Tommy Loughran
A quick, clever boxer who lacked a knockout punch, Loughran had his first professional fight in 1919 and was undefeated until he lost a 15-round decision to Harry Greb on January 30, 1923, in a match for the light heavyweight championship.
Loughran won the title with a 15-round decision over Mike McTigue on october 7, 1927, in New York City. He vacated the championship in 1929 after five defenses to campaign as a heavyweight. Among the fighters he beat in title bouts were Mickey Walker and Jim Braddock, who was later heavyweight champion.
He fought for the heavyweight title on March 1, 1934, against Primo Carnera, but lost a 15-round decision. Loughran retired in 1937. A very religious man who went to Mass every day, Loughran was successful in business after leaving the ring, and he was also a sought-after speaker.
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-the following article was supplied by John J. Dempsey
-It is from a 1930's fight magazine article titled "Champion of the World" about the life of Tommy Loughran.
"Battling the Pittsburgh Windmill" page 29-30
By this time Loughran felt the need of a rest. He went to Wildwood, New Jersey, where he idled around in the sand and swam and played ball and had a swell time. While he was relaxing, Joe Smith was on the job. The outdoor season was in full swing, and Joe, capitalizing the reputation Loughran had made at the Arena during the winter, began building up some matches.
Taylor and Gunnis had practically a monopoly on the outdoor game in Philadelphia. They were well disposed toward Loughran. They recognized in him a great attraction. The only point that remained was who to pit against him. There were a number of outstanding figures. Taylor and Gunnis staged their shows in the Philadelphia National League Ball Park, and with the huge seating capacity, even though the price of ringside seats was only five dollars, they were able to offer high remuneration to boxers of national reputation.
Finally, they settled on Harry Greb, the Pittsburgh Windmill, middleweight champion of the world, as the man to oppose Loughran in his first open air fight.
Most observers believed Joe Smith was making a mistake in accepting Greb as an opponent for his protege. They said he was rushing the boy too fast; that it was silly to believe a nineteen year-old kid could hold his own with that marvelous bit of fighting machinery. But Joe kept his own councel, and Tommy only grinned when he read these protests. Rushing him, eh? He had been working and building for a long time toward the spot he had now reached.
They met in the Phillies Ball Park before one of the greatest crowds of the season--this handsome nineteen-year-old boy and the roughest toughest mauler in the ring. Harry Greb took the match lightly enough. There was no reason for him to fear this kid who had no more than a local reputation. He seemed blase, almost bored.
Tom, on the other hand, understood exactly what he was up against and just how much it would mean for him to win. If he could outpoint the Pittsburgh Windmill, his fame would spread across the country. He would be set. Though his reputation was still comparatively small while Greb's was a glittering thing, bolstered by many brilliant victories, Loughran felt he would beat the champion.
Of course, no decisions were rendered in Pennsylvania at that time. So, even if he did outpoint Greb, there would be no title attached to his victory. But the prestige would be there, nevertheless. Anyone who could trim Harry Greb would be riding the crest of the pugilistic wave.
The crowd, of course, was solidly pro Loughran. The St. Monica's boy's band had come up from South Philadelphia to toot away at popular tunes and cheer for their young idol. I remember a good-looking girl at the ringside, who stood through every round and cheered hysterically for Tommy.
As Greb returned to his corner at the end of each round, he would stop and look at the girl in good-natured amazement. They certainly did think a lot of Tommy Loughran in his home town.
Through the eight fast, bitterly fought rounds, the youngster learned a lot about the art of fighting. Greb, with uncanny speed and the most unorthodox style ever seen in the ring, hit and slapped and punched from every angle. He never stopped for an instant. Yet the fierce flurries and rains of blows, the back-handing and hitting on the break never for an instant upset Tommy or forced him onto bad moves. He boxed cooly and in his usual style. His left hand worked like a piston; his right swept into the body in an attempt to slow Greb with punishment under the heart. But no matter what he did, the champion's speed and experience and roughness were just a bit too much for him. Greb won the newspaper verdict by a shade, but all the praise went to the kid who had given him such a hard battle.
