LIVES OF GREAT BOXERS

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 6

LIVES OF GREAT BOXERS

(Continued from last week) Harry Greb, who was called the "Powder-Puff Battler" because he always carried a powder puff, brush, comb and brilliantine in his bag of boxin'g kit, was the 'first and only man to defeat Tunney after he had mastered Battling Levinsky for the light heavyweight title. Tunney commented on this bout as being probably the toughest he had ever fought in his long career .in the ring. At the start of the first round both men went straight into action and at its conclusion Greb held the upper hand. The ruthless non-stop fighting of Greb had established him as first favourite for the fight, and his fans felt pretty happy at this stage as the big Jewish lad sat in his corner smiling at the crowd, and throwing an oc.casional wink at a friend in a ringside seat. The atmosphere on the other side of the ring, however, was not so hopeful, as Tunney, the title honder, was being revived with sponges and water by his seconds. Frankly they endeavoured to get him into some sort« of shape to last the next round. Although both men had only been .introduced for three minutes, the tough Iris.hman had received a gash over one eye and a fractured nose,. .while the challenger, Greb, had not a hair out of place. The gong sounded for the second round and Gene loQkefi half dazed and bewildered after the first round, and appeared an easy target for Greb, who threw vicious lefts and rights to his opponent's head and ribs. Tunney then received a cut over his other eye, which made him almost half blind from the blood. Tunney looked as if he was

gone, and there seemed little hope for him. The challenger actually played with him and broke through his defence every time to land solid blows, which were slowly taking toll of Tunney. In the beginning of each of the remaining rounds Greb entered the ring as fresh as ever, while Tunney, half blinded from a filrn of blood from his gashes, which were freshly opened in each round, weakly entered and withstood onslaught after onslaught. When the gong sounded for the end of the fifteenth and final round, Tunney, although bruised and battered, had just sufficient strength to hold out his hand to his conqueror and mutter between his swollen lips a ■ faint, "Well done," and returning to his corner he collapsed. And so. did Gene Tunney, who was later to become master of the WQrld's heavyweight title, receive the hiding of his life, but many who saw the fight said that he had great determination and strength, and that he had everything, including experience, to help him to gain fame. - (To be Continued)