| Billy Conn | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | William David Conn |
| Nickname(s) | The Pittsburgh Kid |
| Rated at | Light Heavyweight |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | October 8, 1917 |
| Birth place | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Death date | May 29, 1993 |
| Death place | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 77 |
| Wins | 64 |
| Wins by KO | 15 |
| Losses | 12 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
William David Conn (October 8, 1917–May 29, 1993), better known in the boxing world as Billy Conn, was a Light-Heavyweight boxing champion famed for his fights with Joe Louis. In boxing the light heavyweight (above 168 pounds up to 175 pounds division is the weight division between Cruiserweight and Super middleweight. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) An Orthodox stance in combat sports such as boxing and karate refers to someone who boxes right-handed as opposed to a left-handed fighter who is referred to as a Southpaw. Events 314 - Roman Emperor Licinius is defeated by his colleague Constantine I at the Battle of Cibalae, and loses Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, Joseph Louis Barrow ( May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) better known as Joe Louis, was a heavyweight boxing champion. He had a professional boxing record of 63 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw, with 14 wins by knockout. His nickname, throughout most of his career, was "The Pittsburgh Kid".
Contents |
Early career
Conn debuted as a professional boxer on June 28, 1934, losing to Dick Woodard by a decision in four rounds. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. His first win came almost a month later, on July 20, against Johnny Lewis, via a knockout in round three. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Jonathan Kendrick Lewis (born 1983 also credited as Johnny K Lewis, is an American Film Actor.
Conn built a record of 47 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw (tie), with 7 knockout wins, before challenging for the world's Light-Heavyweight title. Along the way, he beat former or future world champions Fritzie Zivic, Solly Krieger and Fred Apostoli, as well as Teddy Yarosz and Young Corbett III. Fritzie Zivic ( May 8, 1913, Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania &mdash May 16, 1984) born as Ferdinand Solly Krieger (born in Brooklyn New York, March 28 1909 - d September 24 1964) was an American Middleweight Fred Apostoli, "The Boxing Bell Hop" ( February 2, 1913 - November 29, 1973 in San Francisco) was a rugged accomplished Teddy Yarosz ( June 24, 1910 &ndash March 29, 1974) was Middleweight boxing champion of the world Young Corbett III (b May 27, 1905 in Potenza, Campania, Italy, d
On July 13, 1939, he met world Light-Heavyweight champion Melio Bettina in New York, outpointing him in 15 rounds and winning the world's Light-Heavyweight championship. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Melio Bettina ( November 18, 1916 - December 20, 1996 in Beacon New York) was a professional boxer The City of New York Conn defended his title against Bettina, and twice against another world Light-Heavyweight champion, Gus Lesvenich, each of those three bouts resulting in 15 round decision wins for Conn. Conn also beat former world Middleweight champion Al McCoy, and heavyweights Bob Pastor, Lee Savold, Gunnar Barlund and Buddy Knox in non-title bouts during his run as world Light-Heavyweight champion. Al McCoy may refer to Al McCoy (announcer (fl late 20th century Al McCoy (boxer (1894-1966 Lee Savold (born Lee Hulver March 22, 1916 – May 14, 1972) was a heavyweight boxer who held the British and European (EBU
Joe Louis Era
In May of 1941, Conn gave up his world Light-Heavyweight title to challenge world Heavyweight champion Joe Louis. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Joseph Louis Barrow ( May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) better known as Joe Louis, was a heavyweight boxing champion. Conn attempted to become the first world Light-Heavyweight champion in boxing history to win the world's Heavyweight championship when he and Louis met on June 18 of that year, and incredibly, to do so without going up in weight. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries The fight became part of boxing's lore because Conn held a secure lead on the scorecards leading to round 13. According to many experts and fans who watched the fight, Conn was outmaneuvering Louis up to that point. In a move that Conn would regret for the rest of his life, he tried to go for the knockout in round 13, and instead wound up losing the fight by knockout in that same round himself. Ten minutes after the fight, Conn told reporters, "I lost my head and a million bucks," [1]. When asked by a reporter why he went for the knockout, Conn replied famously, "What's the use of being Irish if you can't be thick (i. e. stupid)?" Later he would joke with Louis, "Why couldn't you let me hold the title for a year or so?", to which the Brown Bomber responded, "You had the title for twelve rounds and you couldn't hold on to it. "
