Joe Louis 199 v. Billy Conn 169 - first fight

[Left Hook Tua]

It's debatable whether it was more Holmes failing to take the threat seriously or on the downslide (and if so how much). Holmes fought pretty well during his comeback in the 90s if you recall. The second fight was pretty questionable, but the first fight I think was close enough that you can't criticize the decision overmuch. At the very least Spinks put on his best performance, not making the mistake that Conn did.

i'm one of the conspiracy theorists that believe the judges didn't want larry to pass rocky.

conn put on a masterful performance...... he just made an error in going for the ko in the end. can't blame him he had joe hurt at times. joe didn't have the greatest of chins.

[Miburo]

i'm one of the conspiracy theorists that believe the judges didn't want larry to pass rocky.

conn put on a masterful performance...... he just made an error in going for the ko in the end. can't blame him he had joe hurt at times. joe didn't have the greatest of chins.

As was mentioned though, Conn was not much of a puncher which more than anything shows that he lost his head a bit. If the strategy is working throughout you have to stick with it; consistency of soundness is part of performance.

[Left Hook Tua]

As was mentioned though, Conn was not much of a puncher which more than anything shows that he lost his head a bit. If the strategy is working throughout you have to stick with it; consistency of soundness is part of performance.

true but today conn would've won by majority decision.

[TheGreatA]

Conn was not a big puncher but he had somewhat of a KO streak going on before he faced Louis. He had stopped 4 heavyweights in a row, including Gunnar Bärlund who was probably the best Finnish boxer ever (once a top ranked contender for Louis' crown).

Could explain why he went for the KO so much. He was really outgunning Louis with those combinations but Louis stayed calm.

From what I remember had Louis won the last three rounds, he would've kept his title.

[JAB5239]

Conn was not a big puncher but he had somewhat of a KO streak going on before he faced Louis. He had stopped 4 heavyweights in a row, including Gunnar Bärlund who was probably the best Finnish boxer ever (once a top ranked contender for Louis' crown).

Could explain why he went for the KO so much. He was really outgunning Louis with those combinations but Louis stayed calm.

From what I remember had Louis won the last three rounds, he would've kept his title.

I think a lot of people today underestimate just how good Billy Conn was. Louis didn't train properly for that fight and came in at the lightest weight possible so as to not make the difference seem so big. These were also the days of same day weigh ins. That said, Conn was masterful and put on one of the greatest displays any lightheavy ever had challenging for the heavyweight title. There will always be woulda, coulda and should ofs in boxing, but Joe Louis showed how great he was not just by winning, but by keeping himself in the fight. Jmo.

[AntonTheMeh]

actually it was 166 for conn and i 203 i think for louis.they just tried to make the weight difference not look as ridiculous.so they lied.

[warp1432]

The first fight maybe one of the best fights of all time. Conn was really putting it on him and then Louis catches him and it's all over. Definietly one of my favorites

[JAB5239]

actually it was 166 for conn and i 203 i think for louis.they just tried to make the weight difference not look as ridiculous.so they lied.

Do you have a source for this info? Everything I've ever read, including Louis' biography has Joe coming in at under 200lbs and Conn in the low 170's. Louis came in light as to not make the difference in weight look like so much.

[-Hyperion-]

and yet people rate louis better than conn p4p.......


anyway i made this point the other day, of the extreme hate DLH is getting......and will get when he wins....

[AntonTheMeh]

Do you have a source for this info? Everything I've ever read, including Louis' biography has Joe coming in at under 200lbs and Conn in the low 170's. Louis came in light as to not make the difference in weight look like so much.

i think it was on espn ringside.i remember it cause i said, how the ****?