Tommy Loughran or Mickey Walker?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 4:13 AM.


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  1. Lonsdale81

    Lonsdale81 Member Full Member

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    Two P4P greats.. & 2 of my favourite fighters of all time but who would you say was the overall greater fighter & why? They actually fought to a split Decision in 1929 but Loughran definitely won it..

    Walker seems to get his dues & rightly so but I don't think Loughran quite gets the recognition he deserves still.
     
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 4:13 AM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 4:13 AM
    #1
  2. RockyValdez

    RockyValdez Member Full Member

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    Walker might edge it pound for pound but its close.
     
    RockyValdez, Jun 2, 2025 at 5:40 AM
    RockyValdez, Jun 2, 2025 at 5:40 AM
    #2
    Mike Cannon likes this.
  3. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    For me its clearly Loughran.

    Walker was capable of beating Loughran. Loughran was capable of scaling peaks at LHW and HW Walker could not.

    Walkers clearly an ATG but he does not stand out among his peers. Loughran stands out. Or he should stand out. Loughran has a case to be LHW GOAT and best HW to never win a belt.
     
    HistoryZero26, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:32 AM
    HistoryZero26, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:32 AM
    #3
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Clearcut Walker for me. Did too much through the weight classes.
     
    McGrain, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM
    McGrain, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:38 AM
    #4
    Greg Price99 likes this.
  5. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Good question but have to go with Walker... going from welterweight to heavyweight and remaining a force, if not champ, is something very, very few boxers have ever accomplished. Just because he wasn't a Fancy Dan jab and circle guy didn't mean Walker wasn't every bit the skilled boxer that Loughran was. It's just a different type of science, a more difficult one in my opinion.
     
    Seamus, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:55 AM
    Seamus, Jun 2, 2025 at 9:55 AM
    #5
    Greg Price99 and robert ungurean like this.
  6. Lonsdale81

    Lonsdale81 Member Full Member

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    Loughran was named Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year twice.. in 1929/31. He fought 11 HOFers beating 9 of them. Here's his record against each:

    Greb 1–4–1
    Tunney 0–1
    Walker 1–0
    Smith 1–1
    Delaney 0–1–1
    Carpentier 1–0
    Baer 1–0
    Stribling 1–2
    Slattery 1–0
    Braddock 1–0
    Sharkey 1–1

    .. & apparently he was such a smart operator that he purposely tried to finish each round while fighting in his own corner.. that allowed him to sit down at the bell while his opponents walked across the ring at the close of each round..

    Walker next..
     
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 10:34 AM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 10:34 AM
    #6
  7. Lonsdale81

    Lonsdale81 Member Full Member

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    Walker ousted five Hall of Fame fighters in a 16-year career .. getting the better of 10 rivals who outweighed him by 20 pounds or more.. he faced 18 world champions or future champions & he's the only former WW champ (Ring era) to be ranked as a top ten heavyweight - a feat unlikely to be repeated ever.. knocked out just twice in 163 fights across all those divisions.. a testament to his iron chin & tenacity.

    & i still can't wrap my head around his HW run.. beat #6 rated HW Johnny Risko twice, outpointed & dropped the 210 lbs Bearcat Wright, fought future lineal champion Jack Sharkey to a draw, beat #4 rated King Levinsky, outpointed197 lbs Paulino Uzcudun & finally lost to the great Max Schmelling.. still took the fight to him tho..

    Both these men were special fighters.
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2025 at 11:10 AM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 10:56 AM
    #7
    The Long Count likes this.
  8. McCallumsJab

    McCallumsJab New Member Full Member

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    It horses for courses type question, Walker will lose against elite technical boxer movers, and Loughran was a bit of a spoiler in the mould of a smaller John Ruiz

    About 2 of those should of been in the HOF. The standard for the 20s/30s is way lower than the 80s/90s
     
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:14 PM
    #8
  9. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Ruiz being compared to Loughran is a first for me.

    Slattery, Braddock and Carpentier don’t belong in the HOF, the latter two maybe due to cultural impact but they’re nothing to flex about beating imo. You can debate Smith, Sharkey and Baer but I’d say the rest certainly belong.
     
    Melankomas, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
    Melankomas, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
    #9
    Greg Price99 likes this.
  10. Lonsdale81

    Lonsdale81 Member Full Member

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    Which 9 shouldn't be in?
     
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:39 PM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:39 PM
    #10
  11. Lonsdale81

    Lonsdale81 Member Full Member

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    & me.. what a stupid comparison
     
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:47 PM
    #11
  12. McCallumsJab

    McCallumsJab New Member Full Member

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    Ottke, Kalambay, Michael Watson and Bomber Graham are better boxers than nearly all of those men and they aren't in the HOF. Neither are John Ruiz or Chris Byrd.

    For me Loughran was all about his jab and spoiling and little else, hence the John Ruiz comparison.
     
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
    #12
  13. McCallumsJab

    McCallumsJab New Member Full Member

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    I'd just have Greb and Tunney, the clear stand outs
     
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 1:49 PM
    #13
  14. Lonsdale81

    Lonsdale81 Member Full Member

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    Are u saying Otke is more deserving than Walker?
     
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 2:07 PM
    Lonsdale81, Jun 2, 2025 at 2:07 PM
    #14
  15. McCallumsJab

    McCallumsJab New Member Full Member

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    It's horses for courses, but I think he beats Walker H2H. I think he moves and picks Walker off. Walker had probems with boxer movers. Ottke also has a top class resume beating most of the best at 168 during his era and retiring undefeated
     
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
    McCallumsJab, Jun 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
    #15
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