Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-17
CHAMPION IS HELD
TOO FOXY FOR FOE
ChaIIenger's Only Chance of
viCtery Seems to Lie in
Scoring Knockout.

by the Associated Press.
n JEW YORK, July 17.-Tommy
nj Loughran, busiest of all the
VI fstic champions, will defend
4 his ight-heavyweight crown
against James j. Braddock of
Jersey City, at the Yankee Stadium to-
morrow night in what may prove to be
his last fight as a 175-pounder
Winner or loser in his battle with
Jersey Jimmy Loughran is authority
for the statement that he will engage
in few, If any, more bouts as light
heavyweight.
Despite his frequent title defenses and
non-title bouts, Loughran has made
little money out OF the title he won from
Mike McTigue in October of 1927. The
big money lies with the heavyweights
and Tommy is convinced he can more
than hold his own with any Of the cur
rent crop In that division.
He has said that If he beats Braddock
he will fight again as a light-heavy-
weight in September and then cast his
lot definitely with the heavyweights. If
he loses he has said he expects to take
a vacation and see what he can do in
the way Of putting on more weight and
adding punch to his flstic repertoire,
so that when he meets the big fellows
he will not be under such handicap.
Another element in Loughran'S de-
cision has been his reported difficulty in
making the weight. Although there
seems to be no reason to doubt that
Tommy will be down to ITS pounds for
Thursdays battle there is no question at
the same time that the task has weak
ened him to some degree.
Betting odds on the day before the
fight favor Loughran at to 5, but an
expected rush of Braddock money may
tighten the odds before ring time.
Although the jersey puncher has no
lack of supporters his sole hope of vic
tory over the clever title holder seems to
lie in a knockout. However much he
may have improved in boxing skill, he
can have no hope of outpointing a
sharpshooter like Loughran. In this
connection it is observed that Leo
Lomski outpointed Braddock a few
months ago. and Lomski does not rank
in the same class with Loughran in
boxing skill.
Braddock has depended upon his right
hand to bring him victory, and except
against Lomski that weapon has been
plenty. Pete Latzo, Tuffy Griffith and
Jimmy Slattery all can testify to the
dynamite that lies in Braddock'S right.
He broke LatZo's jaw with it: knocked
out Griffith in two rounds and stopped
Slattery in nine.
Loughran's task. then, appears to be
simply to avoid the Jersey mans right
hand. If he does that there appears to
be no chance Of the title changing
hands.
BY JOHN ]. ROMANO.
NEW YORK, July 17.-Tommy Lough-
ran runs smack into a two-fold pro-
position when he faces James j. Brad
dock at the Yankee stadium tomorrow
evening.
he ict,E H., o;rrI1f nI1o
pion is confronted with the task OF
proving to the sports world that he is
capable enough to hold the 175-pound
title and wage a successful campaign
for the heavier title abandoned by Gene
Tunney. That Loughran has his work
cut out for him is self evident when
the punching proWeSs of his adversary
tomorrow is considered.
Loughran has unbounded confidence
in his polished boxing science to Offset
the harder punching of Braddock and,
judging by his work in the past, the
Philadelphia counts heavily on out
scoring his foe by dazzling left jab
and clever counters.
Just how strong Loughran is at the
weight is moot question. The past
two weeks have been trying ones. The
solid meat on his big frame has refused
to melt away, even though wrapped in
Iledby layers u IuUDeI anu udIIlGl, anu
the abstinence from liquids has I'M
doubtedly been a torture.
Despite the ordeal Loughran has been
forced to undergo. his air of confidence
has not deserted him, and, if one is
willing to take his word for it, the
champion will scale under the class
weight and still be strong enough to
withstand the challenge of his opponent.
Braddock. never a pleasing worker in
the gym, has been furnishing the ex-
perts with plenty of food for thought.
Spirited workouts, enlivened by solid
punching with the heavy mitts. have
caused change in the opinion of those
who conceded him other than an out
side chance of outScoring his faster OPP
ponent. That and the distance, Is
rounds, was figured a little too much
for Braddock to overcome.
Now on the eve of the battle opinion
has veered sharply in favor of the
challenger. There is sound reason for
this. Loughran. in his last few fights.
gave the impression of boxer going
back. while Braddock, never a brilliant
performer. gives every indication of a
fighter on the upgrade. This may be
the big moment in ,Braddock's career
and he may rise to the heights.