I love the rise of Joe Louis and very impressed with his rise to the title, especially his 1935. It's a moot point, as he defeats more than enough of the top guys and he does it so fast, but I noticed that perhaps the only name missing is Loughran. I know that by this time Tommy had lost a step in his quickness, but I think this matchup would have been a decent test for Joe. I know you can't fight everyone, even in your own era, but did the Louis camp find Loughran to be a bit too much risk vs reward? Also, is there anyone pre ww2 that you wish Joe Louis would have fought?
15 rounds against Louis would always be a nitemare for anyone (Louis had one or two twenty rounders scheduled also) The two Tunney vs Dempsey fights were over 10 rounds per Jack's request. (so someone could eke out a 6-4 decision if need be)
Up to the time of his loss by knockout to Max Schmeling, Joe Louis had a meteoric rise to the top after becoming a professional boxer. Top heavyweights were clamoring to fight him because he was an amazing gate attraction at a time when boxing was in the doldrums due to the Great Depression. It appears that there was some talk about Joe Louis fighting Tommy Loughran. But if such a bout took place, it probably would have been the first time that Loughran fought a black boxer. Both of the bouts between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey were staged in Pennsylvania and Illinois respectively, two states which had laws mandating that bouts be scheduled a maximum of ten rounds at the time. In between the two bouts with Tunney, Dempsey fought Jack Sharkey in a scheduled fifteen-round bout in New York City. As a result, I have doubts about the assertion that Dempsey requested that his each of two bouts with Tunney be scheduled for ten rounds. - Chuck Johnston
Loughran did not fight blacks. I can't think of anyone who would have really been that intruiging a match for Louis that he missed.Tiger Jack Fox was very unorthodox, he might have been interesting. Melio Bettina was still developing in the 30's ,as a southpaw he might have posed some problems momentarily.
And Franklin. Loughran might show well vs Louis because he had a pretty good left-hand jab and speed, two things that troubled Louis.
Liston got his jaw broken when he was laughing at Marty Marshall's techniques in their first fight. Same thing might happen to Louis when Slapsie Maxie starts "windmilling".
Good pts, Chuck and McVey After the Tunney retirement, using that as a divide, everyone who either fought or held the title in the entire half over decade fought Louis before Louis got a title shot. Only exceptions being Stribling who had died and Loughran who disqualifies himself. I think the matchup woulda been a good one.
Like Gene Tunney, Tommy Loughran would have some chance indeed of pulling off the upset unless he succumbed to the urge of pulling a "Billy Conn"...trying for a ko....and that's not to say that in a Louis rematch with a pre-war Billy, that he would make the same mistake again.
Loughran was a stellar ATG boxer. Could he avoid a ko blow over 15 rounds with Louis at his very best. I do not think so. Louis ko 11 in a fight Tommy is leading.
No no no. Loughran was well past it at this stage. It is likely more a question of whether he could have pulled a John Henry Lewis!
1935 Loughran is still a top fighter, his age at this point makes me give the edge to Louis. But like Bob Pastor, the fight goes the limit. Loughran wins a few rounds, but UD Louis. This is 35, early 36. Only fight I wish for on the resume of Joe Louis, but it's not his fault.
I'm seconding this. If Loughran somehow gets to the final bell, he wins, but Lomski, Sharkey I and Hamas I show that Tommy simply didn't have the chin to withstand Joe. Height, reach and power weren't major issues for Loughran to overcome at his best, but hand speed combined with first rate boxing technique would be a different matter. Over a series, Loughran might get one or maybe two over the limit, but he's not surviving once nailed the way Lomski and Sharkey got him early. (Only in Pastor II and Galento did we see somebody come off the floor to rally against Louis, Two-Ton uniquely avenging a knockdown.)
