Harry Greb
Titles: Middleweight champion 1923-1926
Record: 105-8-3 with 183 No Decisions
Born: June 6, 1894 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA)
Years active: 1913-1926
Nickname: The Pittsburgh Windmill
Achieved his nickname of "The Pittsburgh Windmill" by constantly throwing
punches from the beginning to the end of the round nonstop for as many
rounds as the fight lasted, and from every conceivable angle. Like Stanley
Ketchel, Greb used any method at all to win a fight, if it meant he had to
thumb or punch his opponent low than so be it. Outside of the ring he was
a drinker and womanizer...he simply broke all the rules. He also did not
like to train so he would fight instead of training....usually in a bar.
How tough was he? Greb fought for 4 years while blind in one eye after
being thumbed by Kid Norfolk yet he still beat future heavyweight champion
Gene Tunney! Although he never weighed more than 158 pounds he thought
nothing of fighting heavyweights. He was good and simply fearless in 296
bouts he only lost 6 and two of those came against Tiger Flowers. Greb
began to box at the age of 18 and for the first few years did not travel
far beyond Pittsburgh. Greb began to make the newspapers with wins or no
decisions over the likes of Chip Brown, Jack Dillon, Battling Levingsky
and Gunboat Smith and was invited to fight in Madison Square Garden in New
York. It was a impressive debut as he gave Gene Tuney a unmerciful beating
for the American light heavyweight title and Tunney weighed 14 pounds more
than Greb at the time. It was a bloody and one sided fight as Greb jumped
on the less experienced Tunney from the opening bell and had the bigger
man bleeding from the 1st round until the end of the fight in the 15th.
Even the notoriously tough fight crowds of the time were shouting for the
referee to stop the fight. Greb could not get a world title fight against
George Carpentier however, so he drooped down in weight and defeated
Johnny Wilson to win the world middleweight title. Greb held on to both
titles with a win over Tommy Loughran at light heavyweight but Gene Tuney
came back to win the title from him in the next fight. At middleweight
Greb defended the title 6 times and held it for 3 years defeating the
likes of Mickey Walker, Tony Mauro and Ted Moore. But the fact the he was
blind in one eye, fighting very often and his increasing age were now
catching up with him. Tiger Flowers took the middleweight title from Greb
in a good fight that featured two way action but Flowers deserved to win.
The rematch ended in the same fashion. Although blind in one eye Greb
always drove at high speeds and after the Flowers fight he had a car
accident and was admitted to a hospital. While they were working to fix
his fractured nose Greb suffered a cardiac arrest and died on the
operating table. He was only 32 years old. Must be considered one of
the best fighters and characters of all time.
Harry Greb
Career record: 105 W, 8 L, 3 D, 183 ND (48 K.O's)
1913
29 May Frank Kirkwood Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
19 Jul Battling Murphy Pittsburgh, PA TKO 2
13 Aug Lloyd Crutcher Puxsutawney, PA KO 1
11 Oct Harvey "Hooks" Evans Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
22 Oct Mike Milko Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
17 Nov Mike Milko Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
29 Nov Joe Chip Pittsburgh, PA KO by 2
6 Dec Harvey Sherbine Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
