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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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


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