Loughran was well satisfied with his showing. Of course, he didn't believe he had had any the worst of it. The fight was so close that his viewpoint is readily understandable, but, no matter what the decision of the boxing writers, everyone agreed that it was a marvelous exhibition for a youngster with so little fistic background.
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-the following describes the Greb-Loughran fight on Jan. 30, 1923 when Greb won a 15 round decision. Greb successfully defended his American Light Heavyweight title that he won from Tunney in 1922.
Jan 31, 1923
Story Of The Fight Told Round By Round
Newspaper Article Info Newspaper Name: New York Times Date Printed: Jan 31, 1923 Page: 16
Loughran Sets Fast Pace In Early Sessions, but Greb Makes Strong Rally.
Greb and Loughran were pelted with a flurry of applause as they entered the ring at Madison Square Garden last night. Gene Tunney, Larry Goldberg and Johnny Dundee were introduced before the bout started. Kid McPartland was the referee. It was announced that both Loughran and Greb weighed 166 pounds. The story of the fight by rounds follows:
FIRST ROUND
Greb opened with a typical rush. He lashed out with rights and lefts for the face without direction. The champion's rush flustered Loughran for a time, but the Quaker City boxer quickly started pecking with a left jab which had Greb's head bobbing. Greb was kept at bay with Loughran's stiff left jabs. The champion kept tearing in , but was wild while Loughran countered cleverly. At close quarters Loughran worked both hands to the body. Greb sought to work in the clinches, but his attack was checked by Loughran.
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SECOND ROUND
Greb rushed and was met with a left jab to the face. They clinched. Greb was short with a right for the face and took a stiff left jab in return. In the clinches Loughran held against attack. A left jab drew the blood from Greb's mouth. Greb rushed and landed a right to the face and body. Loughran hooked a left to the face just before the bell.
THIRD ROUND
They exchanged left jabs. Greb rushed wildly about the ring in an effort to drive in a godd punch. Greb landed a right to the jaw but missed repeatedly as he continued his furious assault. After sparring for a while Greb landed a right to the jaw and Loughran shot a right uppercut to the chin. Loughran turned Greb half way round with a right to the jaw. Loughran landed to the jaw and followed with left and rights to the jaw.
FOURTH ROUND
Loughran hooked a left to the jaw and then drove a left and right to the body. Greb started roughing Loughran at close quarters. In the clinches Loughran pumped his right to the body. The crowd booed Greb for using his head in the clinches. Greb opened a cut over Loughrans left eye with a wild right. They exchanged rights and lefts to the body in a mix-up near the bell.
FIFTH ROUND
Loughran landed several light lefts and they clinched. Greb rushed continually, but was wild. Greb was warned for using his head in close quarters. Greb landed a left hook to the face. Greb hooked a left to the body. Loughran drove a right to the heart as Greb came in. After sparring for awhile Loughran drove another right to the heart. They were clinched at the bell.
SIXTH ROUND
Loughran landed several light lefts to the face and then drove a right to the jaw. Loughran jabbed a left to the face and drove a right to the body. Greb repeatedly rushed Loughran to the ropes, but did not land a clean punch. Loughran made no effort to take the offensive. They were clinched at the bell and the crowd was voicing its disaproval.
SEVENTH ROUND
Greb rushed, landing a left to the stomach and face. They exchanged rights to the body. Greb uppercut with a wild right to the chin which drew the blood from Loughran's mouth. At close quarters Greb did all the work. loughran drove a left and right to the body. Both missed with rights for the jaw. They were sparring at the bell.
EIGHTH ROUND
Greb rushed his rival and they clinched without either striking a damaging blow. Greb was warned for using his head at close quarters. They exchanged rights to the stomach. Greb drove Loughran to the ropes under a shower of rights and lefts to the face. Greb hooked a left to the stomach. Loughran drove a right and left to the jaw and took a left to the stomach in return just before the bell.
NINTH ROUND
Greb pounded the face and body with a right at close quarters. Loughran landed several jabs and then drove a right to the jaw. They exchanged rights to the body. Greb roughed Loughran in the clinches. The champion was warned again for using his head. Loughran drove a hard right to the body. They exchanged lefts to the face at the bell.
