Referee Edward Cochrane awarded Greb the decision after 15 rounds, a decision that newspaper accounts of the time described as being loudly applauded by the record crowd in attendance. The event reportedly attracted the largest boxing audience Tulsa had ever hosted at that point, emphasizing both the growing popularity of professional boxing following World War I and Greb’s emergence as a major attraction.
Official attendance figures have never been fully documented, and records of the event fund have never survived. Reports at the time indicate that Greb earned around $1,900 for the same appearance at the time, while Brennan may have received a comparable or larger guarantee due to his status as a heavyweight contender.
Despite giving up more than 20 pounds, Greb dominated most of the competition with relentless speed and a relentless offense that earned him the nickname “The Pittsburgh Windmill.” Tulsa World reporter Charles J. Brill called Greb’s fight seven rounds, one for Brennan, and seven counts, a number that showed a strong consensus among ringside spectators.
Brennan enjoyed his best success in the fourth round, using his size and heavy punches to briefly wear down Greb’s momentum. It was only a temporary setback. Greb quickly returned to control the action with superior footwork, hand speed, and constant pressure, forcing the big man to fight at a frustrating pace. Contemporary accounts have noted that Greb’s punches carried incredible authority despite giving Brennan more than 20 pounds.
The victory was one of four wins Greb recorded over Brennan in 1919, highlighting his dominance in their rivalry. At the time, Greb was campaigning for anyone willing to face him outside of the weight class, hoping to get opportunities against the biggest names in the game, including heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey.
The result benefited both fighters. Greb went on to rebuild the Hall of Fame which eventually earned him the middleweight world title in 1923 while also recapturing the American light heavyweight title and defeating many of the greatest fighters of his era. Brennan remained one of the heavyweight contenders and earned a world title shot against Dempsey in 1920, extending the champion to 12 rounds before being stopped.
No surviving film of the competition is known to exist, leaving newspaper reports as the primary record of some vintage Greb performances. 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 revered champions, repeatedly defeating bigger, stronger opponents with conditioning, speed and relentless determination.
