Billy Conn

and JHL, and Maxim.

 

He actually turned down a fight with Charles Burley and doesn't have a particularly great LHW resume

In which case you must consider former LHW Schmelling and LHW Charles aliens and the 2 best in their respective galaxies :hey

 

if he had atleast formidible power, would've cleaned out his era

 

Conn was Lt Heavy champ from 1939-1941...he beat 10 former or future world champions...
..had Joe Louis beaten until he got too cocky in the 13th rd in 1941...one of the best ever.

 

Keep in mind that it was his management who contemptuously dismissed this laughable offer and justifiably so. I love Burley, but his people were in no place or position to be challenging Billy Conn at that point. Billy was in line for a huge, mega-money fight with Joe Louis and his staus in the sport outstripped Burley's at every turn. So why fight Burley? The challenge was pretty much regarded as nothing more than empty posturing from the Burley camp.

The offer wasn't "avoided" so much as disregarded. Burley challenging Billy Conn at that point is tantamount to Mike McCallum challenging Michael Spinks after he beat Larry Holmes. Makes no sense whatsoever.

 

Lewis is John Henry Lewis.

It wasn't supposed to be a comprehensive list but I forget Loughran, also.

 

Pittsburgh was a hell of a boxing city during the 20-40s. Real tough and gritty fighters came from the Steel City during this time. Greb, Conn, Burley, Soose, Zivic, Angott, etc.

 

So wasn't Conn the LHW champ? Can't he fight another fight in the 5 year interim between Louis bouts? Interestingly looking at it Conn only defended the LHW title for 11months until going to HW under the limit. I'm not saying he necessarily ducked anyone, but let's not pretend he took on all comers either

Like I've said before, it's like Ricky Hatton not facing the top contenders at 140lbs to only lose mega fights to Mayweather and Pacquaio, it's a simple cash out, although both did their best to beat the P4P best at the time despite failing. Both would have endangered mega-fights by losing to top contenders in the interim, so it's smart business protecting their stock/investment

 

Lewis IS John Henry, sorry my oversight & yes I realize too it wasn't a comprehensive list. :good

 

Conn might have been the best lightheavy of all time head to head.

In terms of resume, the war prevented him from fulfilling his true potential.

 

Are you serious here?????????????????

He was a great light heavyweight who beat other great light heavyweights.