Prime Loughran vs. Conn at a 175 limit over 15 rounds. Two Irish-American slicksters with real heart. I don't think I've seen this one proposed before. I've watched what's commonly availble of Loughran and Conn. Both had great, fast feet and hands. Conn had a bit more clout than ever given credit for but still no one is getting KO'd in this one. Loughran is very underrated in my opinion. I'm sitting on the fence on this one right now. This content is protected
Two great LHs from the old sod. I have often thought of this matchup. Tommy Loughran had 172 bouts ,and Billy Conn 76 fights ,so Loughran was much more tested. But based on the fact that Billy Conn was more fiery and aggressive than the more defensive minded Loughran, I'll go with Billy Conn in a 15 round majority decision. I might be wrong though...
i agree with your assessment. i'd go with conn but i don't feel real confident in my pick. loughran is extremely underrated and an atg at 175.
GREAT match up and like BBs analysis movement is going to be off the charts in this one and the issues of ring generalship and timing will be key
I see both of them neutralizing each other...honestly, i can't decide...two great Irish boxing masters.
I think Conn wins based on his more aggressive approach...He'd "do more" to win so to speak...But it'd be close as hell, and contested at a very high level. Loughran was essentially one handed, and still a stud. Just a great, great fighter.
First guy I'd run to for his wisdom on fight doppin this en would be Johnny Ray. Onna the best minds in the game no question.
I´d take Loughran. Even when quite inexperienced there are arguments that he beat Gene Tunney who was in a similar class to Conn. Conn neve beat a lhw in that class - there only few though Tunney, Conn, Charles, Moore, Spinks - Conn would be a bit more aggressive but Loughran proved he could deal quite well with that against Walker and Tommy would have to worry less against Conn than about Tunney due to Conn´s not so special power. On the otherhand Conn proved to be able to neutralize geat jabs against Louis, Loughran relied heavily on his jab. But then Tommy had one of the best jab´s ever, even better than Louis´, so would Conn be able to neutralize Loughran´s jab? I don´t think so. I think Loughran takes a close one due to his better footwork and his jab. Might be terribly wrong though.
Billy was robbed of his prime by the war and was brought along very-very quickly by Johnny Ray. Ideally he coudda been and even better fighter.
My thoughts also Burt. And with all those you saw in person if you can say you might be wrong I certainly can also.
My first thoughts on seeing a film of the Joe Louis-Billy Conn fight (years ago) was..he nearly beat Joe Louis...what lighhtheavy could ever threaten him? I still basically feel that way..and as masterful a defensive boxing whiz that Tommy Loughran was, and he was..I think Conn's natural quickness and intelligent aggression would have enabled him to take a close decision over Loughran.
And that 23 yr old fighter that almost beat Joe weighed only 169 lbs Never mind what Papa Mike Jacobs announced to the public.
Billy Conn was in over his head from the beginning by his" brave " manager,ex fighter Johnny Ray. Billy as a kid idolized the truly immortal Harry Greb. Conn NEVER fought as am amateur,but went straight into the pros at the tender age of 16. but TOUGH Billy survived and thrived and by age 18-19 beat the great veteran prime Fritzie Zivic, Babe Risko, Vince Dundee, Oscar Rankins, Teddy Yarosz,Solly Krieger,Young Corbett,etc. Billy just a babe in the woods whipped all these champions. He was a great young middleweight, of whom a great boxing writer and columnist Frank Graham, a few years later said he would have loved to see young Billy Conn,against Ray Robinson at equal weights... But Conn filled out to about 166-70 pounds by 1939. He was at his best in 1939 beating the tough, tough southpaw Melio Bettina twice, rugged Gus Lesnevich twice and destroyed the top underated Bob Pastor who kod the 18 pound heavier murderous punching Lem Franklin. And soon after Conn at about One Hundred and Sixty Nine pounds ,gave the great Joe Louis all he could handle for 13 rounds. This is the Billy Conn that would have found a way to beat Roy Jones . No one except the THIRTY pound heavier Joe Louis kos a Billy Conn at near equal weights. No ONE.....Billy had what the OLD TIMERS called "bottom". Roy Jones as later events proved, did not.