Tommy Loughran

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Tommy Loughran

Statistics

Real name Thomas Loughran

Nickname(s) Phantom of Philly

Rated at Light Heavyweight

Height 5 ft 11 1⁄2 in (1.82 m)

Reach 73 in (190 cm)

Nationality American
 Born November 29, 1902

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Died July 7, 1982 (aged 79)

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Stance Orthodox

Boxing record

Total fights 169

Wins 121

Wins by KO 14

Losses 32

Draws 14

No contests 2

Thomas Patrick "Tommy" Loughran (November 29, 1902 – July 7, 1982) was
an American professional boxer and the former World Light Heavyweight Champion. Statistical
boxing website BoxRec lists Loughran as the #7 ranked light heavyweight of all time while The
Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #4.[1][2] The International Boxing Research
Organization rates Loughran as the 6th best light heavyweight ever.[3] Loughran was named
the Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year twice, first in 1929 and again 1931.[4] He was inducted
into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1956 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in
1991.[1]

Contents
[hide]

 1Boxing career
 2Later life
 3Notable bouts
 4References
 5External links
Boxing career[edit]

Loughran (left) ahead of his bout with Mickey Walker

Loughran was one of seven children of an Irish immigrant motorman.[5] His effective use of
coordinated foot work, sound defense and swift, accurate counter punching is now regarded as
a precursor to the techniques practiced in modern boxing.[6]
Loughran fought many middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight champions in his
career, including Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey and Georges Carpentier. Loughran even
achieved a Newspaper Decision over fistic phenomHarry Greb. Loughran was but 19 years old
when he first met Greb. As a light heavyweight, he defeated two future world heavyweight
champions: Max Baerand James J. Braddock. Loughran finally fought Primo Carnera for the
heavyweight title but lost a decision.[7]
In an interview late in life, Loughran is quoted as saying his loss to Carnera was a pre-
arranged fait accompli, e.g. "...I had to knock him out to win, I had to agree to that." Footage of
the fight is limited and scarce, but Loughran contended he had Carnera in trouble in Rounds 4
and 10, "...but then, when I couldn't finish him, I knew the thing was over." The decision a
foregone conclusion, Tommy Loughran told Peter Heller in April, 1972, "I beat (Carnera), no
question about it."[8]
While Loughran is remembered among boxing's elite, his career was marred by his fragile
hands and jaw.

Later life[edit]

On August 22nd of that year, he attained the unique distinction of being

the third man in the ring at Sick's Stadium, Seattle, WA, for Floyd
Patterson's defense of his heavyweight honors vs. one Pete Rademacher,
the first and only time a fighter has challenged for the heavyweight
crown in his professional debut. There were several knockdowns in the
fight; Tommy counted out the challenger at 2:57 of the 6th round.

In the 1960s Loughran retired from having been a long-time, successful broker on Wall Street,
where he'd dealt in commodities (sugar). He became a keynote speaker, appearing at dinners
and banquets, his message an attempt to promote and strengthen the image of boxers and
boxing at what for the sport was a troubled time.[8] In addition, Tommy lent color commentary to
at least one championship bout, Carlos Ortiz vs. Johnny Bizarro in Pittsburgh, June 20, 1966.
Notable bouts[edit]

Rd.,
Result Opponent Type Date Location Notes[7]
Time

Al 1936- Montreal
Draw PTS 12
07-30 Forum, Montreal, Quebec
McCoy

Al 1936- Baseball
Loss PTS 10
07-06 Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
McCoy

Jack 1936-
Win PTS 10
03-16
Colston Hall, Bristol, Avon
London

Loss Ben PTS 10

1936- Granby
Foord 02-10 Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire

Tommy 1936- Royal Albert

Loss PTS 10
01-15 Hall, Kensington, London
Farr

Loss Arturo PTS 10

1935- Nunoa Sports Ground, Santiago de
Godoy 03-17 Chile, London

Win Arturo UD 12
1935- Estadio Luna Park, Buenos
Godoy 01-05 Aires, Distrito Federal

