Lou Brouillard

Lucien Pierre “Lou” Brouillard was a Canadian-born welterweight and middleweight who became a recognised world champion in both divisions during the early 1930s. Born at Saint-Eugène, Quebec, on May 23, 1911, he moved with his family to Worcester, Massachusetts, while still young and was thereafter closely associated with that city. Brouillard stood approximately 5ft 6in, had a reach of about 71in and boxed from an awkward southpaw stance. He retired with a 100-31-2 record.

Brouillard turned professional on June 28, 1928, and fought with a frequency which would be considered extraordinary in a later age. He was originally right-handed, but an injury to the ribs on his right side reportedly caused him to convert to southpaw. The change gave him an unusual style, based upon broad shoulders, physical strength, a forceful left hand and persistent work to the body. He was not a graceful boxer, nor was he easy to read. His punches often came from awkward positions and he was most effective when forcing opponents into close exchanges. Eleven of his first 14 recorded victories came inside the distance, and wins over Baby Joe Gans, Canada Lee and Paul Pirrone helped carry him into the world rankings.

His first championship opportunity came against Young Jack Thompson at Boston Garden on October 23, 1931. Brouillard had compiled an imposing record before challenging for the undisputed world welterweight title and made full use of his chance. Thompson was knocked down four times over 15 rounds before Brouillard received a unanimous decision. It was Boston’s first world championship contest for more than a decade and established the 20-year-old Canadian as one of the leading fighters in the sport. His reign was brief. On January 28, 1932, Jackie Fields outpointed him over ten rounds at Chicago Stadium, taking the National Boxing Association version of the championship in Brouillard’s first defence.

Brouillard did not disappear after losing the welterweight title. In August 1932 he defeated the celebrated Jimmy McLarnin by split decision over ten rounds at Yankee Stadium. Contemporary reports differed over the scoring, but several New York newspapers considered Brouillard a clear winner after he had subjected McLarnin to sustained physical pressure. By 1933 he was operating principally as a middleweight. He beat former champion Mickey Walker on points before challenging Ben Jeby for the New York State Athletic Commission world title at the Polo Grounds on August 9. Brouillard stopped Jeby in the seventh round and was subsequently recognised by the National Boxing Association as champion. The victory made him a world title-holder in a second division.

Once again the championship did not remain with him for long. After stopping Adolf Hueser in a non-title contest, Brouillard defended against Vince Dundee at Boston Garden on October 30, 1933. Dundee won a unanimous 15-round decision and removed both the New York and NBA versions of the middleweight crown. Brouillard’s two world-title reigns had therefore been short, but his place among the best fighters of his period was not dependent solely upon their duration. He continued meeting outstanding opposition and defeated former light-heavyweight champion Bob Olin twice, Young Corbett III and the Belgian Gustave Roth. His willingness to fight leading men across several weights made his record uneven but gave it considerable substance.

Brouillard’s attempts to win another version of the middleweight championship led him to Paris and a difficult rivalry with Marcel Thil. He lost a 12-round decision to the French champion in November 1935, then returned in January 1936 for a contest involving the International Boxing Union and The Ring titles. Brouillard was disqualified in the fourth round after Thil went down claiming a low blow. Their third meeting, in February 1937, ended in another disqualification under similar circumstances. Both conclusions remained controversial, and the Hall of Fame later described the rulings as dubious. Whatever the merits of the decisions, Brouillard had failed to regain the championship and was by then carrying the effects of a long, demanding career.

He nevertheless continued against formidable opposition, including Teddy Yarosz, Tiger Jack Fox, Gus Lesnevich, Georgie Abrams and Lloyd Marshall. His later record contained a growing number of defeats, but promoters continued to use him because he remained durable, aggressive and capable of troubling younger contenders. Even in defeat against Marshall in December 1939, Brouillard knocked down the future light-heavyweight great for a count of nine in the sixth round. His final contest took place at Mechanics Hall in Worcester on January 12, 1940, when Henry Chmielewski defeated him by majority decision over ten rounds. Brouillard retired at the age of 28 after a career lasting little more than 11 years but containing well over 130 recorded bouts and nearly 1,000 professional rounds.

After boxing, Brouillard worked as a crane operator and rigger at a steel shipyard, remaining in that employment until 1970. He lived away from the public glare which had surrounded his championship years and raised a family in Massachusetts. He died at Taunton on September 14, 1984, aged 73, and was buried in Halifax, Massachusetts. Brouillard was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006. His standing rests upon more than the two championships. He defeated recognised champions and leading contenders from welterweight through light-heavyweight, fought without the protection normally given to valuable title-holders, and remained dangerous even after his finest years had passed. His crouching southpaw attack, heavy left hand and appetite for close combat made him an awkward opponent during one of boxing’s busiest and most competitive periods.