a battle with Georges Carpentier for the championship of the world at 175 pounds.
Greb won the decision of the two judges and the referee.
There was little doubt that the officials would give the award to the man who had entered the ring the challenger, and when the announcement was made the house let loose a roar of approval.
The crowd did not come up to expectations considering that a championship was involved in the main event. The advance sale of tickets was considerably below par, and, although the fans came in large numbers in the last couple of hours the capacity of the Garden was not tested. The attendance was probably about 10,000.
Tunney put up the great fight the writer expected of him. He was not good enough to beat down the ever-rushing Pittsburgher, but he went to his defeat at least with the heart of a champion.
Tunney Hits Solidly
He stood up and fought all the time and there were several times during the contest when Greb did not have things all his own way. Tunney hit solidly to the head and body, particularly to the body with both hands. A few times he popped Greb squarely on the chin with a heavy right, but as usual such punishment merely made Greb fight back harder.
Up until tonight Tunney had never been beaten in a bout. He fought his way through the A.E.F and won the light-heavyweight championship of the Army in France. Upon his return to this country he won every bout in which he participated and won the championship from Battling Levinsky in the same ring in which he met defeat tonight.
Gibbons Easier than Gene
Greb found Tommy Gibbons a much easier man to beat than he did Tunney. Gibbons was slow and did not do one-tenth the hard fighting that Tunney put across. Gene showed his pluck after getting away with a most discouraging start. His nose bled from a punch received in the first mix-up of the fight and the crimson smeared his features.
In the sixth round his left eye was badly cut and the gore poured from it throughout the remainder of the bout. In the latter rounds he was bleeding from the eye, nose and mouth. Greb left the ring unmarked except for some puffing around the face.
The two men fought at a terrific clip until Tunney tired in the last three rounds. Harry was in great condition and fast, but he did not appear to be as speedy as he was when he defeated Tommy Gibbons here on March 13. This was due to the fact that Tunney also was fast and kept moving around with him.
Greb Follows Rushing Tactics
Greb fought his usual rushing bout, while Tunney confined most of his efforts to trying to catch him coming in and score with swings to the body. He planted a number of these and after the first four or five rounds they appeared to have their effect on Greb, but Harry’s wonderful vitality came to his aid and he got back into his best stride again.
Greb weighed in at 162¼ pounds at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Tunney’s weight was 174½ pounds.
Tunney was popular with the crowd. He received a tremendous ovation when he entered the ring, probably due as much to his war reputation as his ring fighting ability. Greb also was well received. Greb entered the ring the favorite and at vague odds. The wagering was abnormally light. The Greb people for the most part were unable to get down their money.
Little Cash Back of Tunney
In the lobby of the Pennsylvania Hotel, where the Pittsburgh delegation held forth, wild rumors were circulated from time to time to the effect that Tunney backers were willing to offer 1 to 2 or 1 to 2½ on their favorite, but none of the money could be corralled. The Tunney backers simply weren’t on the scene. They gave Gene their moral support but feared to place their coin against the chances of Greb.
At several times during the bout the fighting was so hot that the spectators jumped and cheered. In the thirteenth round when Tunney suddenly staged a rally after winning the proceeding round, one excited spectator flipped his brand-new straw hat into the ring and it passed out on the other side.
Greb’s Plans Indefinite
Tunney was a far better fighter tonight than he was when he recently appeared before a Pittsburgh crowd and knocked out John Burke. He looked better in defeat tonight than he did in victory on the former occasion. He was every bit worthy of Greb’s mettle and Harry whipped a good man and a game one when he added his first title to a long string of conquests.
Greb’s plans for the immediate future are indefinite. The chances are however that he will not appear in any but important bouts for at least several months.