Tommy Loughran

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Tommy Loughran
Real name	Thomas Loughran
Nickname	Phantom of Philly
Weight	Light Heavyweight
Nationality	American
Birth date	November 29, 1902
Birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Death date	July 7, 1982
Style	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	175
Wins	96
Wins by KO	17
Losses	24
Draws	9
No contests

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.