Primo Carnera vs. Tommy Loghran ~ 'A Freak Show In Miami'

[Bill Paxtom]

March 1, 1934

Madison Square Garden Stadium ~ Miami, Florida

~ World Heavyweight Championship ~

* Primo Carnera - 76-6-0 {63 KO's} ~ 6' 6" ~ Reach; 85" ~ 270 lbs. ~ {Age; 27 years, 5 months}
vs.
* Tommy Loughran - 78-16-5 {12 KO's} ~ 5' 11 1/2" ~ Reach; 73" ~ 186 lbs. ~ {Age; 31 years, 3 months}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny ~

Primo Carnera > 'The World Heavyweight Champion' will be making the 2nd-Defense of his
Championship since he won in it on June 29, 1933.

Primo had defended his Title once, by defeating Paulino Uzcudon 4-Months earlier on
October 22, 1933 in Rome, Italy.

Primo had arrived in Miami, Florida as a 'heavy-favorite' at {5-1}, and was expected to have an easy time
with the 'light-punching' but expert defensive-specialist that they called 'The Philly Phantom'.

But in viewing the 'Mammoth Italian' in sparring-sessions, Primo had 'regressed' from his earlier improvement
as a capable boxer in 1932 and 1933, to now being a just a huge 'lumbering oaf'.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ The Skinny 'II' ~

Tommy Loughran > The Challenger has salvaged his career by winning '6-of-7' since January 10, 1933.

Loughran, who was regarded as on the 'finest' Ring Technicians in Boxing durinhg the late-1920's and
up thru 1931, was written off on January 15, 1932 when he was 'blasted out' {L KO 2} by a 'young-and-raw'
Steve Hamas.

Many of the Boxing Pundits wrote Loughran 'off' after that loss, and stated that his 'once-great' Boxing Career
had passed him by at {Age; 29 years, 2 months}.

But 'The Phantom of Philly' surprised everyone, by scoring '2' Decision wins over 'previous nemesis' Steve Hamas,
and also scoring an 'upset' {W Split Dec 15} over 'former' Heavyweight Champion - Jack Sharkey on September 27, 1933.

[Bill Paxtom]

Edward Kiel {Sportswriter}

I have never thought that Primo Carnera was a great boxer, or a talented Champion, but
he was progressing well in 1932 and 1933 from his earlier pathetic performances inside the
Boxing Ring.

But after viewing Primo here this week, he has taken '2' big steps backwards, and is now
looking more like the 'lumbering oaf' that he was back in 1929 and 1930.

Oh, he may get by the 'light-hitting' and fleet-footed Tommy Loughran here in Miami,
but that won't mean he's a good fighter by a long-shot.

He'll most likely win, not because of his talent, but because he's big and strong, and will smother
the little Philadelphian with his bulk and size.

The Betting-Odds opened up as {5-1} for the Champion, but the 'street-smarters' and bookies
have dropped that down to {3-1} to get some action.