TENTH ROUND
Greb drove Loughran about the ring with lefts and rights to the body and face. A right to the ribs almost floored Loughran. Greb carried a furious pace in driving home lefts and rights to the body and jaw which made Loughran hold,. Loughran drove a right to the jaw as Greb rushed in. In a clinch they exchanged rights to the body. Greb hooked a left to the body which made Loughran gasp. Greb forced Loughran around the ring at the bell.
ELEVENTH ROUND
Greb rushed his rival about the ring and landed two solid rights to the jaw. They exchanged rights to the body. Greb worked his right to the body and face at close quarters. Loughran uppercut a right to the face, but took three solid lefts to the stomach in return. They were clinched at the bell.
TWELFTH ROUND
The boxers clinched repeatedly at the start of this round. Greb drove his right to the face and body at close quarters. Greb twice hooked his left to the stomach and then drove his left and right to the face and Loughran pounded the body with rights and lefts. Loughran drove a right to the heart at the bell.
THIRTEENTH ROUND
Greb sent Loughrans head back with a left in a clinch. At close quarters Greb worked lefts and rights to the stomach. Greb twice hooked his left to the wind. Greb leaped in with another left hook that made Loughran gasp. Loughran bombarded the body with lefts and rights as Greb tore in. Greb missed with a left and right for the face and took a right to the body. Greb rushed his rival to the ropes and landed a left to the face at the bell.
FOURTEENTH ROUND
Loughran was warned for hitting low with the right, but the crowd hissed the warning. The boxers fought furiously, exchanging rights and lefts to the body in spirited mix-ups. Loughran drove his left and right to the body, while Greb swung with both hands to the face or body. Greb almost doubled Loughran up with a left hook to the body. Greb drove a left and right to the jaw. Loughran opened up a two-handed attack to the body at the bell.
FIFTEENTH ROUND
The men shook hands. Greb drove a left hook to the wind and they clinched. Loughran drove a right to the body. As Greb tore in Loughran landed lefts and rights to the body. They exchanged left hooks to the wind. Greb drove a left and right to the jaw, but took a left and right to the body in return. Loughran tore in and landed several hard left and rights to the body. Loughran caught Greb coming in with a left and right to the jaw. Loughran drove a right to the jaw just before the final bell.
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Tale Of The Tape Born: Nov 29, 1902 Place: Philadelphia, Pa. Died: July 7, 1982; Altoona,Pa. Weight: 140-192 lbs. Height: 5' 11" Manager: Joe Smith
RING RECORD : 94 wins - 23 losses - 9 draws - 45 ND's - (172 total bouts)
1919 Dec 9 Eddie Carter Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 1920 Jan 1 Kid Emanuel Philadelphia, Pa NC 3 Jan 27 Jim McBride Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Feb 17 Jack Williams Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Mar Bill Clark Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 Mar 26 Joe Welling Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Apr Eddie Moran Philadelphia, Pa KO 4 May 7 John Dougherty Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 May Tommy Coyle Philadelphia, Pa KO 4 Jun 3 Bernie McLaughlin Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Jul 19 Johnny Vigi Philadelphia, Pa LT 5 Aug Joe Brock Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Sep Jack Smith Philadelphia, Pa KO 4 Oct 10 Ed Dougherty Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Nov 18 Rube Bennett Lancaster, Pa ND 8 1921 Jan Lew Schupp Lancaster, Pa ND 8 Jan 20 Kid West Lancaster, Pa ND 8 Jan 25 Young Ramsey W 8 Feb 1 Hugh Blair Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Feb 8 Johnny