In 1942, Conn beat Tony Zale and had an exhibition with Louis. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Anthony Florian Zaleski ( May 29 1913 - March 20 1997) was an American boxer. World War II was at one of its most important moments, however, and both Conn and Louis were called to serve in the Army. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces Conn went to war and was away from the ring until 1946. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
By then, the public was clamoring for a rematch between him and the still world Heavyweight champion Louis. This happened, and on June 19, 1946, Conn returned into the ring, straight into a world Heavyweight championship bout. Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Before that fight, it was suggested to Louis that Conn might outpoint him because of his hand and foot speed. In a line that would be long-remembered, Louis replied: "He can run, but he can't hide. " The fight, at Yankee Stadium, was the first televised world Heavyweight championship bout ever, and 146,000 people watched it on TV, also setting a record for the most seen world Heavyweight bout in history. The original Yankee Stadium is a Stadium located in The Bronx in New York City. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Most people who saw it agreed that both Conn and Louis' abilities had eroded with their time spent serving in the armed forces, but Louis was able to retain the crown by a knockout in round eight. Conn's career was basically over after this fight, but he still fought two more fights, winning both by knockout in round nine. On December 10, 1948, he and Louis met inside a ring for the last time, this time for a public exhibition in Chicago. Events 1041 - Empress Zoe of Byzantium elevates her adoptive son to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire as Michael V Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Conn would never climb into a ring as a fighter again.
Retirement
Retiring from the ring as a boxer did not mean retiring as a public figure for Conn. Conn, who appeared in a 1941 movie called "The Pittsburgh Kid," maintained his boxing skills into his later years. He stepped into the middle of a robbery at a Pittsburgh convenience store in 1990 after the robber punched the store manager. Conn took a swing at the robber and ended up on the floor of the store, scuffling with him. "You always go with your best punch—straight left," Conn told television station WTAE afterward. "I think I interrupted his plans. " The robber managed to get away, but not before Conn pulled off his coat, which contained his name and address, making the arrest an easy one. His wife said jumping into the fray was typical of her husband. "My instinct was to get help," she said at the time. "Billy's instinct was to fight. "
As he became an older citizen, he participated in a number of documentaries for HBO, and he was frequently seen at boxing related activities until his death in 1993, at the age of 75.
In 1995, Conn's picture appeared on the cover of British pop singer Morrissey's single "Boxers. " The photo was taken from an issue of Ring Magazine.
Conn is now a member, along with Louis and Zivic, of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall Canastota is a Village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County New York, United States.
Trivia
- Billy Conn was mentioned in the 2006 Hollywood movie, 'Black Dahlia', in reference to the fighting capability of Josh Hartnett who played boxer, Ofcr. The Black Dahlia is a 2006 Crime film directed by Brian De Palma. Joshua Daniel Hartnett (born July 21, 1978) is an American Actor. Dwight 'Bucky' Bleichert.
- A portion of North Craig Street in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh is named Bill Conn Boulevard.
- Billy Conn is also mentioned in the classic movie "On the Waterfront". In the famous scene in the back of the cab - "I could have been a contender", Rod Steiger (playing Marlon Brondo's brother) reflects on Brando's character Terry's early promise as a boxer with the words "You could have been another Billy Conn".
References
- ^ Current Biography 1941 pp165-166
External links
- Find-A-Grave profile for Billy "The Pittsburgh Kid" Conn
- Billy Conn Official Site
- Billy Conn, 75, an Ex-Champion Famed for His Fights With Louis: May 30, 1993
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