Draw Arturo PTS 12

1934- Estadio Luna Park, Buenos
Godoy 10-20 Aires, Distrito Federal

Walter 1934- Madison Square Garden, New

Loss SD 10
05-04 York, New York
Neusel

Loss Primo UD 15
1934- Madison Square Garden, New For World
Carnera 03-01 York, New York Heavyweight Title.
 Jack 1933- Shibe
Win UD 15
09-27
Sharkey Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

King 1933- Convention

Win UD 10
01-10 Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Levinsky

King 1931- Madison Square Garden, New

Loss UD 10
12-18
Levinsky York, New York

Paulino 1931- Madison Square Garden, New

Win SD 10
11-13 York, New York
Uzcudun

Tuffy 1931- Chicago

Win MD 10
03-27
Griffiths Stadium, Chicago, Illinois

Ernie 1931- Madison Square Garden, New

Win UD 10
03-13 York, New York
Schaaf

1931- Madison Square Garden, New

Win Max Baer UD 10
02-06 York, New York

King 1930- Chicago

Win UD 10
11-21 Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Levinsky

Ernie 1930- Sesquicentennial

Loss UD 10
06-11
Schaaf Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ernie 1930- Philadelphia

Loss SD 10
04-28 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Schaaf

Jack 3 (15), 1929- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New

Loss TKO
0:27 09-26
Sharkey York

Retained World
James J. 1929- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New
Win UD 15
07-18
Light Heavyweight
Braddock York
Title.
 Ernie 1929- Boston
Win PTS 10
05-24
Schaaf Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

Mickey 1929- Chicago

Win SD 10
03-28 Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Walker

Retained World
Pete 1928- Artillery Park, Wilkes-
Win UD 10
07-16 Barre, Pennsylvania
Light Heavyweight
Latzo Title.

Retained World
Pete 1928-
Win UD 15
06-01
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York Light Heavyweight
Latzo Title.

Retained World
Jimmy 1927- Madison Square Garden, New
Win MD 15
12-12 York, New York
Light Heavyweight
Slattery Title.

Mike 1927- Madison Square Garden, New Won World Light

Win UD 15
10-07 Heavyweight Title.
McTigue York, New York

Young 1927-
Win UD 10
05-03
Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York
Stribling

Win Georges UD 10
1926- Sesquicentennial
Carpentier 06-17 Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Jack 1925- Shibe

Draw PTS 10
07-16 Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Delaney

Young 1925- Recreation Park, San

Loss PTS 10
03-28
Stribling Francisco, California

Harry 1924- Philadelphia

Draw SD 10
10-13 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Greb
 Young 1924- Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New
Loss PTS 6
06-26
Stribling York

Jack 1924- Mechanics

Loss PTS 10
02-19 Building, Boston, Massachusetts
Delaney

Johnny 1924- Mechanics

Win PTS 10
02-12
Wilson Building, Boston, Massachusetts

Harry 1923- Motor Square

Loss PTS 10
12-25 Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Greb

Roland 1923- Madison Square Garden, New

Win PTS 10
12-10
Todd York, New York

Harry 1923- Mechanics

Win PTS 10
10-11 Building, Boston, Massachusetts
Greb

For World Light

Mike 1923- Playgrounds Stadium, West New Heavyweight Title.
Loss NWS 12
08-02 Newspaper
McTigue York, New Jersey
Decision

For World Light

Mike 1923- Shetzline Heavyweight Title.
Win NWS 8
06-25 Newspaper
McTigue Ballpark, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Decision

Jeff 1923- Shibe Newspaper

Loss NWS 8
06-18 Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Decision
Smith

Jeff 1923- 109th Infantry Newspaper

Win NWS 10
03-08 Decision
Smith Armory, Philadelphia, Scranton

Harry 1923- Madison Square Garden, New

Loss UD 15
01-30 York, New York
Greb
 Harry 1923- Motor Square Newspaper
Loss NWS 10
01-15 Decision
Greb Garden, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Gene 1922- Shibe Newspaper

Draw NWS 8
08-24 Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Decision
Tunney

Harry 1922- Shibe Newspaper

Loss NWS 8
07-10 Decision
Greb Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania