[1941] Billy Conn badmouthing Joe Louis

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mrkoolkevin, Apr 11, 2019.


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  1. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Was Jack Miley a reliable writer? Sounds like Conn and Louis really went at it in the lead-up to their fight.


    Jack Miley, The Cocky Lad Who’ll Lick Joe!, Tampa Bay Times, June 15, 1941
    [...]
    "I’ve had more fights on street corners than Louis had in the ring,” the collar ad kid comments. “And I won ‘em all, too. I didn’t have to weasel my way into this racket as one of those chiseling amateurs, hocking watches and medals, the way Joe did. I started out as a pro, the hard way. I began by fighting men and not sapping over silly children!

    “I’m 24 now, and I’ve been making my living with my fists ever since I was 13. I never worked a day in my life and I don’t intend to. I didn’t lug fenders in an auto factory to build up my muscles; I developed ‘em in the only business I know, the fight game. That Louis must think he’s a big shot, high-hatting me. You tell him I’ll jab his eyes out when I get him in that ring. Schmeling closed one eye for him. But I’ll close ‘em both, tighter than a gin mill on Election Day.”
     
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 11, 2019
    mrkoolkevin, Apr 11, 2019
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  2. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    I think Billy Conn was a genuine badass and he was proud of the way he became World Champion at a young age. He was very cocky but I don't think it goes any deeper than hyping the fight.
    Conn didnt really say anything substantial. Just building interest. Letting everybody know this 168 lb kid isn't going in scared.
     
    ETM, Apr 11, 2019
    ETM, Apr 11, 2019
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  3. reznick

    reznick In the 7.2% Full Member

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    An old school article that is genuinely interesting and doesn't serve to push some modernist agenda?

    *Clicks Like Button*
     
    reznick, Apr 11, 2019
    reznick, Apr 11, 2019
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  4. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Talk is cheap but Billy Conn was a confident challenger and a fearless fighter.

    Apparently his fights with Fred Apostoli were heavy on the trash-talking, even during the fights which were both absolute wars. According to Conn, the radio broadcasters had to shield their microphones under the ring between rounds so as not to pick up all the bad language and 'ethnic slurs'.
     
    Unforgiven, Apr 12, 2019
    Unforgiven, Apr 12, 2019
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  5. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    He definitely had that Irish charm.

    Conn was a badass.
     
    roughdiamond, Apr 12, 2019
    roughdiamond, Apr 12, 2019
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  6. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I was looking forward to reading him use the word "wisenheimer."

    Maybe next time.
     
    salsanchezfan, Apr 12, 2019
    salsanchezfan, Apr 12, 2019
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  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    You got to love that.
     
    Seamus, Apr 12, 2019
    Seamus, Apr 12, 2019
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  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Billy Conn was a bad ass.

    He beat up an armed robber when he was in his 70s!
     
    janitor, Apr 12, 2019
    janitor, Apr 12, 2019
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  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, he said all that and other stuff. They were talk, talk, talk in the run up to that fight, he and Moonie both. They even explained what it was they were going to do, and much of it was to the disbelief of the writers they were rabbiting at.

    "You guys have Joe Louis all wrong. You can't run from him, he'll get you. You got to fight him three minutes of every round."
     
    McGrain, Apr 12, 2019
    McGrain, Apr 12, 2019
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  10. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    "I had a great fight with Joe Louis...(smiles) it was great until the 13th round ! I ran into trouble there."
     
    ETM, Apr 12, 2019
    ETM, Apr 12, 2019
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  11. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    This content is protected
     
    ETM, Apr 12, 2019
    ETM, Apr 12, 2019
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  12. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    I have nothing but admiration for Billy Conn. He was the very spirit of the American fighting man...which did pretty damned good in the upcoming war.
     
    red cobra, Apr 12, 2019
    red cobra, Apr 12, 2019
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  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Conn gets a bit underdone by the semi serious. He was one helluva fighter.
     
    JohnThomas1, Apr 12, 2019
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  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Conn was a real character.
    As he mentions in the telephone interview ETM posted above, he was set to rematch Joe Louis in 1942 but he broke his hand in a fight with his father-in-law 'Greenfield' Jimmy Smith (a former major league baseball player) at a family gathering (the christening party for Billy's son).
    Proper "fighting Irish".
     
    Unforgiven, Apr 13, 2019
    Unforgiven, Apr 13, 2019
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  15. RockyJim

    RockyJim Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He best 10 future or former champions on his way up...won the Lt.Heavyweight title...gave that up to move up & fight Joe Louis in June 1941...ALMOST beats Louis...and later in life drops and armed robber with a left hook and stops the robbery....Billy was one tough SOB...and a great fighter!!!
     
    RockyJim, Apr 13, 2019
    RockyJim, Apr 13, 2019
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