Louis reflects on the Conn fight

Great post Greg, bang on everywhere. When looking for it one can easily see Conn way more flatfooted in the 13th, and even after copping some big blows he unleashed a long combination showing his intent. The worst thing possible for him happened in the 12th when Louis sudden;y looked a bit hurt and gave Conn the idea he might be able to get him out of there. Louis had long established how ridiculously dangerous he was when hurt anyway so it was a huge tactical error by Conn.

 

Absolutely.

but it does highlight the one skill so often overlooked---boxing brains. The ability to think during every minute of every round. Sure are not too many greats without that skill, are there?

 

Totally Zad.

 

Have to remember that Joe and Bill were close friends, and Louis never played down an ex opponent and Conn's performance in that fight was a great personal achievement for Conn.
If we're going by quotes I can produce a video that has Conn explicitly state that he was caught and finished the same way Louis caught all the fast guys he was up against.
It wouldn't be the first time where personal tales from fighters are conflicting. Louis flip flopped between thinking he won the Walcott fight to saying he had lost it. Best way to do it is to look at the footage.

....and the footage clearly shows Conn dragging his feet in the 13th, and that's not him dragging his feet trying to square up with Louis, that's Conn trying to back out and having heave his legs in the process, getting trapped repeatedly before launching an all out, desperate assault.

I don't know how anyone can see that, see all the body blows he took in that fight, the exhaustion from having to fight off, outfight Louis for the last half of the fight and still think he had it in him to dance away for the last three rounds. It's a notion that borders on fantastical.
If Conn didn't chance it in the 13th, he was simply going to get worn down ineffectively backing away and then cornered at a moment when he was too spent to even try to fight back. Joe was never going to let him see the end of that fight.