Flashback: 100 Years ago.

July 2, 2025, One hundred years ago today—July 2, 1925—the Polo Grounds in New York City hosted one of the most ferocious and legendary battles in boxing history: Harry Greb vs. Mickey Walker for the world middleweight title.

The Setup:

• Harry Greb, the reigning middleweight champion, was already a mythic figure—relentless, awkward, and nearly impossible to hit cleanly.
• Mickey Walker, the welterweight champion known as “The Toy Bulldog,” was moving up in weight, undeterred by Greb’s size or reputation.

The Fight:

• Before a roaring crowd of over 50,000, the two men waged a 15-round war that was equal parts strategy and savagery.
• Greb took the early rounds, but Walker’s body attack wore him down.
• In the 14th round, Greb unleashed a furious assault that nearly stopped Walker—“tipsy and teetering,” as Damon Runyon described it2.
• Walker rallied in the 15th, but Greb’s late surge sealed a unanimous decision victory.

The Legacy:

• This wasn’t just a title defense—it was a clash of styles, eras, and wills.
• Greb would die just a year later at 32, his record an astonishing 262-17-19.
• Walker went on to win the middleweight crown and even challenged heavyweights.

A century later, this fight still echoes as a symbol of boxing’s golden age—when champions fought anyone, anywhere, and left everything in the ring.

Harry Greb defended his World Middleweight Title against Mickey Walker at the Polo Grounds in New York City. The fight was a brutal, high-paced battle, with Walker relentlessly attacking Greb’s body with left hooks, while Greb countered with his own flurries.

Greb took an early lead but slowed down in the middle rounds. In the 14th round, he landed a mighty right hand that staggered Walker, unleashing a furious assault that likely secured his victory. Walker fought back hard in the final round, but Greb had already done enough to win by unanimous decision.

This fight was part of a benefit show for the Italian Hospital Fund, generating a gate of $375,000. It remains one of the legendary battles in boxing history, showcasing Greb’s relentless style and Walker’s incredible toughness.

More about the scenarios of this middleweight championship:

Remembering the Polo Grounds

100 Years — Tilting at the Pittsburgh Windmill

Greb – Walker BOXREC 

The most famous street fight in history – boxingscene