Billy Conn circa 1938-1939 160 lbs. against Ray Robinson @middleweights.. The Billy Conn who lickedTeddy Yarosz,Fred Apostoli, Solly Krieger,etc., against SugarvRay Robinson of the Lamotta battle @ 160 pounds..Who you got ?
burt bubla johnny ray moved billy fast enough without meeting Robinson at 160! Billy hadent seen this weight since he was 18!
Conn would be too young and inexperienced for Robinson who would be a veteran. I can´t see Conn winning. He probably would take a bad beating.
I think Conn wins. Sugar Ray was the greatest welter ever, but a younger and youthful Billy Conn will defeat sugar ray in a monumental upset. He will beat him to the punch, box perfectly, and surprise him with the power, the same way a heavier more experienced Conn nearly upset JOe Louis. I think this fight has upset written all over it, and I give Conn at least a 50percent chance. Even though, i know it will be scorned and hated by many on here.
By 1938 Bill Conn already had over forty bouts, and at the age of twenty one,Conn hadwent through the mill...Billy had already licked such tough middleweights as Solly Krieger, Fred Apostoli, Eric Seelig, Babe Risko,Vince Dundee, Young Corbett 3,etc. Conn could still make 160 lbs...I believe that the 21 year old Conn was supoerior to any of Ray Robinson's opponents, including Jake Lamotta...Remember, that in 1947 a peak Ray Robinson had his hands full with Georgie Abrams, winning a controversial split decision over Abrams..And Georgie Abrams was no Billy Conn...I believe Conn and Robinson at 160 or less is a pick em bout....Billy was one tough cookie, at ALL stages of his career....
This one goes the distance with no knockdowns. Conn did excellent work against Louis on the inside, but so did Robby on Bobby Dykes. Zale proved that it would be possible for Ray to hold Billy to something of a standstill in close. On the outside, it's a different story. I expect The Sugar man to be the one utilizing movement, making Conn tail him. Ray's mercurial foot speed could allow him to pull out a close decision when combined with his ability to stand up to Conn on the inside. Billy's speed allowed him to get away with many mistakes against slower opponents, flaws which the faster and more technically sound Robinson would be far more likely to exploit.
Im last seeing conn at 160 as a 20yr old and a 20 year old has no place in the ring with the sugarman
Conn was crafty and smart in the ring, one of the best light heavies of all time. He could surprise Sugar Ray based on skills alone, but I'd almost bet on Robinson outboxing and outhustling him much in the matter of Conn's loss to Joe Louis when he beat him to the punch for most of the rounds. The only difference here is that Robinson doesn't get over-confidence and start to trade punches with Conn. SRR UD 15 rounds.
