Harry Greb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harry Greb |
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Edward Henry Greb |
| Nickname(s) | The Pittsburgh Windmill |
| Rated at | Welterweight Middleweight Light heavyweight Heavyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Born | June 6, 1894 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 22, 1926 (aged 32) Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 299; with the inclusion of newspaper decisions |
| Wins | 261 |
| Wins by KO | 49 |
| Losses | 16 |
| Draws | 19 |
| No contests | 1 |
Edward Henry Greb (born June 6, 1894 – died October 22, 1926) was an American professional boxer. People called him "The Pittsburgh Windmill" because he threw so many punches, like a windmill spinning fast. Many boxing experts believe he was one of the greatest boxers ever, especially when comparing fighters of different sizes.
Harry Greb was the American light heavyweight boxing champion from 1922 to 1923. He also held the world middleweight champion title from 1923 to 1926. In his 13-year career, he fought an amazing 298 times! He started as a lighter boxer (a welterweight), but he often fought and beat much heavier opponents, even heavyweights.
Greb had a very aggressive and fast fighting style. He would rush his opponents with a flurry of punches. He was also very good at moving around the ring, quickly darting in and out. He was known for using clever tricks during fights, like spinning his opponents. What's even more incredible is that he kept fighting many matches even after he became blind in one eye due to an old injury. He was also very tough, only losing twice by knockout in his entire career. Harry Greb is still considered one of the best fighters of all time by many boxing organizations.
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Harry Greb's Amazing Boxing Career
Harry Greb started his professional boxing journey in 1913. He mostly fought near his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. By 1915, he was already facing top boxers, including famous fighters like Tommy Gibbons. He even fought the middleweight champion, George Chip, twice. Back then, official winners weren't always announced, so newspapers would decide who won. Greb lost these early fights but later got his revenge!
In 1917, Harry Greb fought 37 times, which is a record! He won 34 of those fights. He beat the light heavyweight champion, Battling Levinsky, and other strong fighters like Jack Dillon and Willie Meehan. Even with all these wins, he didn't get a chance to fight for a title right away.
After a couple of setbacks in early 1918, Greb went on an incredible winning streak, winning 52 fights in a row! During this time, he beat many future champions and tough opponents multiple times.
Fighting with Vision Problems
In 1921, during a fight with Kid Norfolk, Harry Greb was accidentally poked in his right eye. This injury is believed to have caused a serious problem with his eye, which eventually led to him losing his sight in that eye. Amazingly, Greb kept this injury a secret from almost everyone, including doctors! He even memorized eye charts to pass his pre-fight physicals. He continued to fight with only one good eye. Later, he even lost some vision in his left eye, which made him always sleep with a light on.
Harry Greb vs. Gene Tunney: A Legendary Rivalry
One of Harry Greb's most famous fights was on May 23, 1922, against Gene Tunney. Tunney was undefeated and the American light heavyweight champion. In the very first round, Greb broke Tunney's nose and caused a deep cut above his eye. Greb hit Tunney so hard that the referee had to wipe blood off Greb's gloves! Greb wanted the referee to stop the fight, but Tunney, incredibly tough, refused to give up. He even smiled through the pain to show he was okay.
After 15 brutal rounds, Tunney was covered in blood, and Greb was declared the winner. This was Tunney's first and only professional loss, and it was named the "Fight of the Year" for 1922.
Greb later fought Tunney again in February 1923. This time, Tunney won in a very close and debated decision. Many people watching thought Greb had won, and they booed when Tunney was announced as the winner.
Greb and Tunney fought three more times. Tunney won the next fight, and the one after that was called a "no decision" draw, meaning no official winner was declared. In their fifth and final fight, Tunney was the one giving Greb a tough time. Near the end of the match, Greb supposedly asked Tunney not to knock him out. Tunney agreed, showing great respect for Greb. Tunney later became the heavyweight champion, and Harry Greb remained the only boxer who ever beat him. Tunney even helped carry Greb's coffin at his funeral.
Becoming Middleweight Champion
Just one month after losing his light heavyweight title to Tunney, Greb aimed for the middleweight championship. On August 31, 1923, he fought Johnny Wilson for the world middleweight title. Greb won the tough 15-round fight and became champion. He then beat Wilson again in a rematch in January 1924.
Greb vs. Mickey Walker
One of Greb's most important title defenses was against welterweight champion Mickey Walker in July 1925. Many thought Greb would struggle to make the weight, but he weighed in perfectly. In the early rounds, Walker attacked Greb's body. But as the fight went on, Greb took control, landing many punches. In the 14th round, Greb tried to knock out a tired Walker with a storm of punches. Walker held on, and Greb won by a unanimous decision, keeping his championship title.
Later Career and Retirement
By 1926, Harry Greb was 32 years old and had fought many tough battles. He was no longer at his peak. In February 1926, he fought Tiger Flowers, a clever defensive boxer. Flowers won the middleweight title from Greb in a close and debated decision. Flowers beat Greb again six months later in an even more controversial fight, with fans protesting the outcome. Greb later said that was one fight he truly believed he won. This was the last fight of his amazing career.
Retirement and Passing
After his last fight, Harry Greb retired from boxing. He planned to open his own gym in Pittsburgh. In September 1926, he had his injured right eye removed and replaced with a glass eye. He then went to a clinic in Atlantic City for surgery on his nose and breathing passages, which were damaged from his boxing career and car accidents. Sadly, there were problems during the surgery, and he passed away from heart failure on October 22, 1926. Harry Greb was buried in Calvary Cemetery in his hometown.
Harry Greb's Legacy
Harry Greb is remembered for his incredible fighting spirit. He was always willing to face any opponent, no matter how tough or how much bigger they were. He was also praised for fighting skilled African-American boxers like Kid Norfolk and Tiger Flowers during a time when many white boxers refused to do so.
In his career, Greb fought 16 boxers who are now in the Hall of Fame, facing them a total of 48 times! He won 32 of those fights, lost 11, and had 5 draws. In 1919 alone, he fought 45 times and won every single one, which is an unbelievable achievement that is unlikely to ever be repeated by modern boxers. Harry Greb was honored by being inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1955 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Images for kids
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Harry Greb, "The Pittsburgh Windmill"
