Tommy Loughran
Encyclopedia
Thomas Patrick Loughran (November 29, 1902 – July 7, 1982) was the light heavyweight
boxing
champion of the world.
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
. 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 but lost a decision.
While Loughran is remembered among boxing's elite, his career was marred by his fragile hands and jaw.
He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
. He was the Ring Magazines Fighter of the Year
in 1929 and 1931.
He appeared as himself on the game show
To Tell the Truth
on February 12, 1957.
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion of the world.
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
Gene Tunney
James Joseph "Gene" Tunney was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1926-1928 who defeated Jack Dempsey twice, first in 1926 and then in 1927. Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey is one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight...
, Jack Sharkey
Jack Sharkey
Jack Sharkey was an American heavyweight boxing champion. He was born Joseph Paul Zukauskas , the son of Lithuanian immigrants, in Binghamton, New York but moved to Boston, Massachusetts as a young man...
and Georges Carpentier
Georges Carpentier
Georges Carpentier was a French boxer. He fought mainly as a light heavyweight and heavyweight in a career lasting from 1908-26. Nicknamed the "Orchid Man", he stood and his fighting weight ranged from...
. Loughran even achieved a Newspaper Decision over fistic phenom Harry Greb
Harry Greb
Harry Greb was an American boxer. He was World Middleweight boxing Champion from 1923 to 1926 and American Light Heavyweight title holder 1922–1923. He fought a recorded 303 times in his 13 year-career, against the best opposition the talent-rich 1910s & 20s could provide him, frequently squaring...
. 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
James J. Braddock
James Walter "The Cinderella Man" Braddock was an American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937....
. Loughran finally fought Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
for the heavyweight title but lost a decision.
While Loughran is remembered among boxing's elite, his career was marred by his fragile hands and jaw.
He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
. He was the Ring Magazines Fighter of the Year
Ring Magazine fighters of the year
The Ring was established in 1922. Since 1928, it has named a fighter as Fighter of the Year, based on the magazine's writers' criteria...
in 1929 and 1931.
He appeared as himself on the game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
on February 12, 1957.