The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-31
By ROBERT EDGREN.

TOM GIBBONS and Harry Greb
are matched for a fifteen
round decision bout at Madison
Square Garden in November.
This ought to be one of the best
contests of the year between Dig
men. It will show whether or not
Jack Dempsey is to have another
challenger. II Gibbons can get
away with Greb there isn't a doubt
that he can give even Dempsey a
fight, for Greb has often worked
out with Dempsey and is the one
sparring partner who could make
the champion step.
Gibbons and Greb are the pick of
Americas light heavyweights.
There has been a keen rivalry be-
tween them. Each tried hard to get
a match with Carpenter before the
Frenchman fought Dempsey. In
fact Greb would have been matched
with Carpenter. when he first came
to this country to fight, II promot-
ers and the wise ones" backing the
French champion hadn't been a lit
tie bit doubtful of the outcome of
such fight.
When the question OF giving car
pentier bout came up I recon-
mended Greb as the best man avail
able in his class. and the sugges-
tion was received coldly. A few
days later it was announced that
Carpenter would fight Battling Le-,
whisky. The outcome showed that
the Frenchman's supporters were
taking no chances. They knew Bat
Levinsky was all through as a first
class boxer. and that he'd be easy
picking for Georges. 1t turned out
just that way. Levinsky made
hardly any figh. at all, and was
easily knocked out.
If Harry Greb had been IN the
ring that day over In Jersey there
might have been another story to
tell when the fight was over, and
possibly there might not have been
Dempsey-Carpentie match after
ward.
Greb Lacks Weight.
Greb is a small light-heavy-
weight. He might possibly make
the modern middleweight limit or
$50 pounds. For all that he is a
powerful, stocky fellow-a heavy
weight in everything but tipping
the scales. He is like some of the
great welters and middleweights of
a few years ago who fought all the
big heavyweights, and his. short
stature-only feet 8 inches-has
been no handicap to him in the
ring.
1t may be remembered that we've
had some wonderfully good men who
were no taller than Gpeb. Sam
Langford, who was one of the best
a few years ago, stood only 5 feet
81 inches. Joe walcott, who, as
welterweight champion, knocked
out heavyweight Joe Choynski ana
challenged Tom Sharkey, Jim Cor
bett; Gus Rubin, Peter Maher and
many other heavyweights' immedi-
ately afterward. without Ssetting an
answer from any Of them, was only
5 feet l inch tall.
Tom Sharkey, who gave. big Jim
Jeffries a terrific twenty-five round
fight for the worlds championship
was only feet s4s inches tall, ana
Jeffries still tells me that of all the
men he ever fought Tom Sharkey
gave him the most trouble, because
he could hit Tom with everything
he had, break few of Toms ribs,
batter him all over the ring, and
never stop his furious rushes or his
wild swings for a moment.
Has Good Record.
Harry Greb is 81 years old and
has been fighting eight years. He
has met a lot of the best heavy
weights in the country, among them
Billy Miske, Bob Moha, Bat Lee
whisky, Jack Dillon, Gunboat Smith,
Bill Brennan and Bob Roper.
He knocked out Gunboat Smith in
a round last year. To show what
he can do with a fast, clever man,
he knocked out Young Ahearn in
round back in 1917, when Ahearn
was good. He beat Bob Roper
twice.
In 1919 Greb beat Bill Brennan In
fifteen rounds. and fought him
three times more in no decision
bouts. He thinks he can beat Bren-
nan any time. and the tough fight
Bill gave Dempsey didn't shake
Greb's condolences. He's always
looking for a Brennan match.
AS a middleweight Harry made a
remarkable record. lighting all the
best of them. He has beaten Frank
Mantell, Buck Grouse, Knockout
Brown. Johnny Howard. Gus Chris
tie. George Chip. $ugie Rather. Zulu