12 Dec Terry Nelson Altoona, PA KO 3
1914
1 Jan Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
10 Jan Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
2 Mar Mickey Rodgers Steubenville, OH W D.Q 5
14 Apr Fay Kaiser Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
13 May Fay Kaiser Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
25 May George Lewis Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
29 May Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
15 Jun Walter Monoghan Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
29 Jun Irish Gorgas Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
20 Jul John Foley Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
27 Jul George Lewis Steubenville, OH ND 10
10 Aug Irish Gorgas Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
24 Aug Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
31 Aug John Foley Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
26 Sep Jack Fink Philadelphia, PA ND 6
14 Nov Terry Martin Philadelphia, PA ND 6
7 Dec Joe Borrell Philadelphia, PA ND 6
1915
1 Jan Bill Donovan Philadelphia, PA ND 6
8 Jan Howard Truesdale Philadelphia, PA ND 6
12 Jan Bill Miske Philadelphia, PA ND 6
25 Jan Jack Blackburn Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
10 Feb K.O. Baker Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
4 Mar Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
6 Mar Tommy Mack Washington, PA ND 6
13 Mar Jack Lavin McKeesport, PA ND 6
25 Mar Harry Baker Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
15 Apr Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
22 Apr Joe Borrell Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
24 May Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
31 May Fay Kaiser Connellsville, PA ND 6
25 Jun Fay Kaiser Cumberland, MD ND 10
12 Jul Tommy Gavigan Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
21 Jul George Hauser Elwyn, MD KO 6
22 Jul Fay Kaiser Cumberland, MD ND 10
23 Aug Al Rogers Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
13 Sep Al Rogers Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
18 Oct George Chip Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
16 Nov Tommy Gibbons St. Paul, MN ND 10
16 Dec Kid Graves Pittsburgh, PA KO by 2
1916
26 Feb Walter Monoghan Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
1 Apr Kid Manuel Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
27 Apr Grant "Kid" Clark Johnstown, PA ND 6
6 May Whitey Wenzel Charleroi, PA ND 6
3 Jun Kid Manuel Pittsburgh, PA KO 1
17 Jun Whitey Wenzel New Kensington, PA ND 10
7 Aug Al Grayber Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
28 Aug Jerry Cole Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
4 Sep Fay Kaiser Cumberland, MD W 10
16 Oct Jackie Clarke Lonaconing, MD W 10
21 Oct Harry Baker Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
4 Nov K.O. Sweeney Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
8 Nov Willie Brennan Erie, PA ND 10
14 Nov Jackie Clarke Lonaconing, MD KO 3
17 Nov Willie Brennan Buffalo, NY ND 10
24 Nov Tommy Burke Buffalo, NY KO 10
27 Nov George "K.O." Brown Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
26 Dec Bob Moha Buffalo, NY ND 10
1917
1 Jan Joe Borrell Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
13 Jan Eddie Coleman Charleroi, PA KO 2
20 Jan Jules Ritchie Philadelphia, PA KO 4
29 Jan Fay Kaiser Lonaconing, MD W 20
10 Feb Mike Gibbons Philadelphia, PA ND 6
12 Feb Willie Brennan Buffalo, NY ND 10
5 Mar Frank Brennan Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
20 Mar Tommy Gavigan McKeesport, PA KO 5
23 Mar Herman Miller Johnstown, PA KO 5
2 Apr Young Ahearn Pittsburgh, PA KO 1
14 Apr Al Rogers Charleroi, PA ND 10
16 Apr Zulu Kid Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
30 Apr Al McCoy Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
5 May Jackie Clarke Cumberland, MD D 20
9 May Harry Baker Uniontown, PA KO 1
19 May Jeff Smith Buffalo, NY ND 10
22 May George Chip Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
14 Jun Frank Mantell Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
2 Jul Buck Crouse Pittsburgh, PA TKO 7
30 Jul Jack Dillon Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
6 Sep Battling Levinsky Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
11 Sep Jeff Smith Milwaukee, WI ND 10
14 Sep Jack London New York, NY TKO 9
17 Sep George K.O. Brown Dayton, OH TKO 9
22 Sep Battling Kopin Charleroi, PA TKO 4
24 Sep Johnny Howard New York, NY TKO 9
6 Oct Billy Kramer Philadelphia, PA ND 6
11 Oct Gus Christie Buffalo, NY ND 10
19 Oct Len Rowlands Milwaukee, WI ND 10
23 Oct Gus Christie Chatanooga,TN W 8
2 Nov Soldier Bartfield Buffalo, NY ND 10
19 Nov George Chip Cincinnati, OH ND 10
3 Dec Willie Meehan Pittsburgh, PA ND 6
5 Dec George Ashe Johnstown, PA ND 10
8 Dec Terry Martin Charleroi, PA KO 3
17 Dec Gus Christie Charleroi, PA ND 12
25 Dec Whitey Wenzel Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
1918
4 Jan Terry Kellar Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
14 Jan Battling Kopin Charleroi, PA KO 1
21 Jan Augie Ratner New Orleans, LA W 20
29 Jan Zulu Kid Bridgeport, CT W 14
4 Feb Jack Hubbard Lonaconing, MD KO 3
18 Feb Bob Moha Cincinnati, OH ND 10
25 Feb Mike O'Dowd St. Paul, MN ND 10
4 Mar Jack Dillon Toledo, OH ND 12
11 Mar Mike McTigue Cleveland, OH ND 10
18 Mar Willie Langford Buffalo, NY ND 6
13 May Al McCoy Cincinnati, OH ND 10
15 May Clay Turner Bridgeport, CT W 15
20 May Soldier Bartfield Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
29 May Soldier Bartfield Toledo, OH ND 15
20 Jun Zulu Kid New York, NY ND 6
24 Jun Frank Carbone Bridgeport, CT W 15
4 Jul Bob Moha Rock Island, IL ND 10
16 Jul Soldier Bartfield Philadelphia, PA ND 6
27 Jul Eddy McGoorty Ft. Sheridan, PA ND 10
6 Aug Battling Levinsky Philadelphia,PA ND 6
9 Aug Clay Turner Jersey City, NJ ND 8
21 Sep Billy Miske Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
11 Dec Corp. Baker London, England KO 1 Army bout
12 Dec Pvt. George Ring London, England L 4 Army bout
1919
14 Jan Leo Houck Boston, MA W 12
20 Jan Young Fisher Syracuse, NY ND 10
23 Jan Paul Sampson Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
27 Jan Soldier Bartfield Columbus, OH ND 12
31 Jan Tommy Robson Cleveland, OH ND 10
3 Feb Len Rowlands Pittsburgh, PA KO 3
10 Feb Bill Brennan Syracuse, NY ND 10
17 Feb Battling Levinsky Buffalo, NY ND 10
28 Feb Chuck Wiggins Toledo, OH ND 10
3 Mar Chuck Wiggins Detroit, MI ND 8
6 Mar Leo Houck Lancaster, PA ND 6
17 Mar Bill Brennan Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
25 Mar Happy Howard Johnstown, PA ND 10
31 Mar Billy Miske Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
2 Apr Tommy Madden Butler, PA KO 2
7 Apr Young Fisher Syracuse, NY ND 10
8 Apr "One Round" Davis Buffalo, NY ND 10
25 Apr Leo Houck Erie, PA ND 10
28 Apr Battling Levinsky Canton, OH ND 12
6 May Clay Turner Boston, MA W 12
