BoxRec

15 rounds.

This is a tough call. Of course, Conn was vastly more talented than Carnera. But Billy was barely a heavyweight. We shouldn't overlook that Primo did win a legitimate victory over another light-heavyweight turned heavy, Tommy Loughran.

If I had to make an educated guess, I'd rate this a 55% chance of Carnera victory against 45% chance for Conn. If Carnera could handle Loughran, very possibly he'd do the same to Conn.

The Loughran fight was a nice mention. Carnera is still the only heavyweight anyone can find over 225 that beat a great fighter under 200.
Loughran actually had several fights against top heavyweights, winning some and losing some. Have always suspected that the Louis-Conn fight was more of Louis having an off night than anything. I would lean towards Carnera as well.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑05 Oct 2023, 11:24 The Loughran fight was a nice mention. Carnera is still the only heavyweight anyone can find over 225 that beat a great fighter under 200.
Loughran actually had several fights against top heavyweights, winning some and losing some. Have always suspected that the Louis-Conn fight was more of Louis having an off night than anything. I would lean towards Carnera as well.

I have heard from several professional boxers that, in their opinion, Conn simply lacked the stamina to hang in there for 15 rounds against a guy like Louis. Long story short, the KO13 result was legitimate, and not a fluke.

It's entirely possible, maybe even inevitable, that Carnera's bulk and size would drain Conn's strength, leaving him vulnerable in the tenth to 15th rounds. That's another reason to favor Primo.

Conn is gonna be moving and attacking, Carnera needs to really just be there, fire some jabs, grab, lean on him, I do eventually this one where even the limited Primo Carnera is likely gonna come out ahead just due to the sheer difference in size and strength.

Like Louis he'd probably be losing most rounds before Conn wore out, but I think Conn would indeed wear out.

I strongly agreed with you guys. Conn would have his moments by outboxing the bigger Carnera in the early rounds, but when Conn try to knock the big Italian, it would be a big mistake like his first fight with Joe Louis and Carnera would wear him down with jabs and body shots, then he would set up Conn with a big right uppercut to knock him out in 10 rounds.