Billy Conn v. Michael Dokes

I'll bite. Dokes was bigger, stronger, faster can't see a smaller, slower Conn giving him any problems at all. Massacre/mismatch.

 

Even Steven s fight for a Short while .Gradually Dokes starts to take over his punches having a notable effect on Billy. Conn attempt s to retaliate and goes out toe to toe .Big mistake ,Dokes rips into Conn with bullet fast punches .Conn dropped and KO'd 8

 

Is Conn perhaps being sold short a bit here?

I have always been quite impressed by Dokes, but I don't need to tell you that he was a hot and cold fighter!

 

How is it possible to sell a man short, in a fight he has no realistic chance of winning?

 

Dokes can get the job done. Bigger, more powerful; as fast.

 

If he took a prime Joe Louis to the brink of disaster, then it is hard to rule out his chances against Michael Dokes.

I have never been a fan of the logic that says "He gave this great fighter a close fight so he beats A, B and C", but lets be realistic here!

 

Positives and negatives about Conn's heavyweight career.

Positives:

Very consistent performer, only losing to Louis.

Knocked out the current #1 ranked contender.

Negatives:

Took a bit of a small heavyweight route to the title.

Career cut short by the war, leaving unanswered questions.

 

Today I learned, Michael Dokes is a bigger puncher and better finisher than Joe Louis.

 

You must have an incredibly active imagination to interpret that.

The fact is it was a light heavyweight fighting a heavyweight. It's mighty impressive that Conn went as well as he did but i'd hardly be holding it up as a Louis positive that's for sure.

Dokes at 215 odd would be fighting a light heavyweight. Dokes is big stunningly fast and contrary to some misinterpretations carries solid power. He always takes a helluva whack at his best.

The only chance Conn has is to survive the early rounds and hope he can win enough later. He's not going to hurt Dokes.

 

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Agreed.

Agreed again. ​

I agree with the idea that Dokes could perhaps be a stylistic foil for Conn, but I don't think that it would be impossible for Conn to outbox him.

Some guys who were not exceptional in this department, were able to beat Dokes, draw against him, or hold him to a split decision.

If Dokes fights in this era, and does well, then eventually he is going to come up against Joe Louis.

He is going to look pretty ordinary then!

 

One fight that nearly happened, which might have helped to inform our picks, is Billy Conn vs Lou Nova.

The original plan was that they were going to face off, and the winner was going to get Louis.

In the end Jacobs just decided to give them both a title shot, because they were both marketable challengers.