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1926 LH Title Bouts

WBA

Harry Greb CH (45-8) vs Jimmy Delaney #9 (26-5-1)

Greb holds a TKO 7 win over "Duluth Jimmy" back in 1924. It will be Delaney's first title shot as Greb begins to experience the effects of aging.

After a close opening round, Greb opens up and dominates the action on the inside in round two. Both men whale away on the inside in the third, and Greb continues to pile up a points lead. Delaney starts to get more aggressive in the middle rounds, but he can make no impression on a determined Greb. The "Human Windmill" nails Delaney with a nice uppercut in round 8, sending the Duluth fighter to the canvas. Greb looks to finish matters, putting Delaney on the deck for a second time (this one for a 9-count) a round later. Delaney really piles on the pressure in the later rounds, rallying and even tagging the Champ with a big combination that forces Greb to cover up in the 13th. Greb tempers his naturally aggressive tendencies, settling for a comfortable UD 15 decision win. Scorecards are 146-136, 144-138, 145-136, all for Harry Greb.

Harry Greb CH (46-8) vs Tommy Loughran #6 (26-4-1)

First meeting of the veteran Greb and one of the brightest new stars in the division, Loughran, who earns the title shot after going 2-0 after his most recent loss, a SD to Jimmy Slattery for the NABF title.

Loughran's strong defensive boxing skills are on display as he takes the opening round. Greb looks slow in the outside action in round two, again ceding the round to Loughran. Good action round in the third, as Greb bulls his way inside and starts to connect some. Loughran moves inside, lands a few strong shots, and Greb's left eye is starting to puff up as a result. Close round in round five, but the ringside expert has it 50-46 for the challenger, Loughran. Greb keeps moving forward but just can't penetrate Loughran's defenses in the middle round of the bout. Greb becomes increasingly frustrated in the later rounds, and it's sad to see a great Champion past his peak unable to cope with a younger, quicker, slicker and equally skilled opponent. Bout goes the full 15 and it goes down as a UD 15 for the new LH Champ, Tommy Loughran (147-138, 147-138, 144-141).

Tommy Loughran CH (27-4-1) vs Jack Delaney #3 (29-2)

Tough initial defense for Loughran versus "Bright Eyes" Delaney, the Canadian slugger, setting up a classic boxer versus puncher matchup.

Slight edge for the Champ in round one. Loughran takes advantage as both men fight outside in round two. Delaney does better, getting off the mark in round three. Both men battle inside in the fourth, which is essentially an even round. More of the same as the two exchange blows in some good toe-to-toe action in fourn five. Loughran nails Delaney with a three-punch combination that forces the challenger to cover up. The Champ continues to pepper Delaney until the ref decides to deduct a point for holding and hitting, making it 47-all on the unofficial card. Another close round in round six, with Loughran being the one pressing the action on the inside. Delaney recovers with a strong round one the inside in round seven. Delaney continues as the aggressor in the eighth, but the Champ has a good round, dodging most of the heavy leather while countering effectively. Loughran puts together some more good rounds to gradually pull ahead on the unofficial card (95-94) heading into the Championship rounds. Delaney looks tired in round 11, but then he surges after Loughran sustains a cut below his left eye, which is also starting to swell up. Loughran battles back, flicking his jab repeatedly until Delaney's left eye also starts to puff up. Loughran's defense holds up through the final round and he keeps his title, winning a narrow by unanimous decision (144-140, 143-141, 144-140).

NABF: Jimmy Slattery starts the year with the title, and he defends twice, first against former Champ "Bright Eyes" Delaney, whom he decks with a combination in round three, keeping up the pressure throughout the bout all the way to a UD 12. Then USBA Champ Ad Stone is the challenger, and the bout is decided when Stone hurts Slattery with a sharp combination, followed by a pair of knockdowns, and Slattery is then counted out -- KO 4 for Stone.

USBA: A busy Ad Stone (prior to his NABF title bout) is quite busy, defending four times, taking the measure of Bobby Brown (TKO 7), Lou Bogash (TKO stoppage on cuts, in four), "Duluth Jimmy" Delaney, who hits the canvas three times before being counted out in round nine, and finally veteran Tommy Gibbons who is no match for the younger man, suffering a real beating before the ref decides to stop it midway through round seven.

CBU: Only one title bout in 1926, as Len Harvey takes on Jack Bloomfield. The overmatched challenger suffers an early cut and Harvey administers a frightful beating but cannot put the game challenger away. UD 12 for Harvey.

GBU: Gypsy Daniels is matched with Tom Berry after Harvey relinquished the belt to focus on the more prestigous titles like the EBU and Commonwealth belts. Berry survives a first-round knockdown, putting Daniels on the deck in round eight, then squeaking through via a narrow SD 12 as the bout goes the distance. Berry then defends his title once, versus an aging and overmatched Harry Reeve, UD 12 win for Berry.

EBU: First defense in over a year sees Len Harvey take on the Swiss, Charles Baechli. Baechli manages to keep the bout close for a few rounds before Harvey steps up the pace in the middle rounds, dominating the rest of the way to take a lopsided UD 12.