Reading a new book on Conn vs Louis and grabbing tidbits along the way .. realize he started very young , was likely at his best early at middleweight, fought very tough opposition early, didn’t have a lot of time at 175 because he wanted the big dollars and of course Louis… still, how good or great was he?
Highly likely he could beat anyone his own size in history and beat the vast majority of HWs. He was a professor and a real pro who wasn’t in the business of getting gold watches he fought for a living he was a tradesman. Robbed of his best years during the war though.
He was about as good as anyone could hope to be. He didn't achieve greatness because he lacked longevity. A helluva fighter at his best.
Had he stayed at MW would have been an excellent champ, some of his fights were of legendary status for action, in particular the fights with Krieger and Apostoli, in both fights Conn was the greener, going in with 2 battle hardened MWs who were tough as nails, the Apostoli fight in particular took an enormous toll on Conns resources, beaten almost to a pulp in their first fight ( when admittedly out of shape ) not unlike Tunney's nightmare against Greb, he signed for a early return against his handlers wishes, and turned the tables on the formidable Apostoli, but still spent days in bed, he never lacked heart or fortitude. His journey at LHW was also a brutal one, all out wars with the bigger, stronger, Bettina were to once again demonstrate his resilience and courage, Bettina looked like a sawn off Abe Simon and was equally tough, but still Conn prevailed with stoicism, how he kept his good looks is a mystery , he deserves to be remembered as a true fighter, tough and tenacious and rugged byond his handsome face. stay safe guys.
I agree with everything except "(h)e didn't achieve greatness." I think beating the middleweights which he did on his way up, winning the light-heavy title, cleaning up all the heavyweight challengers, and his great showing against Louis while weighing only 175 pounds qualifies him for greatness.
Fair enough. I should have phrased it he doesn't have an all-time great resume. Maninly the war ruined the chances for that.
He was a natural. He had no amateur career. So he learned on the go in the pro ranks and was matched very tough early on as he showed the skill level to compete at a high level early on. That’s why he has some losses before he goes on huge win streak. Through his first 13 fights he was only 7-6. Yet finished his career with a total of 11 losses. The Second World War ruined his chances at an all time career. has a good resume. A hall of fame resume. But not an ATG resume. I will say it’s poor quality - but there is one other fight on YouTube of him outside the Louis bouts. And he doesn’t look that good to me. But it’s tough because quality was poor. Knocking out Pastor is impressive. And he beat Zale after the Louis bout before entering the war. Beat some other good names too. Quality fighter
Interesting thing about Conn, who isn't considered a puncher. He had 15 knockouts in his career, 7 of them in 13 fights with opponents that were heavyweights for the era.
though in that era, he, nor any other fighter of his size & stature would have remained at MW, these men simply just 'passed' through the lower divisions as Young Fighters and leveled out at their true weight & division and then as older fighters finished of at the higher one yet. Conn, like most of his then peers, of that height & build, was a L-HW cum HW, and would never have thought of himself as anything less than that! the Way it Should be, Divisions should be reduced to about 12 Divisions, where fighters could actually compete in & around their Natural Divisions - Stature Wise, that would soon change things.
Hi Buddy. As always a interesting and thought provoking post, that said not really getting the " him and his peers, and L-HW cum HW " conclusion. As far as I can ascertain almost ALL of his peers remained at MW those being the likes of : Hostak, Krieger, Apostoli, Yarosz, Steele, Risko, Overlin, Dundee, McAvoy, Rankins, and Conn only weighed around 185-190 at the tail end of his career, as you quite rightly pointed as older fighters, wouldn't imagine that Conn would have thought of himself as a HW as you seem to imply, maybe I have misconstrued your post and its meaning ? if so my bad. stay safe amigo, and look forward to your future posts.
NO Mike, thought of himself as a L-HW... Stature is the point here - Height & Build/weight... like his peers of near equal Size/Stature, they were L-HW's, most of the MW's he fought, were smaller men, in Height & Stature, that is why they remained at MW in their peaks... some were Welters cum Middles, others were MWs cum L-HWs... Conn was a L-HW come HW.
