Interesting quote on Joe Louis from Billy Conn trainer Johnny Ray

I think he was probably correct. But it is a trial by fire and it is very possible that you'll get nailed. I think also that this is true of not only Louis but of Marciano, or Armstrong, or any other talented, mentally strong hard-working individual that commits himself to a particular style. It becomes very hard, if not damn near impossible, to beat them at their fight.
That, I think, is what led very ring smart guys like Walcott, Charles, and Moore to try and fight Marciano inside. You aren't going to win running away because walking you down is what he does.
With Louis, my thought is that maybe his methodical movement and style suggested slowness to some, and the first Schmeling fight led them to believe he could be outfoxed. Billy Conn was fast and smart and he nearly pulled it off.

 

OK revisiting the fight now on 1 of those Marvin Cavandish boxers vids with modern commentary. Interesting points - it was a catchweight sub-200lb limit, Conn's hero was Harry Greb, Conn's mother was suffering from cancer

Well through the early going he was using plenty of lateral movement, sticking and moving and picking his punches and using a very good defence. The gameplan was certainly not to 'TAKE HIS OPPONENTS PUNCHES'

He potshots by setting up the angle for the lead right (similar to Schmelling) and has a the left hook lead, sets traps and uses angles to take advantage of Louis coming forward in straight line. He uses footwork to set up counters and generally pulls the trigger on any lapses in defence from Louis. He does throw in combination and steps back out, I suppose that's the only 'fighting hard', in boxing you always have to get an opponents respect so yes he does that. General keys to Conn's dominance were his quick half steps to control distance and quick countering at angles. In effect a boxing masterclass, although it must be pointed out it wasn't as 1 sided as generally remembered, Louis had his moments, especially to the body

In round 12 Conn really ups the tempo and hurt Louis. In round 13 Conn starts flatfooted and Louis manages to start to land clean hurtful leads, this wasn't a case of Conn exchanging but I think Conn actually punched himself out a little and used his steam up in the 12th. He no longer had his defensive abilities because he was tired. Fighting against a man 30lbs heavier just took all the air out of him

If I was going to compare it to another fight I'd compare it to Mayweather-Corrales, Louis obviously better than Corrales though

Either way I wouldn't say it's the strategy that Ray alludes too

 

"You guys have got it all wrong. You don't box Joe Louis. You can put all the boxers you like in front of him, and he'll find them. No, you need to fight Louis. You need to fight Louis every minute of every round, you need someone who can take his punches and give him some back. That's how you beat him."

Well ok, fine, but Conn did what he did on pure boxing. He would have done better if he could spoil inside or grab a breath here or there and pace himself better. Getting his opponents respect and not keeling over the first time he got hit is obviously essential but it was pure boxing.

 

So Mayweather isn't a pure boxer either by that definition?

 

Ray knew what he had, a fast, mobile fighter who could hit. Billy's speed got him there, but it was his power that held Joe off. Billy fought such a smart fight, but it was David holding off Goliath. What a great fight.

 

McGrain put some shades on that make Conn look darker, you'll see allot of his techniques have allot in common with Mayweather

 

The spring in Joe's legs is what has always stood out for me in the Baer bout. I don't think one would be far off in saying the best Joe could be was on display that night.

 

Yes he did, I've put forward my reasons why, if you don't have the knowledge to debate, then fair enough but why start a thread asking for opinion?

 

What, exactly, is "pure boxing"? To me, it is a guy that can move and fight from a distance, or fight effectively inside. He can punch with both hands, is hard to hit, can fight effectively going forward or in retreat. In essence, can do it all.
Conn did that in the Louis fight.

 

Fair enough, I do think it's pure boxing for the reasons I highlighted above, I don't judge strategy/tactics just by range, he obviously did fight in the pocket but used angles, used his defence and importantly didn't stay there too long except in the last round

I don't think the catchweight was an issue as Louis was weighing similar weights in other fights