Referee Edward Cochrane awarded Greb the decision after 15 rounds, a verdict that contemporary newspaper accounts described as being greeted with loud approval from the record crowd in attendance. The event reportedly attracted the largest boxing audience Tulsa had hosted to that point, underscoring both the growing popularity of professional boxing following World War I and Greb’s emergence as a major attraction.
Official attendance figures were never fully documented, and purse records from the event have not survived. Contemporary reports indicate Greb earned roughly $1,900 for similar appearances during that period, while Brennan likely received a comparable or slightly larger guarantee because of his status as a heavyweight contender.
Despite giving away more than 20 pounds, Greb controlled most of the contest with the relentless pace and nonstop offense that earned him the nickname “The Pittsburgh Windmill.” Tulsa World reporter Charles J. Brill scored the fight seven rounds for Greb, one for Brennan, with seven even, a tally that reflected the overwhelming consensus among ringside observers.
Brennan enjoyed his best success during the fourth round, using his size and heavier punches to briefly slow Greb’s momentum. It proved to be only a temporary setback. Greb quickly returned to dictating the action with superior footwork, hand speed, and constant pressure, forcing the larger man to fight at an exhausting pace. Contemporary accounts remarked that Greb’s punches carried surprising authority despite giving away more than 20 pounds to Brennan.
The victory was one of four wins Greb recorded over Brennan during 1919, highlighting his dominance in their rivalry. At the time, Greb was campaigning against virtually anyone willing to face him regardless of weight class, hoping to earn opportunities against the biggest names in the sport, including heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.
The aftermath benefited both fighters. Greb continued building the Hall of Fame resume that eventually brought him the world middleweight championship in 1923 while also capturing the American light heavyweight title and defeating many of the greatest fighters of his era. Brennan remained one of the leading heavyweight contenders and received a world title opportunity against Dempsey in 1920, extending the champion into the 12th round before being stopped.
No surviving film of the contest is known to exist, leaving newspaper reports as the primary record of another vintage Greb performance. More than a century later, his victory over Brennan remains one of the clearest examples of the fearless style that made Harry Greb one of boxing’s most celebrated all-time greats, repeatedly defeating larger, stronger opponents through conditioning, speed and relentless determination.
Read the full article here
