Tommy Gibbons Vs. Harry Greb

The photo above can be purchased at www.heavyweightcollectibles.com

 

 

These two Hall of Famers fought each other 4 times in their careers. The first 3 fights were "No-Decision" fights. The final bout was in 1922 and Greb won the decision.

The photo above is from the March 17th, 1922 issue of "The Oklahoman" newspaper, page 15. This shows the two boxers during their final fight together. 


1915
Nov 16	1915	Greb vs. Gibbons			St.Paul		ND 10 (Newspapers win for Gibbons)

The Pittsburgh Post reported that Greb held his own in the fourth round and Gibbons won all of the others. Gibbons showed a brilliant left jab, plus plenty of straight rights and right uppercuts. Greb was very aggressive and his punches carried a lot of steam, but Gibbons made him miss a lot and was much more accurate. Tommy gave Harry a real beating in the 9th and 10th. Greb was in tough shape at the end of the 9th after taking a terrific overhand right, followed by a two-handed battering.

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1920
May 15	1920	Greb vs. Gibbons			Pitts.		ND 10  (Newspapers win for Gibbons)

Newspaper win for Gibbons according to the Pittsburgh Post. Greb "took the licking of his life." Gibbons won 7 rounds, Greb only two (narrowly), and the third round was even. "Gibbons astonished the fans with the speed and accuracy of his punches, and his ability to make Harry miss and look bad. Gibbons has made a believer of this writer (Florent Gibson), who did not believe him of the same caliber as Greb. Ringsiders declared..that Harry looked awfully bad and didn't fight his usual fight." Gibbons "seemed to solve Greb's attack with ease." He marked up Greb badly but didn't hurt him too much. "Gibbons was the aggressor at all stages. He had Harry backing away from the start..and this is unusual." Greb even had to hold in the last three rounds. Greb occasionally switched around and surprised Gibbons, but not much. Gibbons made Greb's right hand almost useless. Greb did win the 5th and 6th rounds but he definitely took a licking.

Jul 31	1920	Greb vs. Gibbons			Pitts.		ND 10  (Newspapers win for Greb)

Newspaper win for Greb according to the Pittsburgh Post. The fight occurred at 4:30 PM on a hot July afternoon before 12,000 fans. According to Florent Gibson, Greb won 7 rounds, Gibbons took the 2nd and 6th, and the 3rd was even. It was a rugged, slashing battle. At the end of six rounds the fight was close. In the 7th a heavy rain started to fall and the spectators ran for cover. The men fought on and Greb seemed invigorated. He started landing well and Gibbons then hurt him with a smashing right to the jaw. Greb replied with a terrific rally that caused Gibbons to cover and Greb won the round. The rain continued to pour down through the final three rounds and it grew dark as twilight. Florent Gibson stayed out in the rain and described the fight to the other writers, who took shelter under the ring. "Those last four rounds were novelties, but I doubt that the fans in the stands saw much of them." Greb fought one of his greatest battles "in a furious electrical storm." As the rain poured, Greb was "all over Gibbons" and manhandled him. Gibbons had trouble getting set for his punches; the conditions seemed to favor Greb, the great improviser. Gibbons lost his temper and his effectiveness.

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1922
Mar 13	1922	Greb vs. Gibbons			NewYork		Greb W15 (greb wins by decision)

A round by round description of this fight is listed below. Greb landed "a million punches" and had the upper hand throughout. Mrs. Greb was present at this fight.

 

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CLICK HERE TO SEE TOMMY GIBBONS IN QUICKTIME VIDEO

There is a video of Tommy Gibbons that you can see right now for free. It's of him sparring with his brother Mike in 1919.

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Here is a round by round description of the 1922 Gibbons-Greb Fight

March 14, 1922

Bout Is Stirring From End To End

Both Greb and Gibbons Alert for Openings and Eager to Force Fighting.

St. Paul Boxer Weakens

Narrative of Battle by Rounds Shows Loser Struggling Gamely With Wearied Muscles

Greb and Gibbons entered the ring at Madison Square Garden for their fifteen round battle at 9:50 o'clock last night, and were greeted with a salvo of applause. The weights were announced as 163 1/2 pounds for Greb and 171 for Gibbons.

