I cannot see that Tommy would have enough firepower to keep Jefferies honest, so yes Tommy would outbox Jefferies, but Jefferies would walk through those punches and bully Loughran to defeat.
Indeed he did and the same result could have happened albeit over the stated 15 rounds. As we know The Boilermaker had the ability to absorb inordinate amount of punishment and then prevail, that approach would be more risky over the 15 round limit, so i see Jefferies being more proactive and using his brute strength, as Louis said of Conn "He can run, but he can't hide". Question is did Tommy have enough firepower to dissuade Jefferies from going in bully mode, i personally do not think he would, and Jefferies would and could take punches to achieve his goal.
Maybe Loughran's best chance is if Tommy Ryan's in Jeffries corner. TR did a good job of solidifying JJ's boxing fundamentals but, tactically/strategically, he seemed (v. Corbett I 1900) determined that Jeff take all that learning and box his was in to Pompadour Jim; Ryan pretty much got deposed as the rounds went into the latter teens, fire got lit under Jeffries butt, and he had about enough time left (in 25 rounds) to settle Corbett. If Delaney were guiding Jeffries against Loughran, it would have been 'find a way to get in, go to work'. True, it might not be fast, as Jeffries was more a steadily-pulling-starfish attritioner. If it was a 1902/04 Jeffries, though, he'd also have been more upright and quicker on his feet than the 1898-1900 Jeffries.
Loughran was good, he had technique and mobility. However, 29 defeats, against boxers like Risko, Hamas, Carattoli. Many fights lost to Greb, great boxer, but he was a middleweight… Against Jeffries he could go a long time, but the odds were against him.
Good point ,Fitz smashed his to pieces on Jeffries bony face,then again Bob was going for the ko. If Corbett could outpoint Jeffries for 23 rds you have to give Tommy a decent chance of pulling it off over 15 imo.
Loughran had 126 fights, over 100 of them were at light hvy or heavyweight. Tommy has 26 losses, a good half a dozen when past his prime.
Loughran lost many fights against Greb, a middleweight. He was a good boxer, but he lost fights as young, old, middle aged, as fighter. Beated by some who were champions, but by many who were tomato cans. Jeffries was better than Viggi, McWilliams, Britton, McTigue and other unknowns.
Loughran lost3 fights with Greb drew 1 and won 1 1st fight1922 Loughran163 1.2lbs v Greb 167lbs Greb won .Loughran 19years old 2nd fight 1923 Loughran 165lbs v Greb 168 1/4lbs Greb won.Loughran 20 years old 3rd fight 1923 Loughran 166lbsv Greb168lbs Loughran won Loughran 20 years old 4th fight 1923 Loughran 168 1/2lbs v Greb 168lbs Greb won Loughran 20 years old * 5th fight 1924 Loughran 168lbs v Greb 168lbs Draw Loughran 21 years old . Their 4 th fight was the only one in which Loughran had a weight advantage, one half a pound. 1st fight Greb was 3 1/2lbs heavier. 2nd fight Greb was 3 1/4lbs heavier. Loughran was 17 years old when he lost to Viggi ,a broken rib forced him to retire, he beat Viggi few months later. Nineteen years old Loughran lost to Britton,though some thought it a draw,Loughran beat him in the rematch. Twenty years old Loughran lost to Mike McTigue for McTigue's world's light heavyweight title . Loughran had previously beaten McTigue twice. As the reigning Light heavyweight Champ McTigue was hardly," unknown". In1922 when Greb, 3 1/2lbs the heavier man first beat the 19 years old Loughran he also beat Tommy Gibbons 78-1-3 who was 7 1/2lbs heavier than him . And Gene Tunney 47- 0 -2 who was 12lbs heavier than him. Do you mark Gibbons and Tunney down for losing to the smaller Greb too? No details available for Loughran's loss to Carattoli in Buenos Ares, but here is report of their rematch 3 months later. Loughran "outboxed the Argentine heavyweight Jose Carattoli by a wide a wide margin in a 12 round bout tonight but the best the clever Philadelphian could get from the two judges and the referee was a draw." One judge voted for Carattoli while the other judge and the referee called it a draw. "The crowd jeered and hooted when the decision was announced" (Associated Press/ Loughran beat 22 top ten ranked fighters some of them several times. He also beat 9 men who at one time or another held world titles including 3 at heavyweight.Braddock ,Baer,and Sharkey. Having 129 fights over an 18 year career, fighting above his natural weight for over 100 of them is it surprising he lost some? Jeffries had 22 fights with a record of 19-1-2,for the vast majority of these fights he had very significant weight advantages and ,for 4 of his most important contests age advantages too.
Excellent post McVey. Loughran was actually 1-4-1 vs Greb. I think you missed out their 3rd fight, which Greb won over 15-rounds, when both weighed 166lbs & Tommy was also 20. From his 23rd birthday onwards, Loughran won all of the 24 x fights he went on to contest at 180lbs or below. He also had some fine wins at HW.
Thanks for the correction Greg,I was just trying to give some perspective to Loughran's losses to Harry.
