Very underrated on this forum. Conn was a great fighter. By age 20 he had Young Corbett III, Vince Dundee, Teddy Yarosz, Fritzie Zivic and Babe Risko under his belt... 5 champions. He'd eventually come to have 10 world champs beaten in his career. Not the hardest hitter or a knockout artist, but a beautiful boxer skilled at all ranges. The Louis I fight demonstrates his hit-and-away rhythm.... And on top of that he was able to exchange with the bomber as well, he wasn't just on his bike here. He threw great accurate combos, had a well educated left and movement. The definition of a pure boxer. I wish there was footage of him at LHW around.
Louis said, "Billy Conn had it all," in a televised interview repeatedly shown on ESPN the day Joe passed. Think about this: While the camera was rolling and recording what he was saying for posterity, Louis rated Billy over IBHOFers Schmeling, Max Baer, Charles, Walcott, Bivins, Braddock, Marciano and everybody else Joe ever stepped in the ring with. Ask, and ye shall receive (and don't forget to say thanks to McGrain): [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF1juC112yc[/ame]
He was more than good. If his career had not been cut short by the war, then he might have built a resume comparable to Ezzard Charles!
He does seem to be underrated, doesn't he? I recall him looking rather timid offensively against Bettina, though.
Good enough to almost beat Joe Louis. If Conn made it to the final bell, he would have surely taken the decision victory because he was beating Joe to the punch the whole fight. He got careless and got knocked out. Conn was a technically and fundamentally sound fighter for sure.
In the post World War 1, I always thought that the Billy Conn of 1941, was along with Gene Tunney, Jack Delaney, and Ezzard Charles,the four top lightheavyweights, i have seen. Nat Fleischer rated Tommy loughran over Billy, but based on what i have seen of the two boxers, i like Billy over Tommy H2H... P.S. Of course I meant seen them on film...Not a great hitter, but tough as nails,was Conn.
Probably could have fought at 168 lbs.. OOH Baby,,,,,Billy Conn vs. Archie Moore. He reminds me of Carlos Monzon a bit.
Melio Bettina, because of his awkward Southpaw style made everyone look bad. In the 1940s i saw Melio Bettina fight Jimmy Bivens to a draw. The fight was a snoozer.Dont judge Billy on this fight with Bettina.
One of the top 6 or 7 greatest light heavyweights ever Charles, Langford, Moore, Tunney, Spinks, Conn and Foster are my top 7 light heavyweights of all time
If you had only one fight to go on..the 1st Louis fight ALONE...you'd have to conclude that Conn was a great fighter...just on that fight alone...a LOSING fight..and to know that there are many Conn wins to augment and enhance that claim to greatness...Conn easily is in the top 5 of lightheavies..Tunney, Charles, Loughran and Delaney. The first tier of lightheavies. Conn embodied 1940's "greatest generation" toughness and attitude IMO. He had balls personified..I wouldn't bet aginst him vs any lightheavy of history..his only equal would be Charles.