Conn is much, much, much, much, MUCH better defensively. There's your difference. Something like 8-4.
If Conn was so great, then why did he lose that many decisions? Clazaghe seems to have a active style mixed in with defense, that can best be solved by a aggressive swarmer who not bothered by his power. That is not Conn. I think Calzaghe activity here earns him a close, but clear decision
At Lightheavy I think Conn would be the more tested at that weight because Joe fought most of his fights at 68...Conn was a Lightheavy great...Its close though..Joe had fast hands and feet...could be a SD for Conn at 75...but Calzage would not be easy
Conn lost lost a total of 12 fights. Two of these were up at heavyweight against Joe Louis. Of the other ten, seven came with his first 16 fights. Conn had no amature career. In other words, Conn turned pro absolutely raw as a teenage welterweight and didn't do very well, clearly overmatched. Are we really to hold his first two years as a teenage pro against him as he has no amature record? That seems exceedingly harsh, as would holding his KO losses at the other bookend of his career. Conn lost only 3 more fights between these bookends. The first was to the great welter Young Corbett III. Conn was supposedly cut by a headbutt early on and struggled. The loss was avenged shortly thereafter. He then lost to Tedy Yarosz but would go 2-1 with Teddy over his career. His other loss was to Solly Krieger. Twice avenged for a 2-1 domination. In short, Conn, in his prime, beat every man he ever faced aside from Joe Louis. He only lost one fight at his best weight, LHW, and he beat a host of great fighters. I guess it is possible to tarnish Conn's standing by holding those early losses against him, but I think that is really harsh to do that. Joe Calzaghe would not beat him.
I don't see this as particularly close if its at 175lbs Conn would be too clever and too fast for Joe ,imo.
It is one thing to move up to light heavyweight and "win" against a 40+ year old fighter, that is naturally smaller. It is much more to be a natural light heavyweight that was on the verge of outpointing one of the top 2 heavyweights ever. That may have little to do with the style match up, but is good to get off my chest. I think that Conn would be too clever for Joe to simply impose his superior activity on. Conn by decision.
You guys are really harsh with Calzaghe, putting him in with Qawi first and now Conn? Let's do Spinks next.
Calzaghe has never beaten a prime Light-Heavy. Hopkins, 42-43 Jones 38 Remember Joe got dropped both times at 175 in round 1, not saying that Conn would drop him, but Conn is more proven at Light-Heavy and also whipped a few Heavys.
