Billy Conn is just coming into his prime in the golden years of three separate decades. The 70's, 80's and then the 90's. His success in each? His Achilles heels an the biggest upset he can score?
He would have won the elimination tournament after Ali went into exile. Now he needs to stay clear of Frazier and Norton. He could potentialy be a foil for Ali or Foreman.
The 80's he would need to stay away from Tyson as long as possible and might give Holmes trouble. The 90's he could possibly beat Holyfield but Lewis would beat Conn. Bowe might be outboxed by Conn as well. He outboxes Foreman, Moorer and gets KO'd by mid 90's Tyson who was still a formidable opponent.
He might have did a Jimmy Ellis in the late 60s and won the title when Ali was banned. He has no chance against Ali, Frazier, Foreman (maybe if he runs all the time!) or Holmes.
Fair comment. Conn was a great light heavy who beat some heavies as well. Conn's performance first time up against Louis was extrordinary - saw footage of it again just recently - he gave Louis 25 pounds and 13 rounds of schooling til the bigger man finally nailed him. Unfortunately in the rematch Louis destroyed him.
Hi Groove, I think that Frazier would have applied too much pressure and basically run over Conn. Foreman hit too hard and was quick enough to catch Conn eventually. Holmes' jab would have been a BIG problem for Conn. Ali-Conn would have been interesting. While Ali held the edge in size and reach, Conn had a very strong chin and was also very fast. In addition, Conn was an excellent body puncher. Stylewise, at least for 5 or 6 rounds, I think Conn would have given Ali some trouble. Ali has the edge, though I would have loved to see that fight!!!
I see him raping them. Patterson was past his best and Ellis was never in Conns class in the first place.
Who exactly did Conn beat at heavyweight? Which of them were any good? Very over-rated both as a boxer, and where heavyweights are concerned.
There is the little matter that he nearly beat Joe Louis. I no that you have toi question a fighter whose finest hour is a near miss but does anybody think that Jerry Quarry or Floyd Patterson would have lasted 13 rounds against Louis? Bob Pastor was a prety good scalp. He could have been a serious player in the elimination tournament to replace Ali.
Had a slight lead over not very well-prepared Louis. But wasn't smart enough to keep out of trouble, a flaw that would cost him against most top heavyweights of 1970-1990's. Pastor was a smallish heavyweight, just slightly above 175 lbs limit. How many big players of that weight were there in the eras specified?
How can you tell he would have? Like I said, he's pretty much unproven as a heavyweight. He chin wasn't made of steel either. Except that every mentioned fighter was some 10-30 pounds heavier than Pastor. Besides, that's Pastor who has some kind of record, not Conn. How does it transfer? Chris Byrd had a decent record at heavyweight, does that mean Shaun George would have done well there too?
So what, if Conn had several other wins over worse than mediocre heavyweights? Tunney's and Spinks' heavyweights fights have nothing to do with Conn. Conn was knocked down multiple times before, that's more than enough to question his chin if he went against big heavyweights contenders. Pastor is irrelevant when discussing Conn's chances with big heavyweights. It would be Conn fighting them, not Pastor. And there is no proof whatsoever that Conn would be successful, lack of precedents. Thus your analogy of Jones-Byrd is irrelevant also.