After the usual announcements from the ring, during which Gene Tunney was introduced, the pair posed in the corner while a battery of camera men got them in fighting posture. Then they were called to the center for instructions, after which the fight began.

ROUND ONE

The men rushed out of their corners at the gong and into a clinch, in the course of which Greb popped away several lefts that landed lightly on Gibbon's chin. Gibbons feinted with his left and ducked under a stiff right. In a clinch in the centre of the ring Greb drove several lefts into Gibbons stomach. Greb landed twice on Gibbons face. Both missed vicous uppercuts. Greb caught Gibbons with several hard punches toward the end of the round, and both were fighting furiously at the gong.

ROUND TWO

The men rushed into close quarters and Gibbons got in several stiff rights to the body. Greb landed a left on Gibbons body, and the latter swung a right to Greb's jaw. The Pittsburgh fighter drove in several lefts to the body and they clinched. Both missed heavy uppercuts. Gibbons drove home the first hard blow of the fight, catching Greb in the stomach, and causing the latter to slow up considerably. Gibbons tried hard to get home a finishing punch, but failed, and they were mixing matters in the centre of the ring at the bell.

ROUND THREE

They rushed into a clinch. Gibbons planted two lefts to the jaw. Greb stepped out of the way of two hard left uppercuts. Gibbons landed a left smash to the jaw. Greb stepped away and they clinched. Gibbons continued his attack on Greb's body. Greb landed a hard left to the body. Greb drove home another to the same place. In close quarters they exchanged several heavy blows to the body.

ROUND FOUR

They rushed into a clinch and Gibbons landed a left lightly to the jaw. Greb danced away from Gibbons and missed a vicous uppercut. Gibbons swung completely around when he missed Greb's head. Greb landed lefts to head and body, but Gibbons blocked and they exchanged a pair of rights to the face. Greb again landed on Gibbon's stomach. Gibbons got out of the way of a heavy uppercut. Gibbons landed on Greb's jaw and they went into a clinch at the gong.

ROUND FIVE

Both men sparred cautiously and then went to work at close range. Greb danced in and landed a left on Gibbon's jaw. The latter jabbed in a left which just grazed Greb's chin. Gibbons missed a left uppercut and Greb went astray with a hard right and left. Gibbons jabbed Greb in the face. Greb stepped into a hard left. Gibbons drove three solid lefts into Greb's stomach. The latter retaliated with a left to his rival's body as the bell ended the round.

ROUND SIX

Greb drove a right to the head. Gibbons feinted and then drove a right to Greb's stomach. They clinched and Greb landed a hard right to the kidneys. Gibbons crossed a right to the jaw. He made Greb miss several punches and then landed a light left to the body. They rushed into close quarters and Gibbons placed a heavy right in Greb's mid-section. Greb continued his dancing tactics, with Gibbons following him around the ring. They exchanged a pair of rights as the bell sounded.

ROUND SEVEN

They went into a clinch. Greb landed a hard right to the head and Gibbons slashed a left sharply to the body. Greb tried for a short uppercut but Gibbons danced away. Greb lunged in with another uppercut. Gibbons drove Greb back with a hard right to the jaw. At close quarters Greb landed several blows to the head and body and Gibbons drove home a solid right. Greb landed a cracking right to the jaw. In a curious mix-up in Greb's corner they exchanged several solid wollaps. They were still at it when the round ended.

ROUND EIGHT

Greb thrust a left jab to the jaw. They clinched and Gibbons landed a left and right to the body. He missed a left swing, but got inside of Greb's guard with his right. They clinched and Greb brought over his right to the back of Gibbon's head and then landed a sucession of lefts and rights to the jaw. Greb jabbed Gibbons several times to the jaw and there were some heavy punches exchanged at close range in the centre of the ring. Greb got over a heavy right which landed flush on Gibbon's jaw and he followed with a furious assault on Gibbons stomach and head. The St. Paul fighter was plainly tiring, while Greb seemed to get faster as the battle progressed.

ROUND NINE

Greb landed several blows to start the round and caught Gibbons twice on the side of the head. The Smokey City man drove in a left to the body and then Gibbons rocked Greb's head with two hard rights. Greb missed an uppercut and they exchanged right swings. They clinched, and, coming out, Gibbons landed on Greb's head. Greb landed several blows to the body and head without a return. Gibbons got over a hard left swing and he followed with left and right to head as the bell ended the session.