8 May Willie Meehan Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
13 May Bartley Madden Buffalo, NY ND 10
26 May Tommy Robson Syracuse, NY ND 10
16 Jun Joe Borrell Philadelphia, PA KO 5
20 Jun Yankee Gilbert Wheeling, W. Va TKO 4
23 Jun Mike Gibbons Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
4 Jul Bill Brennan Tulsa, OK W 15
14 Jul Battling Levinsky Philadelphia, PA ND 6
16 Jul George K.O. Brown Wheeling, W. Va W 10
24 Jul Joe Chip Youngstown, OH ND 12
11 Aug Terry Kellar Dayton, OH W 15
23 Aug Bill Brennan Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
1 Sep Jeff Smith Youngstown, OH ND 12
3 Sep Battling Levinsky Wheeling, W. Va ND 10
18 Sep Silent Martin St. Louis, MO ND 8
13 Oct Sailor Petroskey Philadelphia, PA ND 6
17 Nov George K.O. Brown Canton, OH ND 12
24 Nov Larry Williams Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
27 Nov Zulu Kid Beaver Falls, PA ND 10
29 Nov Soldier Jones Buffalo, NY KO 5
10 Dec Clay Turner Buffalo, NY ND 10
12 Dec Mike McTigue Binghamton, NY ND 10
15 Dec Billy Kramer Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
22 Dec Clay Turner Philadelphia, PA ND 6
1920
6 Feb Zulu Kid Kalamazoo, MI ND 10
21 Feb Bob Roper Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
9 Mar Clay Turner Akron, OH ND 12
22 Mar Larry Williams Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
17 Mar Tommy Robson Dayton, OH W 12
25 Mar George K.O. Brown Denver, CO W 12
5 Apr Capt. Bob Roper Denver, CO W 12
15 May Tommy Gibbons Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
2 Jun Clay Turner Philadelphia, PA ND 8
28 Jun Frank Carbone Rochester, NY ND 10
5 Jul Bob Moha Canton, OH ND 12
8 Jul Larry Williams Buffalo, NY ND 10
31 Jul Tommy Gibbons Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
14 Aug Bob Moha Cedar Point, MI ND 10
20 Aug Chuck Wiggins Kalamazoo, MI ND 10
28 Aug Ted Jamison Grand Rapids, MI ND 10
6 Sep Chuck Wiggins Benton Harbor, MI ND 6
22 Sep Ted Jamison Milwaukee, WI KO 6
21 Oct Gunboat Smith South Bend, IN KO 1
28 Oct Mickey Shannon Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
10 Nov Bartley Madden Kalamazoo, MI ND 10
22 Nov Bob Moha Milwaukee, WI ND 10
11 Dec Jack Duffy Pittsburgh, PA KO 6
21 Dec Capt. Bob Roper Boston, MA W 10
25 Dec Jeff Smith Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
1921
20 Jan Johnny Celmars Dallas, TX W 10
29 Jan Pal Reed Boston, MA W 10
25 Feb Jeff Smith Boston, MA W 10
16 Mar Jack Renault Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
1 Apr Happy Littleton New Orleans, LA W 15
6 Apr Jack Renault Montreal, Que., Canada ND 10
11 Apr Soldier Jones Toronto, Ont., Canada KO 4
5 May Bartley Madden Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
13 May Jimmy Darcy Boston, MA W 10
20 May Jeff Smith New Orleans, LA D 15
29 May Chuck Wiggins South Bend, IN ND 10
24 Jun Chuck Wiggins Terre Haute, IN ND 10
29 Aug Kid Norfolk Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
5 Sep Chuck Wiggins Huntington, WV ND 10
20 Sep Joe Cox New York, NY W 10
24 Oct Jimmy Darcy Buffalo, NY W 10
4 Nov Charles Weinert New York, NY W 15
11 Nov Billy Shade Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
25 Nov Homer Smith Newark, NJ KO 6
6 Dec Fay Kaiser Philadelphia, PA ND 8
23 Dec Whitey Allen Syracuse, NY TKO 7
1922
2 Jan Chuck Wiggins Cincinnati, OH ND 10
1 Feb Hugh Walker Grand Rapids, MI ND 10
20 Feb Jeff Smith Cincinnati, OH ND 10
13 Mar Tommy Gibbons New York, NY W 15
12 May Al Roberts Boston, MA KO 5
23 May Gene Tunney New York, NY W 15
