Conn by obliteration. Fitz doesn't do well in the modern era based on what we've seen. Think of a lower volume rigid Julian Jackson. Would you favour him over Conn? Maybe if you take the DNA that created Fitz, brought it forward to 1980 and gave him the benefit of 100 years of boxing history, modern training and technique and allowed him the advantages modern fighters have, maybe then you would be able to appreciate him better. Remember this is a man who when the footage was first shown about his fight v Corbett, people were shocked how rudimentary this ring legend looked. People laughed at how rudimentary this ring legend looked.
Conn can win if he boxes. He if gets hurt and starts slugging it out with Ruby Rob, it could be curtains for him.
I suppose Conn was good enough to say he has a chance against any fighter that lived. But, there really does seem to be some easy money available on this one, if it ever comes to fruition. Conn lost to Young Corbett III. Fitzsimmons KOd the original corbett! McVey said that Fitz was a sucker for the Jab. I dont understand where this comes from. Corbett outjabbed him for a while (but Corbett simply was Bigger, faster and stronger) Corbett ended up getting knocked out. Jeffries i suppose may have outjabbed him as he did like to throw out the jab before he clinched and unloaded (from what i can work out), but Fitz cut him to pieces before his size strength and chin caught up with Fitz. I am not sure who Fitz fought that most resembled Conn. Probably it was Corbett, who was better and a known technician or Dempsey who was an ATG middleweight. Perhaps O Brien was a little similar. Obrien did have some success though Fitz was pretty ancient by this stage. While not identitcal stylistically, there are three guys who were as good or better than conn, who Fitz handled. Conn, on the other hand, although a great light heavy with great competition only ever fought one out and out ATG like Fitz was, in joe Louis. Though most today point to how much better was than Fitz, this certainly wasnt consensus from those who saw both fight. Both were actually quite similar, in that they had pinpoint power and had a massive ability to set a trap and land cleanly. When they had their fighter in trouble they both had possibly top 5 ATG finishing ability. I think Louis Conn and Corbett Fitz are definitely the fights to think about and provide the blue print for this. Both Close fights witht he power puncher winning out. While many would say Fitz was not as good as Louis , Most would surely have to agree that Conn was probably not as good as Corbett. And dont forget, that Louis seemed to struggle and put in an uncharacteristically poor fight against Conn. He certainly turned it around by the time of their second fight. I think Conn's only chance is to stay on his bike for the whole fight. If he stands and trade's with Fitz, Fitz will catch him and KO him. I think that Conn starts out fast and maybe even dominates most of the fight but eventually Fitz wears him down, sets a trap and knocks him out.
I agree .. it's funny that when Johnson was champ the national consensus was that Fitz was the greatest fighter ever up to that point .. as far as the Corbett footage , to me it's hard for me to see much of anything except who won .. that being said, like any boxer vs slugger match the determining factors are distance, ringside, glove size and ref out of the gate .. Conn fought the fight of his life and was still KO'ed by a dried out Louis .. Fitz did KO a terrific Corbett and as an old man beat up a terrific O'Brien .. I like a prime Fitz.
I honestly think Fitz can pull this off. Fitz was pretty good at setting traps and I think Conn would fall for the old playing possum game Fitz could play. Conn would get a little too confident and try to trade which will be the end of him. Fitz late KO.
Conn was an active type, but he had little power. He also lost a bit too often and sometimes was unwise in the ring. Conn might take an early lead, but Fitz would KO him. There is an up close video of Fitz vs Corbett as the film has two shooting angles. Up close. Fitz looks very fast, aggressive and accurate. Jaws would drop if they saw it. It's on my Fitz vs Corbett 26 minute DVD, toward the very end just prior to the KO.
I never heard of Choynski being very fast just a very hard puncher. Do you think Corbett is as fast as Conn Mendoza? Just curious cause it sounds like you have a very clear film of Corbett.
Yes, I think Corbett was as fast as Conn. Maybe Corbett was quicker with his feet, and Conn a little quicker with his hands. Choynski past 40 looks like a jitterbug type sparring with Jeffries in 1910. If he could move like that past his prime and removed from the game, I think it's very plausible he was very fast in his prime. Maybe Adam can tell us.