Name: Tommy Loughran Career Record: http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_i d=011326&cat=boxer Alias: Phantom of Philly Nationality: US American Hometown: Philadelphia, PA Born: 1902-11-29 Died: 1982-07-07 Age at Death: 79 Height: 5′ 11½″ Reach: 73 inches Division: Light Heavyweight Manager: Joe Smith Tommy Loughran (born November 29, 1902, Philadelphia, PA – died July 7, 1982, Altoona, PA) was the 1927-1929 undefeated Light-Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world and is regarded as one of the most skilled fighters of all time. Loughran's 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. Loughran fought many middleweight, light-heavyweight, and heavyweight champions in his career - including Gene Tunney, Jack Sharkey and Georges Carpentier. In his esteemed career Loughran even achieved a Newspaper Decision over fistic phenom Harry Greb. Loughran was but 19 years old when he first met Greb. As a light heavyweight, he defeated two future world heavyweight champions: Max Baer and James J. Braddock. Loughran finally fought Primo Carnera for the Heavyweight title. Despite the 8 inch size disadvantage, the age disadvantage and weight disadvantage Loughran was up against, he still managed to beat the colossus - at least that's how the fans and critics since have ruled it. The judges however thought differently. In later years, when interviewed for the book, In this Corner...[1], Loughran reportedly agreed to only be awarded a win if he could stop the giant. Considering the conditions, Loughran's state and Carnera's connections, it is not unfair to assume some sort of corruption was at hand. While Loughran is remembered among boxing's elite, his career was marred by his fragile hands and jaw. Loughran was also a very small Light heavyweight and possessed no fear of larger men. Loughran fought regularly, even taking fights with only a few hours notice. When examining Loughran's career one must consider the, almost masochistic, abuse Loughran embraced. He was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was the Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year in 1929 and 1931. The Orlean Evening Times 7 January 1928 Loughran Retains Light Heavyweight Championship Outpoints Lomski In Bitter Fight Is Floored Twice Comes Back To Get Judges' Decision— Challenger Opens With Vicious Attack. New York, Jan. 7.—For my money although frankly I don't mean the entire $3.62, I'll take the fighter who can arise from a leaning posture upon the floor and come on to win. That is to say, I'll take him but not in the sense that Barnum took the sap. Almost nobody can do that and none realized better today than Leo Lomski, challenger last night for the world's light heavyweight championship. Ho still was a challenger this morning, for good as Lomski proved to be, there can be only one champion and Tommy Loughran amply demonstrated that he alone was entitled to the Toga. No one but a champion can laugh off two terrific knockdowns in the first few minutes of play, turn completely over on his head from the force of the initial one, and then resume the frolic to such effect that a wholly justifiable decision was earned at the end of fifteen glittering rounds. Gentlemen, if only occasionally so, here was a prize fight. Bring on the so-called heavyweight contenders and let us see If they have a jaw like Loughran's or a punch like Lomski's. after what happened last night, and things never stopped happening, the matter is open to a reasonable doubt. Lomski is a bit short in stature for heavyweight business but a lot of other considerations would he equal, what with his speed, his punch, his unrelenting aggressiveness and his chin. It met more gloves than a horseshow devotee and didn't seem to notice the fact at all. My scoring gave Loughran nine rounds, Lomski four, and called the other two even. You will notice that I refrain from referring to the occasion as a bout or match. Strict accuracy forbids, it was a fight and nothing but The fight by rounds: Round One Tommy measured his opponent carefully, sticking two lefts to his body by way of introduction. A right smash knocked Loughran down for the count of nine. It came like a flash and almost from nowhere. Tommy came up cautiously and fell into a clinch where Lomski crashed a dozen solid rights to his heart. Loughran was cool under the fire but Lomski batted him fiercely at the ropes. Tommy worked clear and slashed to I.omskl's head. Another right to the chin floored Loughran for nine. Tommy now was badly dazed. lie was backing away at the bell. Round Two Tommy's seconds spent a busy minute during the rest period. The champion sparred very carefully, backing away and ducking each time Lomski cocked his deadly right. A glancing right jarred Lomski to the heels. Tommy whipped another right to Lomskl's temple and the coast boy wavered. The champion whipped both hands to Lomski's head, but only succeeded in pushing Leo half way through the ropes. Tommy stung Lomski with a left and right to the head but took two stiff left hooks on the chin as the hell rang. Round Three Tommy's left was carried very high and carefully guarding his chin. Tommy stabbed the challenger a dozen times with his left before Lomski again crashed his right to Tommy's head. The blow bounced the champion into a corner, but he came back punching furiously. Lomki appeared over-anxious and missed frequently. With wild lunges as Loughran coolly stabbed with his left, ducked, and danced away. Tommy's left jab continually threw Lomski's wicked right out of gear. The champion sent Lomski to his corner with a pat on his shoulder as the bell rang. Round Four Lomski dug a right deep under Tommy's heart. Another right to the ribs shook the champion and Lomski ripped in with a left and right to the head. Tommy poked with his left while Lomski prowled around him looking vainly for an opening. A left hook cut Loughran's lips, but Tommy drove over rights to chin and body. Lomski was surging in with a wild body attack as the gong sounded. Round Five Lomski just grinned as Tommy opened up and crashed two rights to the chin. Two stiff rights dug into the champion's ribs as Lomski began to play steadily for the body. Tommy buried a right sock in Lomski’s stomach and the challenger's knees sagged. Tommy boxed him carefully, however. Lomski's driving right clicked high on Loughran's cheek just before the bell. Round Six With his title in the balance, Tommy still fought carefully, jabbing for openings and holding frantically when a Lomski storm blew up around his body. The crowd yelled each time Loughran grabbed the aggressive free-punching challenger. Lomski ripped in both hands flying and beat Tommy badly about the head. Lomski sailed Loughran into the ropes and was hammering him severely about the body at the bell. Round Seven Cagey, the champion worked his left to the head and body while Lomski worked about him busily but without effect. Tommy bent under a driving right to the heart. Refusing to save energy Lomski crowded forward constantly punching and champion and challenger mixed strenuously In a two- fisted exchange at the ropes. Lomski was still coming in, with Tommy pecking away and retreating as the round ended. Round Eight Lomski came out cautiously saving his strength and danced with Tommy to the tune of left jabs. A right to the chin bounced Lomski into the ropes. Another as he came off , drove all the cautiousness from the coast boy and he ripped frantically for Tommy's body. A sharp right cross cut Lomski's left eye badly. Blood seeped down the whole side of his face. He refused to back up, however, and threw everything into a wild body attack that drove Tommy to a corner, chin and body covered as the bell sounded. Round Nine Tommy's first shot cracked Lomski’s right eye open again. Seconds had closed it temporarily between rounds. The champion played carefully for the gash, pecking at it, until the crowd booed. Lomski just closed that eye, put his head down and waded in with both fists flying to head and body, in a desperate effort to put over a finishing punch. He was still stepping in to considerable punishment at the gong. Round Ten Lomski came out with a furious rally that drove Tommy back into his corner under a storm of smashes to the head and body. The champion held frantically, while Lomski, looking through a red haze, whipped his hands to the champion's mid-section. Tommy slipped and a right crash under his head. A left hook to the chin staggered the champion. Like, a maddened, animal Lomski flayed Loughran about the head with both bands, but the bell saved the titleholder. Round Eleven Lomski tore all the way across the ring with a left to the head. The champion went into full retreat, trailing a left jab behind as he went. Tommy dug two left hooks in Lomski’s stomach and tried in vain to reopen the cut over Lomski’s eye. Seconds had closed it again between rounds. A left hook to the head rattled Tommy's teeth.