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Louis never forgot how masterfully Ramage had boxed against him. In a 1942 interview with The Ring magazine, Louis remarked on how well the Navy had chosen when it selected Ramage to teach sailors how to box. "They sure got the right man," Louis said.
"It tickles me to hear everybody rave about how good Billy Conn can box.
Conn is smart in a funny sort of way, but nobody I ever saw or ever fought could box like that Ramage, not when he boxed me, anyway. "The first time I fought him, I didn't hit him once for five rounds.
He looked like he was trying to see just how close he could make me miss.
And what a left!
He didn't block punches like Conn does; he just moved his head a little bit when I'd punch at him, and pop!
I'd get hit with another left." "I saw him box some other fellows out in Chicago, and he's one boy I loved to watch box.
I don't know how he did it.
Poor Chappie always said the same thing.
He was crazy about Ramage as a boxer.
Conn makes more mistakes in a minute than Ramage did in a whole fight." "Chappie" was Jack Blackburn, Louis' trainer. During his time in Las Vegas, where he worked in a garage and conditioned fighters, Ramage said he sometimes would call on Louis, then serving as a greeter for a casino.
"Joe always would introduce me the same way -- as the finest boxer he ever met," Ramage said.
Hey gang,
I wonder if any of you may have access to this source article from The Ring Magazine 1942?
What Joe sez is amazing. That its echoed by Chappie Blackburn is a massively astounding tribute!!!
"It tickles me to hear everybody rave about how good Billy Conn can box.
Conn is smart in a funny sort of way, but nobody I ever saw or ever fought could box like that Ramage, not when he boxed me, anyway. "The first time I fought him, I didn't hit him once for five rounds.
He looked like he was trying to see just how close he could make me miss.
And what a left!
He didn't block punches like Conn does; he just moved his head a little bit when I'd punch at him, and pop!
I'd get hit with another left." "I saw him box some other fellows out in Chicago, and he's one boy I loved to watch box.
I don't know how he did it.
Poor Chappie always said the same thing.
He was crazy about Ramage as a boxer.
Conn makes more mistakes in a minute than Ramage did in a whole fight." "Chappie" was Jack Blackburn, Louis' trainer. During his time in Las Vegas, where he worked in a garage and conditioned fighters, Ramage said he sometimes would call on Louis, then serving as a greeter for a casino.
"Joe always would introduce me the same way -- as the finest boxer he ever met," Ramage said.
Hey gang,
I wonder if any of you may have access to this source article from The Ring Magazine 1942?
What Joe sez is amazing. That its echoed by Chappie Blackburn is a massively astounding tribute!!!