Mickey Walker or Tommy Loughran?

What is your opinion?

 

I prefer Walker as a fighter but, being fair, I’d say Loughran.

 

Walker not only rates higher p4p than Loughran, but also higher than Tunney, imo. Even Leonard is debatable, though personally I have Benny higher.

Purely based on fights that occurred during the 1920's only, I have it:

1) Greb:

• He went 114-8-5 during the decade
• Begun the decade 60-1-3 before a robbery defeat vs Tunney and he later started to slip due to issues with his eye(s)
• Was 4-2-1 in MW world title fights
• Beat Tommy Gibbons (he was 2-1 vs Tommy during the 20's), Tommy Loughran (4-1-1), Jimmy Delaney x 3, Maxie Rosenbloom, Mickey Walker, Jimmy Slattery, 17.5lbs heavier Kid Norfolk (1-1), Gene Tunney (officially 1-3-1, 2-2-1 on majority press scorecards), 24lbs heavier Charley Weinert, Jeff Smith (3-0-1), Clay Turner x 2, Bob Moha x 3, Johnny Wilson x 2, 8lbs heavier Gunboat Smith, Ted Moore x 2, Tiger Flowers (1-2), Lou Bogwash and Bryan Downey - I rank Greb #1 in the 1910's too, where his win resume is equally absurd. Incredibly, his win resume from either decade alone would have a decent argument as the best win resume in boxing history.

2) Tunney:

• 59-1-1
• 3-0 in HW WT fights
• Beat past prime Jack Dempsey x 2, Harry Greb (3-1-1 officially, probably 2-2-1 on fair scorecards), past prime Tommy Gibbons, Tommy Loughran (8-round newspaper decision), Jimmy Delaney x 2, Tom Heeney, Johnny Risko, Georges Carpentier, Battling Levinsky, Jeff Smith, Charley Weinert x 2 and Leo Houck x 2

3) Leonard:

• 23-1 - only loss to Jack Britton by DQ, for hitting the WW champion whilst he was on the floor following a KD
• 7-0 in LW WT fights; 0-1 in WW WT fight
• Beat Lew Tendler x 2, Rocky Kansas x 3, Ritchie Mitchell, Ever Hammer, Charley White, Frankie Britt, Johnny Dundee (8-round newspaper decision) and the 14lbs heavier Soldier Bartfield

4) Walker:

• 74-14-2
• 6-1 in WW WT fights; 5-1 in MW WT fights; 0-1 in LHW WT fight
• Beat 12lbs heavier Paul Berlenbach, 8.5 & 10lbs heavier Mike McTigue x 2, 7lbs heavier Leo Lomski, 37-year old Jack Britton (1-0-1), Lew Tendler, Johnny Griffiths x 3, Soldier Bartfield x 3, Jock Malone x 4, Tiger Flowers (possible robbery), Ace Hudkins x 2, Tommy Milligan, 11lbs heavier Armand Emanuel, Pete Latzo (1-1) and Dave Shade (2-1)

5) Loughran

• 91-6-7 - Tommy went 37-1 at the end of the decade as he entered his prime, with his only loss to Jack Sharkey
• 8-1 in LHW WT fights
• He beat Mike McTigue x 3, Jimmy Slattery by MD, Georges Carpentier, Mickey Walker SD, Jim Braddock, Leo Lomski, Ernie Schaff, Harry Greb (1-4-1), 9 & 11lbs heavier Johnny Risko x 2, Johnny Wilson, Jimmy Delaney (6-rounder), Ted Moore, Pete Latzo x 2, Roland Todd, Chuck Wiggins x 2, Jeff Smith (1-1) and Young Stribling (1-2)

As well as ranking Greb #1 in the 1910's based solely on fights in that decade, I have Leonard #6 in the 1910's and Walker #4 in the 1930's.

P4P over their entire careers, I have these 5:

1) Greb
2) Leonard
3) Walker
4) Tunney
5) Loughran

Walker's victories over bigger men are astounding, as is his draw with Jack Sharkey. a 5ft 7ins former WW champion beating top 10 HWs and drawing with a fighter who won the HW world title the following year, is simply absurd. Walker over Loughran and by quite a distance, for me.

 

I consider Walker the 3rd best of the 20s. He’s better pound for pound than Loughran in my opinion.

 

Though I like to watch Loughran more, it is undeniable that Walker is the greater fighter.
He fought from Welterweight up to Heavyweight and beat killers in all those weight classes.
He has one of the great resumes in all of boxing.
He is easily a top 10-15 ATG.