Billy Conn vs Archie Moore at LHW

I remember watching an interview with Moore and he mentions that Conn didn't want the fight.

 

2 fine fighters that not only were heavyweight greats but may have taken the heavyweight tittle had it not been owned by ATG dominant champions

Hard to say, they could have split a dozen

 

Wishful thinking on Moore's part. Moore wasn't even ranked when Conn was reigning light-heavy champ or heavyweight contender. Other than the ill-fated second fight with Louis years later(and a couple meaningless wins), Conn was pretty much retired by 1942. Moore was still working his way up the middleweight ladder at that point.

I wonder why he'd say such an odd thing?

 

If Conn could keep his temper in check I can see him winning a UD. But Archie was a psychologist. He would have taken note of Billy's hot Irish temper and proclivity for brawling when angered or provoked and taken measures to **** him off during the fight. Conversely, I have no doubt that Conn's brilliant trainer Johnny Ray would have warned Billy of Archie's analytical mind and likelihood that he would try to goad the Irishman into a brawl. Would Conn have taken the bait and overrode his manager's stern directive? Hard to say. Billy could be disciplined when the need arose.

Pondering this one is a great workout for the mind :bbb:thumbsup

 

Prime for prime, I could see either winning, but if I had to choose, I would pick Conn to win a close decision. Conn had the speed advantage, and Moore with all his guile would try to lure Billy into a brawl. I believe the outcome would depend on how successful Moore is with his trap-setting.

I would like to learn more about any serious attempts to match them in real time. Conn was at least one year younger (even assuming a 1916 birth year for Archie), yet their respective best years were quite far apart. Conn appears as a rated contender in Ring Magazine's ratings a couple years earlier than Moore. Apparently Billy was fighting rated contenders earlier in his career and by 1940 was campaigning as a heavyweight. Still, comparing their records they did have a few common opponents in the same time frame in the late 1930s. Right now, I'm thinking that they were either fighting in different weight classes or caliber of opposition during most of the years their careers overlapped. Does anyone have more information?

 

As said by several others this is a real toss up. Bummy said they could split a dozen and I can only concur. Hard to find two more evenly matched all time great LH's.

 

I happen to love this post:good

 

Conn-Bettina is available. At least it was on Youtube once....

 

I would lean towards Moore winning. Very skilled, much more damaging puncher. The reason Conn gives him trouble (IMO) is footwork, short, concise, and fast punching. In that respect, Conn uses his speed, without really committing to full blooded shots, giving Moore less to work with so to speak. This would give Archie some trouble.

 

Two top-notch guys but I like Moore to take a close decision, perhaps setting up a single-shot knockdown or two along the way to take the nod.

Nobody will a better mind for the game than the Old Mongoose. He's use it to lure Conn into something along the way and hold his own in the rest of the rounds.

 

Archie Moore vs. Billy Conn in their primes ? A pick em fight, but the Billy Conn who in 1940 tko'd a tough Bob Pastor, would be hard to beat. And THIS Billy Conn gave hell
to the great Joe Louis for 13 rounds before Louis, most likely the greatest all around puncher who ever lived ,caught up with the smaller Billy Conn...