This content is protected Maybe a top 10 fight of all time? Incredible fight Billy Conn really was a terrific fighter in his prime. Really Fast hands, High IQ, very athletic, fast feet, great boxing skills, Plenty of confidence. A supreme talent. And Louis just destroyed him there in round 13. Best finisher of all time. Best puncher of all time. Maybe the greatest fighter who ever lived. And he just walks back to his corner casually after the knockout, as if he didn’t give a hoot. Today fighters celebrate wins like they just saved planet earth from destruction, it’s pathetic. Louis was as cool as they get
Interesting point about the lack of celebration. From what I understand, this may have been less about his natural reaction and more about the necessity not to gloat in victory. I remember reading that as he was the first black heavyweight champion since Jack Johnson, he had a series of rules he followed to make himself more acceptable to the public (i.e. white people). One of those was to be humble in victory and not to celebrate. Louis's team were trying to make him the anti-Johnson in the public's eyes - and it worked.
[/QUOTE] That’s correct. Louis had a set of rules that his management team constructed for him to abide to, never gloat over a fallen opponent, never be seen in public with white women, never be seen eating certain foods. Etc.
[/QUOTE] That’s correct. Louis had a set of rules that his management team constructed for him to abide to, never gloat over a fallen opponent, never be seen in public with white women, never be seen eating certain foods. Etc.[/QUOTE] If I'm not mistaken, in the excellent documentary "Joe Louis: For All Time" they talk about it.
That’s correct. Louis had a set of rules that his management team constructed for him to abide to, never gloat over a fallen opponent, never be seen in public with white women, never be seen eating certain foods. Etc.[/QUOTE] Eating certain foods??? That's a new one.
Eating certain foods??? That's a new one.[/QUOTE] probably things like fried chicken, watermelon, etc... to appear less black. or maybe high class food like champagne and caviar so as not to appear to uppity? either way, he held up under that pressure. great fight! conn was ahead on the cards, wasn't he? but then he got cocky and went for the knock out. should have stayed with his game plan and would have had one of the greatest upsets of all time!
Great footage and edit .. Louis actually came in too light I've read, too dried out from the golf course .. he was a bit slow and man was he caught a lot from Conn .. notice how Billy liked to hold and hit .. still, Joe was some sharp, murderous hitter .. wow ..