(Won Vacant World Light Heavyweight Title)
26 Jun Hughey Walker Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
10 Jul Tommy Loughran Philadelphia, PA ND 8
26 Sep Al Benedict Toronto, Ont., Canada KO 2
29 Sep Capt. Bob Roper Grand Rapids, MI ND 10
27 Oct Larry Williams Mariesville, RI TKO 4
10 Nov Capt. Bob Roper Buffalo, NY W 12
1923
1 Jan Capt. Bob Roper Pittsburgh, PA ND 12
15 Jan Tommy Loughran Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
22 Jan Billy Shade Jersey City, NJ ND 12
30 Jan Tommy Loughran New York, NY W 15
(Retained American Light Heavyweight Title)
5 Feb Pal Reed Newark, NJ ND 12
16 Feb Young Fisher Syracuse, NY W 12
23 Feb Gene Tunney New York, NY L 15
(Lost American Light Heavyweight Title)
16 Jun Len Rowlands PA KO 3
31 Aug Johnny Wilson New York, NY W 15
(Won World Middleweight Title)
4 Oct Jimmy Darcy Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
11 Oct Tommy Loughran Boston, MA L 10
22 Oct Lou Bogash Jersey City, NJ ND 12
5 Nov Soldier Jones Pittsburgh, PA ND 10
15 Nov Chuck Wiggins Grand Rapids, MI ND 10
3 Dec Bryan Downey Pittsburgh, PA W 10
(Retained World Middleweight Title)
10 Dec Gene Tunney New York, NY L 15
(For American Light Heavyweight Title)
26 Dec Tommy Loughran Pittsburgh, PA W 10
1924
18 Jan Johnny Wilson New York, NY W 15
(Retained World Middleweight Title)
22 Feb Jack Reeves Oakland, Ca W 4
24 Mar Fay Kaiser Baltimore, MD KO 12
(Retained World Middleweight Title)
19 Apr Kid Norfolk Boston, MA L D.Q 6
5 May Jackie Clark Kenilworth, MD KO 2
12 May Pal Reed Pittsburgh, PA W 10
12 Jun Martin Burke Cleveland, OH ND 10
16 Jun Frank Moody Waterbury, CT KO 6
26 Jun Ted Moore New York, NY W 15
(Retained World Middleweight Title)
21 Aug Tiger Flowers Fremont, OH ND 10
4 Sep Jimmy Slattery Buffalo, NY W 6
15 Sep Billy Hirsch Steubenville, OH KO 8
17 Sep Gene Tunney Cleveland, OH ND 10
13 Oct Tommy Loughran Philadelphia, PA D 10
11 Nov Lew Comasana Phillipsburg, PA KO 3
17 Nov Jimmy Delaney Pittsburgh, PA W 10
25 Nov Frankie Ritz Wheeling, W. Va. KO 2
1925
1 Jan Augie Ratner Pittsburgh, PA W 10
9 Jan Bob Sage Detroit, MI ND 10
19 Jan Johnny Papke Zanesville, OH KO 7
30 Jan Jimmy Delaney St. Paul, MN ND 10
17 Feb Billy Britton Allentown, PA W 10
23 Feb Young Fisher Scranton, PA W D.Q 6
27 Mar Gene Tunney St. Paul, MN ND 10
17 Apr Johnny Wilson Boston, MA W 10
24 Apr Jack Reddick Toronto, Ont., Canada W 10
1 May Quintin Romero Detroit, MI W 10
6 May Billy Britton Columbus, OH W 12
29 May Tommy Burns Indianapolis, IN ND 10
1 Jun Soldier Buck Louisville, KY ND 10
5 Jun Jimmy Nuss Marquette, MI KO 5
2 Jul Mickey Walker New York, NY W 15
(Retained World Middleweight Title)
16 Jul Maxie Rosenbloom Cleveland, OH ND 10
23 Jul Billy Britton Columbus, OH W 10
27 Jul Ralph Brooks Wichita, KS ND 10
31 Jul Otis Bryant Tulsa, OK KO 3
4 Aug Ed "K.O." Smith KS KO 4
12 Aug Pat Walsh Atlantic City, NJ KO 2
17 Aug Tommy Burns Detroit, MI W 10
12 Oct Tony Marullo Pittsburgh, PA W 10
13 Nov Tony Marullo New Orleans, LA W 15
(Retained World Middleweight Title)
14 Dec Soldier Buck Nashville, TN W 8
1926
11 Jan Roland Todd Toronto, Ont., Canada W 12
19 Jan Joe Lohman Omaha, NE W 10
26 Jan Ted Moore Los Angeles, CA W 10
29 Jan Buck Holly Hollywood, CA KO 5
3 Feb Jimmy Delaney Oakland, CA W 10
12 Feb Owen Phelps Prescott, AZ W 10
26 Feb Tiger Flowers New York, NY L 15
(Lost World Middleweight Title)
1 Jun Art Wiegand Buffalo, NY W 10
15 Jun Allentown Joe Gans Wilkes-Barre, PA W 10
19 Aug Tiger Flowers New York, NY L 15