Lost Fights
Greb fought in MORE boxing matches than he's creditted to have done. This page is dedicated to those fights that are NOT part of Harry Greb's normal 299 total fights, but maybe should be.
The Kid Lewis fight in 1925 is documented to have actually happened. A result was documented in the New York Times and the 1926 Everlast boxing record book. But you won't find this on anyones fight record list!
The Kid Hackett fight of 1913 is a little tougher. It is documented twice that Greb was scheduled to have this fight and it was printed in the newspaper as late as the actual night of the fight. Unfortunately, the next days paper only described the results of the main event, and didn't describe the results of the 3 undercard bouts.
The 1924 Frank Zenke fight was an exhibition. The promotional poster advertising this exhibition fight is shown below. Also listed is a newspaper article telling what happened.
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1913
DATE --OPPONENT------------- SITE-----------------------------------------------RESULT-------------
Nov 3 --Kid Hackett-----------Southside Market House, Pitt.----------ND 6-- Unknown
This fight was scheduled but it is unconfirmed if it ever took place. It was scheduled to be one of the undercards of the Kid Smith vs. Al Grayber fight. Grayber and Smith did fight on Nov 3rd, but it is unconfirmed if Greb fought Kid Hackett on the undercard. Four matches were scheduled, one main event and 3 undercards. Each bout was to be 6 rounds. Manager Johnny Jones put the matches together.
Pittsburgh Post- Nov 2, 1913: Sports page #4. "Kid Hackett is booked for six rounds with Harry Grebbs(sic), while Yound Brody meets Jack Carroll."
Pittsburgh Press- Nov 3, 1913: Al Grayber and "Kid" Smith, who are to meet in the windup bout tonight in the Southside markethouse, have trained faithfully and say they are prepared to step at top speed from the moment the first gong rings until the finish. In the third bout Harry Grebbs(sic) and "Kid" Hackett will meet. "Nish Callagher and "Kid" Brink will mix in another, while Young Boley faces Jack Carroll in the curtain raiser.
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1924
DATE --OPPONENT------------- SITE-----------------------------------------------RESULT-------------
June 6---Frank Zenke--------St. Bonaventure's Gym--------------------unknown----(scheduled for 6 rounds)
The Olean Evening Herald. Olean, New York. - June 7, 1924 (page 6): GREB IN GREAT EXHIBITION; AWARDED HONRARY LETTER BY ST. BONA'S ATHLETIC ASS'N.
Middleweight Gives Fans Plenty of Action
St. Bonaventure, June 7,- Harry Greb, middleweight champion of the world, lived up to his reputation, "The Pittsburgh Bearcat," in an exhibition bout here last night before a large crowd. He performed to the delight of the big gathering of fans and won many new admirers.
Greb boxed the opening two rounds of the exhibition with George Kenneally, of the college. Kenneally set a fast pace for the champion and won a big hand from the crowd.
The "Bearcat" boxed the last four rounds of the bout with Frank Zenke, one of his sparring partners. Greb started off in earnest and the crowd was treated to four rounds of fast going, incidentally getting a glimpse of the Greb of the professional ring. Zenke showed good form and battled the champion continually.
Greb was in a playful mood last night. On one occasion when the referee, Ted Mason, his manager, ordered the boxers to break from a clinch, he half poker and half shoved.It seemed to many in the crowd roared in delight.
At the close of the second round Greb was presented with an honorary athletic "B" in behalf of the college athletic association. The speaker making the presentation address said that the faculty and the school were deeply indebted to greb for his appearance at St. Bona's and awarding of the letter was a mark of their appreciation.
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1925
DATE --OPPONENT------------- SITE-----------------------------------------------RESULT-------------
Jan 22---Kid Lewis-------------Pittsburgh,PA.---------------------------------KO 1----(scheduled for 3 rounds)
I have listed below 2 sources that confirm this fight actually happened.
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE JAN 23, 1925 ISSUE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES:
"Greb Wins in First Round"
Pittsburgh, Jan. 22.- Harry Greb, middleweight boxing champion, knocked out Kid Lewis of Detroit in the first round of a scheduled three-round fight here tonight. A short right hook to the jaw dropped Lewis for the count.
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