Kelly Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Feb 21 Al Nelson W 10 Mar 1 Johnny McLaughlin Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Mar 12 Leo Dillon Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Mar 29 Charlie O'Neill Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Apr 15 Jack Reck Reading, Pa ND 8 May 3 Al Daly Philadelphia, Pa TK 4 May 9 Johnny Alex Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Jun Ted Mitchell W 8 Jul Jules Ritchie Scranton, Pa ND 10 Aug 15 Frank Britton Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Sep 6 Frank Britton Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Sep 17 Roy Hirst Philadelphia, Pa KO 3 Sep 30 Al Miller Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Oct 6 Pat Bradley Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Nov 8 Len Rowlands Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Dec 20 Vincent Lopez Philadelphia, Pa TK 5 1922 Jan 24 Jimmy Darcy Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Feb 7 Fay Keiser Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Feb 28 Bryan Downey Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Mar 16 Mike McTigue Scranton, Pa ND 10 Mar 21 Jackie Clark Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Apr 6 Frank Carbone Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Apr 28 Jimmy Darcy Syracuse, NY W 12 May 12 Young Fisher Syracuse, NY W 12 Jul 10 Harry Greb Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Aug 24 Gene Tunney Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Sep 25 George Shade Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Dec 11 Lou Bogash Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 1923 Jan 8 Pal Reed Newark, NJ ND 12 Jan 15 Harry Greb Pittsburgh, Pa ND 10 Jan 30 Harry Greb New York, NY L 15 Mar 8 Jeff Smith Scranton, Pa ND 10 Jun 18 Jeff Smith Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Jun 25 Mike McTigue Philadelphia, Pa ND 8 Aug 2 Mike McTigue West New York, NJ ND 12 Aug 14 Teddy Taylor Minersville, Pa KO 2 Sep 14 Jimmy Delaney Oklahoma City, Ok D 12 Oct 11 Harry Greb Boston, Ma W 10 Nov 14 Ted Moore Boston, Ma W 10 Dec 10 Roland Todd New York, NY W 10 Dec 25 Harry Greb Pittsburgh, Pa L 10 1924 Feb 12 Johnny Wilson Boston, Ma W 10 Feb 19 Jack Delaney Boston, Ma L 10 Apr 28 Charley Nashert Detroit, Mi ND 10 May 19 Ad Stone Philadelphia, Pa D 10 Jun 2 Jack Smith Shamokin, Pa KO 2 Jun 26 W.L. "Young" Stribling New York, NY L 6 Jul 11 Joe Lohman Erie, Pa W 10 Oct 13 Harry Greb Philadelphia, Pa D 10 Nov 20 George Blake Williamsport, Pa KO 2 1925 Jan 1 Frankie Maguire Williamsport, Pa W 10 Feb 4 Buck Holley Oakland, Ca D 6 Feb 7 Billy Freas Culver City, Ca W 10 Feb 18 Jack Reeves Oakland, Ca W 10 Mar 28 W.L. "Young" Stribling San Francisco, Ca L 10 Jun 11 Martin Burke Brooklyn, NY W 12 Jul 16 Jack Delaney Philadelphia, Pa D 10 Sep 11 Tony Marullo New York, NY W 8 Sep 24 Jack Burke Philadelphia, Pa TK 6 Oct 5 Benny Ross Buffalo, NY W 10 Oct 26 Ad Stone Philadelphia, Pa L 10 Dec 25 Emilio "King" Solomon Philadelphia, Pa W 10 1926 Jan 1 Billy Freas Grand Rapids, Mi ND 10 Jan 6 Joe Packo Grand Rapids, Mi ND 10 Feb 2 Chuck Wiggins Grand Rapids, Mi ND 10 Feb 8 Ad Stone Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Mar 15 Yale Okun Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Apr 5 Yale Okun Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Apr 13 Tom Kirby Boston, Ma W 10 May 28 Jack Ketchell Ebensburg, Pa EX 6 Jun 17 Georges Carpentier Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Jul 2 George Manley Omaha, Ne ND 10 Jul 30 Johnny Risko Boston, Ma W 10 Sep 23 Jimmy Delaney Philadelphia, Pa W 6 Oct 8 Frankie Schramm Allentown, Pa KO 2 Oct 18 Martin Burke Chicago, Il W 10 Oct 29 Chuck Wiggins Providence, RI WF 5 Nov 29 George Manley Indianapolis, In ND 10 1927 Jan 10 Tony Marullo Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Feb 