How Good was Billy Conn ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by he grant, Dec 3, 2022.


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  1. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I agree, I believe I've tended to underate him at 175 for no obvious reason but he'd be a handful for any light heavyweight who ever lived
     
    Reinhardt, Dec 4, 2022
    Reinhardt, Dec 4, 2022
    #16
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  2. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think, he may be slightly overrated, in a forum like this.

    He was obviously a fine fighter, but just a couple of weeks ago, I saw someone claim he would beat Usyk... which I find highly unlikely!
     
    Bukkake, Dec 4, 2022
    Bukkake, Dec 4, 2022
    #17
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  3. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Extremely elusive fighter and a skilled boxer. Very hard to hit flush. Was actually surprised that he has a KO win over Bob Pastor given how difficult Pastor was to stop and also that Conn wasn’t a particularly hard hitter. But a great win nonetheless.
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 4, 2022
    mr. magoo, Dec 4, 2022
    #18
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  4. michael mullen

    michael mullen Active Member Full Member

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    "He didn't achieve greatness"........
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    michael mullen, Dec 4, 2022
    michael mullen, Dec 4, 2022
    #19
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  5. michael mullen

    michael mullen Active Member Full Member

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    He beat the royal dog**** out of Pastor, and wasn't too terribly clean about it along the way.
     
    michael mullen, Dec 4, 2022
    michael mullen, Dec 4, 2022
    #20
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  6. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

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    note the size, Height of Conn against Bettina, who was a Sturdy bodied L-HW,

    Conn was never a MW, he simply 'Past through' the Division as a Young Fighter... they ALL Did, leveling off at their near natural weight and likewise at the End of their Career often finished in a Heavier Division yet!

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    thistle, Dec 4, 2022
    thistle, Dec 4, 2022
    #21
  7. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    That’s crazy. And Pastor was an excellent fighter too
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 4, 2022
    mr. magoo, Dec 4, 2022
    #22
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  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

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    He didn’t achieve greatness? If Conn couldn’t who can? What keeps him out of being called great in your opinion, why is longevity king for you?
     
    Journeyman92, Dec 4, 2022
    Journeyman92, Dec 4, 2022
    #23
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  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    The LHW footage of him that has emerged is underwhelming. He did have some good results though, for all that career's division between...the divisions leads to his legacy being a little overrated by some at 175lbs IMO (while his MW legacy, similarly, is underrated).

    He turned in some very good performances at HW and fought the literal best fighter in the world on even terms for many rounds.

    Overall, his career versus the very best he faced is pretty mixed, but like others in the 1940s he fought at an absolutely absurd level for a lot of years. Conn versus the best he fought p4p:

    Joe Louis 0-2
    Fred Apostoli 2-0
    Young Corbett III 1-1
    Teddy Yarosz 1-1
    Fritzie Zivic 1-0

    You can see how key Apostoli is to his historical standing. I think, probably, Conn isn't as good as people think he was. I think that a big chunk of his legacy at LHW is based upon MWs moving up (Zale, Apostoli, Krieger) in key fights where he had a size advantage. i think that his HW legacy is based mainly upon a loss. I do rate Conn highly, but I think here, not enough is made of these inconvenient facts.
     
    McGrain, Dec 4, 2022
    McGrain, Dec 4, 2022
    #24
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  10. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

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    Shut up coward I don’t want to hear it. Tearing down the good saint’s reputation like this? You’re just cross eyed because Conn would’ve spanked Burley.
     
    Journeyman92, Dec 4, 2022
    Journeyman92, Dec 4, 2022
    #25
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I guess you can stick to relying upon wild claims about fights that never happened for your position, and I'll relly upon what really happened for mine.
     
    McGrain, Dec 4, 2022
    McGrain, Dec 4, 2022
    #26
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  12. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

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    You can run but you can’t hide.
     
    Journeyman92, Dec 4, 2022
    Journeyman92, Dec 4, 2022
    #27
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    While I don't necessarily agree with all your points,there is no denying his LHvy record isn't that astounding. that said is Moore's , Foster's ,Fitz's,OBrien's,Dillon's?
     
    mcvey, Dec 5, 2022
    mcvey, Dec 5, 2022
    #28
  14. RockyJim

    RockyJim Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Conn beat 10 future or former world champions...won the Lt Heavyweight title in July 1939...gave up the crown in May 1941 in order to challenge Joe Louis for the Heavyweight title. On June 18, 1941 he came within a whisker of beating Louis...but got KO'd in the 13th round. Billy Conn is ranked #9 in Ring Magazines list of the greatest Lt. Heavyweight Champions of all time.
     
    RockyJim, Dec 5, 2022
    RockyJim, Dec 5, 2022
    #29
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