Tommy Grogan

Tommy Grogan (born Clarence Thomas Grogan; February 6, 1904 – April 3, 1972) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1924 to 1950. Between April 1928 and May 1932, he was ranked among The Ring magazine's top ten contenders at super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world at light welterweight in January 1931.

Boxing career

Fighting out of Omaha, Nebraska, Grogan began his professional career in 1924, compiling a 9–1–2 record over his first 12 bouts.

On October 3, 1925, Grogan faced Frank Larrabee in a rematch, having outpointed him over ten rounds in their first meeting. With the Nebraska State featherweight championship at stake, Larrabee reversed the result, outpointing Grogan to win the title. Two fights later, on January 29, 1926, Grogan faced Joey Clein for the Nebraska Athletic Commission featherweight title, losing by decision. On March 2, Grogan faced Jimmy Josephs, stopping him by technical knockout in the ninth round.

On March 26, 1927, Grogan knocked out Billy Kennedy in the third round of a scheduled six round bout. After being outpointed by Joey Medill over six rounds on May 31, 1927, Grogan was scheduled to face him in a rematch on June 24. However, Medill was unable to pass the pre-fight medical examination due to an infected tooth and was replaced by Don Davis, whom Grogan outpointed over six rounds.

On April 27, 1928, Grogan faced Billy Petrolle, winning by technical knockout after the seventh round when an eye injury prevented Petrolle from answering the bell for the eighth. On August 6, it was reported that Grogan had signed to challenge Tod Morgan for the world super featherweight championship, though the bout ultimately never took place.

Grogan was scheduled to face Carl Duane, whom he had defeated in their first meeting, at Queensboro Stadium in Long Island City, Queens, on September 18, 1928. After Duane withdrew due to a cold, Al Bryant stepped in as his replacement. Grogan floored Bryant three times for nine-counts in the third round and dominated the ensuing rounds, battering him around the ring from the fourth through the eighth. The punishment continued into the ninth until the referee stopped the bout one minute and 38 seconds into the round, giving Grogan a technical knockout victory. On October 5, 1928, Grogan faced Joe Glick at Madison Square Garden. Glick floored Grogan near the end of the sixth round and again with five seconds remaining in the seventh. Grogan was further weakened by Glick's sustained body attack in the eighth and ninth rounds before going on to lose a decisive decision.

In late December 1928, it was reported that either Grogan or Ray Miller was expected to next challenge Sammy Mandell for the world lightweight championship. The two contenders instead agreed to face each other, meeting at Olympia Stadium on January 11, 1929, in the first of two bouts between the pair in quick succession, with Mandell watching from ringside. Grogan floored Miller six times over the first three rounds, but was knocked out in the fourth after momentarily dropping his right hand and leaving himself open to a counter. The United Press described the bout as one of the most spectacular ever staged at Olympia Stadium. In a rematch three weeks later, Grogan adopted a more cautious approach, but lost a ten-round decision to Miller. Neither fighter was able to replicate the excitement of their thrilling first encounter, and the crowd booed the decision.

On June 18, 1929, Grogan faced future world light welterweight champion Johnny Jadick, earning a ten-round decision victory. On December 6, Grogan faced Glick in a rematch in San Francisco, flooring him in the ninth round en route to a decision victory.

Grogan faced Billy McMahon on January 20, 1930, outpointing him over ten rounds. On May 9, Grogan faced reigning world lightweight champion Sammy Mandell in a non-title bout, earning a draw by repeatedly forcing the action into close quarters, where his effective infighting and clean punches kept him on even terms with the champion. On June 24, Grogan faced former world featherweight champion and future three-division world champion Tony Canzoneri at Queensboro Stadium. Grogan floored Canzoneri for a nine-count in the second round and dealt out considerable punishment in the early rounds, but gradually surrendered his advantage as the aggressive Canzoneri took control of the bout. Canzoneri dropped Grogan briefly in the eighth, and although Grogan rallied strongly in the tenth and final round, he was unable to overcome Canzoneri's lead and lost by decision. On November 17, Grogan faced Jadick in a rematch, with Jadick avenging his earlier defeat by outpointing Grogan over ten rounds.

On March 23, 1931, Grogan faced reigning world lightweight champion Canzoneri in a non-title rematch in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, losing by decision over ten rounds. Two fights later on April 24, Grogan knocked out Iowa Joe Rivers in the sixth round.

Grogan suffered consecutive defeats in May and June 1932, first losing by first-round knockout to Goldie Hess before dropping a unanimous decision to Billy Petrolle in their second meeting. Grogan rebounded on August 1, when he faced Hess in a rematch and avenged his earlier defeat by outpointing him over ten rounds.

On February 22, 1933, Grogan faced lightweight title contender and future three-division world champion Barney Ross. He was knocked down three times during the bout and ultimately lost on points. On April 17, Grogan faced reigning world light welterweight champion Battling Shaw in a non-title bout, losing by a one-sided decision.

Grogan retired from boxing in 1935, but returned nearly 15 years later to face Benny Smith in a four-round bout on January 17, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee. Grogan was knocked out in the third round and retired permanently afterward, finishing his professional career with a record of 73–37–10, including 36 victories by knockout.

Later life

During the 1940s, Grogan owned and operated a bar on West Farnam Street in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. In 1947, he relocated the establishment to 3702 North 16th Street and renamed it the Ringside Bar. The bar was ordered closed the following year after Grogan was found to have sold alcohol to an underage patron.

Personal life

Grogan is of Irish descent.

Professional boxing record

See also

• List of male boxers

References

External links

• Tommy Grogan at BoxRec (registration required)