The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-24

Harry Greb DecisiueIy Defeats
Gene Tunney and Becomes NelDly
Crowned King of Light HeaUies
RY FAIR PLAY.

Copyright, 1922, by The Argus.)
New York, May 24.-Harry Greb,
newly crowned king of American
light-heavyweights, sits upon his
throne today not in the defensive
position of a potentate fearful for
the safety of kingly ermine and
emoluments, but in the mood of
Alexander, Napoleon and the rest
of the champs who sought new
worlds to conquer. Harry will
prove to be fighting champion,
and the signs On the horizon are
that his bellicose instincts will be
gratified before the leaves begin
to turn.
Just at the moment, however, tho
lightning flashes and thunder rolls
of q memorable battle in Madison
Square garden, where Gene Tun-
ney, the former title holder, went
down to defeat before the unceas-
ing fists and amazing energy of the
Pittsburgh wildcat
Victory went to Greb on a decis-
ion after he had cut Tunney's face
to ribbons and belabored his body
for IS of the Is rounds. So clear
cut was Greb's lead that many left
before the last round ended, certain
as to what the verdict would be.
FulfiIls Destiny.
Just the same it was a man to
man combat of epic quality and
dramatic incidents, on the one hand
fighter desperately seeking to
demonstrate his right to continue
to stand among the pugilistic kings
=, Ill
born champion who until Tuesday
night had waited upon fate to pro-
vide him with opportunity to fulfill
his destiny.
When men of destiny take the
ring less exalted opponents are
beaten before they put up their
hands. So with Gene Tunney.
The drama began when the pre-
liminary and semi-final bouts had
been decided and the fighters were
out of the ring First came Greb
in a gray bathrobe, with green
trunks beneath. His reception,
while generous, was a mere ripple
of enthusiasm to the uproar that
greeted Gene Tunney, New York's
own son, as he clambered into his
corner. He, too, wore an unemo-
tional bathrobe and green trunks.
The violet lights from the over
head cluster beat down upon the
two fighters half hidden by a
swirling group of photographers,
movie men, fan swingers, off Gals,
and so forth AS the two men doff-
ed their robes and stood poised for
the benefit of the photographers,
the vast discrepancy in size and in
appearance was graphically mark
ed. Tunney was tall. handsome.
His level gray, Irish eyes were
friendly Smiles became them.
His face was we'll modelled and his
body study for sculptor.
1.-the as a Panther.
Greb was smaller, 1.-THE as a pan
Their. His dark eyes smouldered in
a swarthy face that would be as
noticeable for good looks as Car
pentier's were it not for the nose
that some fist had broadened and
fattened.
Clang went the bell, and as ST
lence came upon the throng the
two took the ring. In slashed Greb.
Tunney met him willingly with
some body uppercuts. Then sud-
denly Greb cut loose with a blow
he invented, a right lead which was
more than a right cross.
Bang it went against Tunney's left
eye, the blood squirting and cover
ing Referee McPartland's shirt.
But Tunney laced back, and the
first round, while Greb's, was not
to the Tunney we'll
wishers. Second round the same.