Tommy Loughran vs Benny Leonard

**Chris Nagel** · 06-24-2007 04:50 PM

Tommy Loughran vs. Benny Leonard
"The Great Battle of Wits"

These two men represent among the cream of the crop when it comes to boxing and thinking on their feet.

How do you see this dream fight going down?

Let's just say in this dream bout that weight isn't a factor, we can even imagine that Benny Leonard is the same height and build as Loughran. Another factor that we can exlude is Tommy Loughran's fragile hands. In this fight cuts, broken hands aren't going to be a problem. We'll also have both guys in the best physical condition they've ever been in, and as sharp and determined as ever. The rules of the bout will be same as it was in Loughran's and Leonard's day. For our entertainment this will be an all-time championship bout, and the referree will treat it as such. If a fighter is knocked down there will be no premature stoppage, and it will only be declared a knock out if the fallen fighter can not beat the count of 10. The only difference here will be that this will be a 25 round bout to determine who the better man is.

These guys were both wizards in the respective weight classes. The fought in an identical fighting stance, had similar footwork, were brilliant counterpunchers and new the ins-and-outs in boxing.

With all things being equal, how would you see a fight going if these fighters are pitted together?

Anyone up to challenge?

I'll add details about the two fighters later.

Tommy Loughran on the left; Benny Leonard on the right.

**Chris Nagel** · 06-24-2007 05:04 PM

If you aren't very familiar with these two fighters, you can read a little about Benny Leonard at http://coxscorner.tripod.com/bleonard.html and read about Loughran here: http://www.tunney.org/loughran/

Also here are a couple fight clips on both of the fighters:

Tommy Loughran vs. James Braddock (part 1 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acMVVn-OT2o

Tommy Loughran vs. James Braddock (part 2 of 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkgm5C7Xvfc

Jack Sharkey vs. Tommy Loughran I
VOB english 5.33 Min 400 MB
http://www.megaupload.com/ru/?d=9XL1BD5O

Benny Leonard vs Lew Tender I
10.55 Min
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rfQwLykgKGE

Mini-Documentary
IN THIS CORNER: BENNY LEONARD - 88MB
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=372CEOMX

**Scrap** · 06-24-2007 10:14 PM

Id take Leonard to do a job on him. Of all the old films ive seen Leonard stands out to me . The film was after a 10 year retirement and he was old but his skills were remarkable.

**Chris Nagel** · 06-24-2007 11:02 PM

This is a tough one for me to call, since the only footage I could find are the ones that I have provided here in this post.

I'd give Leonard an edge on footwork, but I'm not sure if a light-heavy version of Leonard can move around as quickly and gracefully as he did as a lightweight. He had the slickest footwork that I ever saw because he was usually making his opponent readjust while he was in position to punch.

I remember greynotsoold mentioning that he saw that Leonard was able to do a drop-shift, (switch his stance) and pull it off. You take one look on the way he was able to move with such quickness and savvy and you know he wasn't much that he couldn't do.

Loughran wasn't as quick on his feet in comparison to Leonard, but on a more subtle not he could sort of feint with feet. He'd take a quick step forward to draw his opponent in and immediately bounce back just out of range and land his own.

Both fighters can move in one direction while making you think that they're going in a different direction. I think that because of Benny's nimbleness that he'd have the advantage when it comes to this tactic and I think that his quickness would be able to catch Loughran before he could bring his hands up.

They're both amazing to look at when it comes to feinting in general. It wasn't a haphazard practice as a lot of today's fighters have it. They were very deliberate and as their moves were as well thought-out as they come.

I'm no expert when it comes to these fighters, but in my humble opinion I think that Leonard would have a good lead in this fight.