The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-22
DUNCAN, NIGHT
 CLUB HOOPER, 7 TRAINS LOUCHRAN
BOyhOOd Pals at Miami for Title BOut--TOnnly, l2,
 Licked Opponent, 25

West Palm Beach, Fla, Feb. 22 - Turc Duncan, Tommy Lough- ran's trainer, is popular night club master of ceremonies in Phil adelphia. Some years back he was a trouper, touring the provinces, entertaining in the vaudeville houses and cabarets.
 Rather incongruous; isn't it, that this talented musician-he sings Irish ballads and plays 12 musical instruments and agile "hoofer," for he has no superior as tap and acrobatic dancer, should be in Florida training Loughran for his 15-round championship, battle with Primo Camera on February 28 when the night club season is at it's height in Philadelphia where Turc is the M. c. at one of the large and popular bright spots"
 But there is an explanation. It takes us back 19 years to the days when the 12-year old Tommy Loughran and Turc Duncan were members of the Ritner Street gang" in South Philadelphia. Tommy and Turc were bosom pals and always fought side by side in the wars against the gangs" from nearby neighborhoods.
 Duncan had talent even then as a singer, dancer and performed on musical instruments and he was a star in the in the minstrel shows staged by St Monica's Dramatic society. Both Turc and Tommy be- longed to that parish. In the early evening, the Ritner stret gang played games under the arc lights on the street corner until 1t came time for Duncan to report in the parish house to rehearse with the minstrels. Loughran and the other kids in the gang then would find seats on the outside window sills, peer in at the amateur black face comedians and give them the bird"
 How It Happened.
 One night the gang on the out side got some sneeze powder and blew it through the windows. The Nanny songs quickly changed into a chorus of "ker-choos." The rehearsal broke up in sneezes. The stage director of the minstre,s, an athletic man about 20 years old, rushed out to punish those mis- chievous kids. It happened that the boy he caught was the 12 1-2 year old Tommy Loughran.
 Instead of submitting to the "dressing down" this angry coach of the minstrels was about to give him, Tommy squared ffand be- gan to stab that full-grown man in the face with his left fist. The enraged stage director began to swing his right fist with K. O. in- tentions. But Loughran tucked and pabbed away with that left hand until the face of the minstrel coach was cut and bruised and one of his eyes was closed.
 A crowd gathered and some were for stopping the fight. But a mold family doctor across the street who was boxing fan told the into let it continue. "A boy who has such natural and in- herent left jab can become a great boxer, a champion in the ring, said the physician.
 "That street fight against 25- year old man which Tommy won was the start of his ring career. explained TUG Duncan. "He began to box in serious way wearing gloves, soon afterward. And when he fought his first bout in a ring four lyear later, it was the left jab that instantly attracted the at- tentin of the expertsi."
 Duncan is in Tommy Loughran's camp at sacrifice in time and money because Turc wants to be in the corner of his boyhood pal at Madison Square Gardens Miami Stadium on the night when the Philliy Phantom left jabs" the Italian Man Mountain to defeat. q wouldn't miss this fight where Tommy will make good the pre- diction of that old family doctor and uses his talented left fist to win the highest honors that can come to a boxer"