Tommy Loughran : Does anyone rate him down for "drawing the color line" ?

I absolutely do not rate him down for that. I do however drop him down several notches because he was a dirty white. He had to live in his times, I have to live in mine.

 

Absolutely.

 

How can you not? He was a champion of only half the planet

 

So half the planet is black? :think

 

He did beat Walker, who did not draw a color line.

 

Absolutely. Can't wait for the arguments that there were no good black fighters around during Tommy's career ... Gene Tunney's either by the way ...

I always make the same argument. Imagine today if only white fighters could fight for the title and their managers could manimulate title rankings and match ups ... we'd have only white champs in every division as well ..

 

I actually can't find many light heavies who were black and rated during Loughran's time.Roleaux Seguero a Cuban was briefly rated in 1928 at no 10,Ive never heard of him myself.Another Cuban ,Bobby Brown was no 8 for a short time the same year.Tiger Jack Payne was no 9 for a month in 1928, Larry Johnson was rated in1930 also Al Gainer ,but by then Loughran was campaigning as a heavyweight.
Not excusing him, [or Tunney ], but there does seem to be a dearth of rated coloured light heavies during Loughran's prime years.

Loughran having trouble with little Primo.

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I have two questions of fact:

1. I have seen recent articles which state as fact that Loughran "drew the color line", but none have quotes or evidence from when Loughran was an active fighter. Does anyone have a statement made by Loughran drawing the color line?

2. Is everyone certain none of Loughran's opponents were black? Some of those early names are pretty obscure.

 

This article states that Loughran was an "arch supporter of the color line":

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...12,5877587&dq=tommy+loughran+color+line&hl=en

Loughran uses the color line as an excuse not to fight Louis:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...69,3909245&dq=tommy+loughran+color+line&hl=en

 

The question was once asked in a Ring Quiz. The answer being that Tommy never met a black fighter .
I have never read a racist remark by Loughran, [or Tunney for that matter],both were Catholic ,Loughran devoutly so.I would have thought one would preclude the other.

 

I'd say it is valid criticism against his record but it's also true that he did fight the best light heavyweights of his time regardless. Old Loughran avoiding Louis did not really matter in the big picture.

 

Well thats interesting and pretty conclusive I'd say, Loughran definitely would not fight blacks.So much for being devoutly religious.

 

Hell yes!!!