Billy Conn p4p

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SuzieQ49, May 7, 2018.


Page 1 of 2
  1. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

    37,077
    3,733
    Sep 14, 2005
    I think billy conn is one of the greatest fighters who ever lived

    Resume:

    His record against hall of famers is a respectable 7-4
    His record against world champions is a very impressive 17-5
    His record against men who were once rated top 10 is 21-5

    He defeated

    Tony Zale
    Melio Bettina 2x
    Gus Lesnevich 2x
    Teddy Yarosz 2x
    Young Corbett III
    Fred Apostoli 2x
    Solly Krieger 2x
    Vince Dundee
    Eddie Babe Risko
    Fritzie Zivic
    Oscar Rankins
    Bob Pastor
    Gus Dorazio
    Lee Savols
    Gunnar Barland
    Al McCoy


    A very impressive resume top to bottom. It has quality, it has depth from 160-heavy. Most of these men he defeated were young and near their primes. He defeated a wide variety of styles.

    He nearly defeated a prime Joe Louis. Ahead on 2 cards after 12 rounds. For the first 12 rounds, it was one of the finest performances in boxing history against the greatest heavyweight who ever lived. Louis held a 25lb weight advantage. Despite the loss, I still rate it as one of the best performances in ring history. How many men weighing 175 or less in ring history could have done what conn did that night to Louis?


    Head to Head: Billy ranks way up there, he impresses on film. Tall for his weight class at 6’2, Brilliant mind in the ring, he had elite boxing skills, very fast hands, elite footwork, a nice left jab, he understood range and distance as well as any one in history. He possessed an underrated offense capable of hurting anyone from 160-heavy, an accurate good combination puncher, wore fighters down with attrition, threw punches from all angles.



    Where do you rate him?
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2018
    SuzieQ49, May 7, 2018
    SuzieQ49, May 7, 2018
    #1
    Pedro_El_Chef, Unforgiven, Ali&Louis&Robinson and 3 others like this.
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,579
    27,229
    Feb 15, 2006
    I think that he was one of the greatest p4p talents, but that the war prevented him from realizing that potential.
     
    janitor, May 7, 2018
    janitor, May 7, 2018
    #2
    Clinton, BoxingFanMike and BitPlayerVesti like this.
  3. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,579
    27,229
    Feb 15, 2006
    I suspect that Conn lost about 40% of his resume to the war!
     
    janitor, May 7, 2018
    janitor, May 7, 2018
    #3
    BoxingFanMike likes this.
  4. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    15,428
    8,874
    Oct 8, 2013
    Absolutely brilliant fighter and a true all time great. The war robbed him of so much historical standing.
    Turned pro immediately or almost immediately was given tough fights early on that paid dividends and became near unbeatable for long stretch.
    No war, I think Conn goes down as a top 10-15 p4p talent.
     
    The Long Count, May 7, 2018
    The Long Count, May 7, 2018
    #4
    greynotsoold likes this.
  5. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    52,820
    44,484
    Apr 27, 2005
    Agree with most of what is said in here already. Remarkable fighter.
     
    JohnThomas1, May 7, 2018
    JohnThomas1, May 7, 2018
    #5
    Clinton likes this.
  6. viperzero

    viperzero Member Full Member

    118
    164
    Nov 23, 2015
    AND he stopped a bank robbery in his 70s.
     
    viperzero, May 7, 2018
    viperzero, May 7, 2018
    #6
    ETM and Clinton like this.
  7. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

    37,077
    3,733
    Sep 14, 2005
    This content is protected
     
    SuzieQ49, May 7, 2018
    SuzieQ49, May 7, 2018
    #7
    Clinton likes this.
  8. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,727
    29,077
    Jun 2, 2006
    Conn is believed to have actually weighed 168lbs to Louis' 199.5lbs,even more impressive!
     
    mcvey, May 8, 2018
    mcvey, May 8, 2018
    #8
    ETM and Longhhorn71 like this.
  9. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,234
    6,499
    Jan 22, 2009
    Thank you, Sir
     
    Clinton, May 8, 2018
    Clinton, May 8, 2018
    #9
  10. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,234
    6,499
    Jan 22, 2009
    I didnt know that. Cool. Thanks. On a personal note, he was my grandfather's favorite fighter ever.
     
    Clinton, May 8, 2018
    Clinton, May 8, 2018
    #10
    Pedro_El_Chef, Journeyman92, ETM and 1 other person like this.
  11. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,714
    3,455
    Jan 6, 2007
    The Old-timers always brought up Conn's name when listing out the great fighters 1950 and earlier.

    He was LtHvy Champ from 7/39 to 6/40....before he
    moved up to go after the heavies & Joe Louis.

    Unfortunately time has caused his ranking to fade.

    Pre-Louis 1
    1941-04-04 : Billy Conn 178 lbs beat Gunnar Barlund 194½ lbs by TKO in round 8 of 10
    • Location: Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Referee: Barney Ross
    When he came back from the WAR, he fought Tony Zale as a "tune-up" before
    the Louis v Conn 2 fight
    Billy Conn vs Tony Zale
    (Redirected from Fight:17509)
    This content is protected

    1942-02-13 : Billy Conn 175¾ lbs beat Tony Zale 164¼ lbs by UD in round 12 of 12
     
    Longhhorn71, May 8, 2018
    Longhhorn71, May 8, 2018
    #11
  12. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    61,561
    46,155
    Feb 11, 2005
    A poor man's Calzaghe.
     
    Seamus, May 8, 2018
    Seamus, May 8, 2018
    #12
  13. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,714
    3,455
    Jan 6, 2007
    Did Joe C. ever go up and fight Heavies / Cruisers? I see Joe won the The Ring Mag LtHvy Title against
    BHop, and defended it against Roy Jones. I believe Conn had 10+ fights against the definition
    of "heavyweights" back in the early 40's.
     
    Longhhorn71, May 8, 2018
    Longhhorn71, May 8, 2018
    #13
  14. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

    37,077
    3,733
    Sep 14, 2005
    I don’t see it. Conn had beautiful footwork, he understood range, he moved a lot. CalZaghe took great angles with his feet but he wasn’t a mover..he stayed right in the pocket.
    Both threw similar flurries and combinations, but conn hit much harder based on him knocking out world ranked cruiser weight size fighters. conn was also taller and bigger than joe
     
    SuzieQ49, May 8, 2018
    SuzieQ49, May 8, 2018
    #14
    Pedro_El_Chef likes this.
  15. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    97,727
    29,077
    Jun 2, 2006
    Methinks Seamus is being mischievious.
     
    mcvey, May 9, 2018
    mcvey, May 9, 2018
    #15
    Pedro_El_Chef and Longhhorn71 like this.
Page 1 of 2