This is wide open to anyone who wants to opine, though 1st person knowledge, like John Garfield and Burt, or through a mere opinion, as to what type personalities certain fighters of the past/present have? Or what they at least seem like to you?
Billy Conn always seemed like an interesting guy to me. His reputation around Pittsburgh when I was growing up was that he didn't behave as a local sports hero should, not as autograph seekers and general hangers-on would have had it. He didn't play the game, and many thought that meant he was arrogant, big-headed, but I think the opposite was true. If anything, he was too down-to-earth and humble to buy into that sports hero stuff. I actually met him once and he seemed a little shy, and bright as hell.
:goodbilly does seem to come across well.a bloke i worked with years ago's claim to fame was that he cut billy's hair during the war once. a top bloke was billy
Billy Conn seemed to me to be the archetype of the "greatest generation" of American, who went into the war with as much mental toughness, courage and confidence as he had in his boxing career.
He had a sense of humor, too. One time he was trying to get one of his friends reinstated into his gimme job with the city. Mayor Davy Lawrence was a Billy fan and friend, so Billy went right to the top to get it done. But Billy's friend had a bad reputation as a slacker, and Davy said, "Billy, whattya want me to do. The guy doesn't even put up a good front. He's always on the drunk, and that's when he even bothers to show up." "Yeah, but look at it this way," Billy said. "Do you really want him to show up?"
RC, you asked a question , and you gave the best synopsis...Bill Conn was from an era that produced the "greatest generation". He ,and his era also turned out the " golden age" of boxing...Not by coincidence ,I believe. Following the 1929 crash, tough times produced tougher fighters like Conn. It was sink or swim....Billy and his era of boxers swam...
Yes, that's the truth..I ideally picture the mindset of the greatest generation when I watch a vid of a Conn fight.
Met Joe Calzaghe before his fight with Roy. Very cool, down to earth, seemingly no ego. I met Francisco 'El Gato' Figueroa in Gleasons. He is very personable. Talks to everyone, and didn't shy away from speaking on his KO loss to Randall BAiley. Camacho Jr. was the anti-Gato. Kept to himself, kind of just went through the motions when training.
What in your dad's make-up, Ck -- with all his handicaps -- made him jump-in to battle the best fighters in the world?