ROUND TEN

Gibbons opened the round with a left to the body. He ripped home another hard one to the same place and they rushed into a clinch. Greb landed a light left on Gibbons head and they clinched. Gibbons landed a hard left to Greb's jaw and followed it with another to the body. Greb brought over a hard right on Gibbons chin and they clinched. Gibbons rocked Greb's head with a short right clip. Greb missed a left. Gibbons drove home another right. Gibbons caused Greb to wince when he sank a hard right to the stomach at the bell.

ROUND ELEVEN

Gibbons rushed right at Greb and they exchanged hard lefts to the head. In a clinch Gibbons got home a pair of rights to the jaw. Greb followed with a left to the body and a right to the jaw. Gibbons again drove a hard left into Greb's ribs. He chased Greb around the ring and landed a hard right to the head. Greb landed lefts and rights to the body. As Greb was coming in Gibbons swung in his right to the body and landed a heavy right on Greb's kidneys at the bell.

ROUND TWELVE

Greb rushed out of his corner and landed a left and right to the body. Gibbons landed a hard left on Greb's chin and the latter uncorked several heavy blows to the body. Greb landed a right to the side of the head and they clinched. In the clinch both fighters got in some stiff jabs. Greb landed a left to the body and Gibbons countered with a right to the jaw. Greb landed a right to the head. Greb landed two solid punches on Gibbons's jaw without a return as the bell ended the round.

ROUND THIRTEEN

Gibbons landed twice with right taps to the body and Greb danced away and then shot home two-rights and followed with a left to the head. Gibbons landed a left on Greb's jaw and they clinched. Greb got home a right and as Gibbons missed a swing Greb struck in two lefts to the jaw. Gibbons landed a left to the body. Greb got away from the ropes, where Gibbons had pinned him, and landed two solid blows. Then he reached Gibbons with a left to the stomach. The Pittsburgh fighter landed several lefts and rights to the body and as the round ended he slammed home a right to the kidneys.

ROUND FOURTEEN

They rushed into a clinch. Greb landed a right to the body and followed with a left to the head. He wrestled Gibbons to the ropes and then brought over a heavy right to the stomach. Greb landed two solid smashes on Gibbon's jaw and they clinched. Gibbons drove home a left to the stomach. Greb landed a left to the jaw. They rushed into a clinch in a corner and Greb was short with a right swing for Gibbons's jaw. Just before the end of the round Greb landed lefts and rights lightly on Gibbon's body and jaw. The Pittsburgh boy appeared to get stronger, while Gibbons slowed up considerably as the battle neared the close.

ROUND FIFTEEN

Greb opened the final round with two rights that caused red blotches on Gibbons's body. They rushed into a clinch, and Greb got awayfrom two hard uppercuts. They stood toe to toe and exchanged several hard blows and then hammered away at each other in a clinch. Gibbons drew back from an uppercut. Greb landed left to the body. Gibbons ripped home two lefts to the stomach and rocked Greb's head with a right. They were going at it hard in Greb's corner when the bout ended.

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March 19, 1922

Sacrificed Skill For Punch, Says Brother; Lost Speed

Tom Gibbons, who built up a string of a score of knockouts in his quest of the heavyweight pugilistic championship only to be outpointed a few days ago by Harry Greb, the Pittsburgh rubberball, can not punch any harder than he ever could, and has been ruined as a superb boxer, temporarily at least. So says his brother, the famous Phantom Mike.

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June 25, 1922

Greb a Contortionist, Says Defeated Rivall

Few boxers have dropped out of sight as quickly as Tom Gibbons, who was in line for matches with Georges Carpentier and Jack Dempsey until Harry Greb clawed his way to a decision over the man from St. Paul. Since that affair Gibbons has gone back to the bushes and he has resumed his knockout career.

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For more information on Tommy And Mike Gibbons go to http://www.tmgps.com/


IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION
PLEASE E-MAIL ME ANY PICTURE OF THE TWO FIGHTERS TOGETHER.

www.harrygreb.com