Billy Conn As Heavyweight Champion

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Russell, Dec 4, 2008.


  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Where would Conn rank all time if he had beaten Louis and won the lineal HW championship? And even farther defended it a few times. Could he have beaten any HW title challengers around the time?

    How high would he shoot up in the rankings? Schemling already benefits immensely from his win over Louis. Conn, well, he fought all the way from lightweight to heavyweight.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    If Louis gets beaten by Conn, Louis's stock plummets and with it, the value of Conn's best win. Just the way it works.

    We know it was possible (Nat Fleischer predicted it would happen) but I cannot entertain the idea of Conn winning a rematch. So nowhere, would be my answer.
     
  3. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    What do you mean, nowhere?

    Conn wouldn't be of any more highly if he were to take the HW championship from Louis?
     
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    As a HW he would be ranked below Douglas.
     
  5. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    In all fairness, I think that would depend on what Conn did with the title in the unlikely event that he upset Louis. If he ended up losing it in his very first defense the way that Douglas did, then I would concur with your statement. On the otherhand, if he went on a streak of wins, including a rematch victory over Louis, he well may have been rated higher than the Douglas's, Spink's, Ruiz's and Peter's of the world.

    ***On a sidenote, being a fighter of the black and white film era, may have scored him a few more points on certain ESB members cards. There has been an aweful lot of cheering for Primo Carnera around here these days. Last Christmas, it was Jack Dempsey for about 6 weeks. I'm thinking next year it'll be Young Stribling perhaps???****
     
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Well he nearly did upset Louis - but no way is he beating Joe in a rematch. That should be clear enough.

    It'll be Jeffries, with the new Pollack book and all!
     
  7. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I am ot so sure.

    Look how much Gene Tunneys reputation stands on his two wins over Jack Dempsey.

    What heavyweight resume does he have outside of that?

    Good wins over Gibbons, Heeney and Spalla but not much depth.
     
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Tell me about it!! The sick thing is, I really, really rate Tunney, but some guys have him in the HW top 10 above Wills - i'm talking about a recently posted list, too.

    Conn wins the title and losses it to Louis straight away. I think that's the only sane scenario,though perhaps Conn would do some non-title **** in the interim, though I don't think so.

    Basically, this is what happens to Douglas. The difference? Douglas is huge, a legitimate HW. I can't see Conn being above Douglas based upon that one win. Which didn't happen :lol:

    You bothering with the fight this weekend?
     
  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I for one can say, that I am never going to pay to see a boxing match again. I always wait until its broadcasted on HBO a week later.
     
  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I am undergoing something of an internal battle.

    I expect Paquiao to get butchered, but if he somehow pulled the upset and I didnt watch it would be like missing a modern equivalent of Barbados Joe Walcott beating up Joe Choynski.
     
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    You said it.