15 Johnny Risko Wilkes-Barre, Pa W 10 Mar 16 Joe Lohman Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Apr 6 Tom Kirby Philadelphia, Pa W 10 May 3 W.L. "Young" Stribling Brooklyn, NY W 10 Jul 20 Tony Marullo New York, NY W 10 Aug 8 Benny Ross Buffalo, NY W 12 Oct 7 Mike McTigue New York, NY W 15 Nov 14 Pat McCarthy Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Dec 12 Jimmy Slattery New York, NY W 15 1928 Jan 6 Leo Lomski New York, NY W 15 May 18 Joe Sekyra Louisville, Ky ND 10 Jun 1 Pete Latzo Brooklyn, NY W 15 Jun 28 Armand Emanuel New York, NY W 10 Jul 16 Pete Latzo Wilkes-Barre, Pa W 10 Oct 1 Jack Gross Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Dec 17 Clayton "Big Boy" Peterson Chicago, Il W 10 1929 Feb 5 Armand Emanuel Los Angeles, Ca W 10 Feb 28 Joe Lohman Tulsa, Ok W 10 Mar 28 Mickey Walker Chicago, Il W 10 May 24 Ernie Schaaf Boston, Ma W 10 Jul 18 Jim Braddock New York, NY W 15 Sep -Loughran relinquished the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World Sep 26 Jack Sharkey New York, NY LK 3 1930 Feb 27 Pierre Charles Miami, Fl W 10 Mar 17 Jack Renault Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Apr 28 Ernie Schaaf Philadelphia, Pa L 10 Jun 11 Ernie Schaaf Philadelphia, Pa L 10 Oct 16 Dick Daniels Minneapolis, Mn ND 10 Oct 23 Dave Maier Milwaukee, Wi W 10 Nov 21 King Levinsky Chicago, Il W 10 1931 Jan 26 Jack Gross Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Feb 6 Max Baer New York, NY W 10 Mar 13 Ernie Schaaf New York, NY W 10 Mar 27 Gerald "Tuffy" Griffiths Chicago, Il W 10 May 15 Victorio Campolo New York, NY W 10 Sep 9 Jack Gross Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Sep 22 Joe Sekyra New York, NY W 10 Oct 19 Johnny Risko Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Nov 13 Paolino Uzcudun New York, NY W 10 Dec 18 King Levinsky New York, NY L 10 1932 Jan 15 Steve Hamas New York, NY LK 2 May 11 Steve Hamas Philadelphia, Pa L 10 Jun 29 Steve Hamas Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Oct 17 Stanley Poreda Philadelphia, Pa L 10 1933 Jan 10 King Levinsky Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Feb 13 Walter Cobb Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Apr 21 Isidoro Gastanaga Chicago, Il W 10 Jun 21 Steve Hamas New York, NY W 10 Jul 26 Johnny Risko Chicago, Il L 10 Sep 27 Jack Sharkey Philadelphia, Pa W 15 Nov 22 Ray Impellitiere New York, NY W 10 1934 Mar 1 Primo Carnera Miami, Fl L 15 May 4 Walter Neusel New York, NY L 10 Aug 1 Johnny Risko Freeport, NY L 10 Oct 6 Jose Caratolli Buenos Aires, Argentina L 12 Oct 20 Arturo Godoy Buenos Aires, Argentina D 12 1935 Jan 5 Arturo Godoy Buenos Aires, Argentina W 12 Feb 2 Jose Caratolli Buenos Aires, Argentina D 12 Mar 17 Arturo Godoy Santiago, Chile L 12 Apr 14 Vicente Parrile Lima, Peru KO 9 May 20 Al Ettore Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Jun 20 Ray Impellitiere Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Jul 29 Eddie Simms Toronto, Ont, Canada W 10 Aug 22 Al Delaney Buffalo, NY D 6 Nov 13 Maurice Strickland London, England W 10 Dec 9 Andre Lenglet Paris, France W 10 1936 Jan 15 Tommy Farr London, England L 10 Feb 10 Ben Foord Leicester, England L 10 Mar 16 Jack London Bristol, England W 10 Jul 6 Al McCoy Montreal, Que, Canada L 10 Jul 30 Al McCoy Montreal, Que, Canada D 12 Sep 16 Ray Impellitiere Oakland, Ca W 10 Oct 9 Tony Rosalia Reno, Nv KO 3 Nov 13 Alfred "Butch" Rogers San Diego, Ca W 10 Dec 3 Tom Beaupre Dallas, Tx W 10 Dec 9 George "Sonny Boy" Walker San Francisco, Ca L 10 1937 Jan 18 George "Sonny Boy" Walker Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Record courtesy of Luckett Davis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization and Cyber Boxing Zone IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON TOMMY LOUGHRAN PLEASE E-MAIL ME www.harrygreb.com