BoxRec

12 rounds. 175 pounds.

I think that Hearns would fight to a legit decision win over Conn. Workrate would be the deciding factor.

It would be fairly similar to Hearns decision win over Virgil Hill.

Hearns was quicker than Joe Louis, so he's more easily finding and landing on Quickster Trickster Conn, and he still had very respectable power, even in the LHW(175) division. And obviously, Hearns would realize early on that Conn can't hurt him.

AngryGoon38 wrote: ↑12 Jul 2023, 07:56 I think that Hearns would fight to a legit decision win over Conn. Workrate would be the deciding factor.

It would be fairly similar to Hearns decision win over Virgil Hill.

Hearns was quicker than Joe Louis, so he's more easily finding and landing on Quickster Trickster Conn, and he still had very respectable power, even in the LHW(175) division. And obviously, Hearns would realize early on that Conn can't hurt him.

You don't think Conn could hurt the 175 lbs version of Hearns? I find that interesting, because Tommy never really proved his durability fighting above 160 lbs. At least that's my impression, although I may be wrong.

Conn wasn't a big banger, of course. But he was a natural light-heavyweight, quick of hand, and certain to score with his power shots from time to time. Maybe that punishment would wear Hearns down over the long stretch?

As for the winner, I don't know who to pick. But you are correct that Hearns's workrate could be the deciding factor.

I would pick the great Thomas Hearns on this one. By decision. He is not stopping the great Billy Conn. Conn was too slick and savvy.

The Hitman would outbox Conn behind his longer and better accurate jabs and right hands from long range to take a decision even in the schedule 15 rounder.

Conn.

I love Hearns but Conn was a legitimate top 20 ATG middleweight and top 5 ATG light heavyweight. Conn would've won that pretty handedly. Hearns, for me, did nothing spectacular beyond 168. Sure he managed to get ranked pretty high as a cruiserweight but that was largely because of his name and hyperactivity knocking over a bunch of glorified journeymen.