Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn (1st meeting)

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Challenger rankings
Org. Pos. As of Published
1+ Mth. Old
NBA 2 24.03.1941 24.03.1941
Ring N/A N/A N/A
2+ Mth. Old
NBA 2 24.03.1941 24.03.1941
Ring N/A N/A N/A
3+ Mth. Old
NBA LHW-CH 24.12.1940 24.12.1940
Ring LHW-CH 11.02.1941 24.02-01.03.1941
Louis-Conn I.jpg
Louis-Conn I 54125k lg.jpeg

Billy Conn 174 lbs lost to Joe Louis 200 lbs by KO at 2:58 in round 13 of 15

  • World Heavyweight Championship (18th defense by Louis)
  • Photo 1, Photo 2

Notes

Timeline

  • The Post-Gazette reported that on July 26 Conn was signed to face Louis in September. That was confirmed by Conn's manager Johnny Ray, while Louis' promoter Mike Jacobs explained that he planned to match Louis with the winner of Billy Conn-Bob Pastor scheduled for August 13.[1] However, the deal fell through as Conn vs. Pastor had to be moved last-minute to September 5 due to heavy rain.[2] Conn knocked Pastor out in the 13th round after a slugfest. Both Louis and Mike Jacobs attended the fight.[3][4]
  • Conn gave an interview to the United Press on September 23, in which he criticized Louis for facing soft opposition: "Joe has been fighting guys who, the first time they are hit, fall down on the theory that if Joe Louis hit them they have no right to stand up. Nuts. Let him hit me... I want to see how he reacts when he stands up with a tough guy who wants to knock his head off, and is willing to get his knocked off in the process."[5][6]
  • On October 3, Conn signed to face Al McCoy on October 18, in a fight co-promoted by Mike Jacobs and Twentieth Century Club. Conn won by unanimous decision.[7][8][9]
  • On October 21, Mike Jacobs announced that Conn would face Lee Savold on November 29 at Madison Square Garden; the winner would then "probably" face Red Burman for a title shot.[10]
  • On November 3, sports journalist George Kelly called Conn "the most highly regarded of the many 'White Hopes' that have zoomed across the fistic horizon since Joe Louis relieved Jim Braddock of his crown"[11]; four days later, the United Press reported that "the public is considering Billy Conn as a prospective challenger for Louis in June".[12]
  • Conn gave another big interview to the Canadian Press on November 6, in which he explained how boxing had changed his life: "I didn't have nothing - didn't have a suit of clothes. I had to bum rides downtown... Fighting made a high class gentleman out of me. See this house - $110 per month - that big automobile downstairs. Look at these $5 ties, $20 hats, $20 shoes, this $75 sport coat. I take care of all the family - the whole joint. There's mother, dad, two sisters and two brothers - Jackie, who's quit fighting, and truck-driver Frankie are joining the Navy. If Uncle Sam sends for me I'll be ready. But I've got a lot of big things to do. I've gotta lick Joe Louis."[13]
  • On November 16, Conn told the Pitsburgh Telegraph his idea how to beat Louis: "You can't let the other fellow bluff you out of anything. Show him you're not afraid of him and you got him half licked before you start."[14]
  • On November 29, Conn defeated Lee Savold by decision, marking his third win in a row at heavyweight. After the fight, Conn publicly called Louis out and stated: "I'll make Louis come to me, and when he does I'll box his ears off."[15] International News Service, although criticized his performance, also stated that "Billy probably will get that Louis date. And, as far as we're concerned, he can have it."[16]
  • Conn and Louis signed another contract on December 21, 1940, with no site determined yet.[17][18][19]
  • In March, Conn signed up to face Gunnar Barlund on April 4.[20][21] "I'm worried about that Chicago fight," promoter Mike Jacobs said on March 29, "If Gunnar Barlund has a good night, he's liable to make Conn look bad and ruin my plans for a Conn-Louis bout in June."[22] It later emerged that Conn violated the deal with Louis when he agreed to face Barlund.[23] Conn stopped Barlund in the eighth round.
  • On May 1, Louis' promoter Mike Jacobs announced the fight would take place at the Polo Grounds on June 18.[24]
  • On May 27, some sources reported that the deal had not been signed yet, even though the bout was only three weeks away.[25]
  • The deal which included date and place was finally signed on May 28.[26][27][28]

Ranking Movements

  • Conn won vacant National Boxing Association (NBA), NYSAC and The Ring Magazine light heavyweight titles on July 13, 1939 when he defeated Melio Bettina.
  • He was reportedly bound to relinquish the NBA light heavyweight title when he signed to face Louis,[29] though he was still listed as champion in the rankings published December 24, 1940. He was stripped of the title on January 5, 1941.[30]
  • Conn still listed as world light heavyweight champion by The Ring Magazine in its July 1941 issue (rankings as of May 12).

The Fight

  • Louis' weight was announced as 199½ and Conn's as 174. However, it has been reported that Louis actually weighed 204 and Conn was 169.
  • Louis was an 11 to 5 favorite.
  • There was a crowd of 54,487 at the Polo Grounds, which produced a gross gate of $452,743. The net gate receipts were $386,012. Louis got 40% of the net and Conn got 17½.
  • After twelve rounds, Conn was ahead on two of the three scorecards and even on the third. He needed to win just one of the three remaining rounds to get the decision. However, after staggering Louis in the twelfth, Conn believed he could stop him and went for a knockout in the thirteenth. Louis, who was told by his trainer, Jack Blackburn, that he had to stop Conn to win, also went for a knockout. Louis hurt Conn with a right about a minute into the round. Louis, one of the greatest finishers of all-time, didn't let Conn off the hook. A volley of lefts and rights put Conn down for the count at 2:58 of the thirteenth round.

Aftermath

  • The Ring Magazine ranked Louis vs. Conn I as the sixth greatest title fight of all-time.
  • On May 10, 1942, Conn broke his left hand in a fight with his father-in-law, former Major League baseball player "Greenfield" Jimmy Smith. Conn's broken hand caused the cancellation of his planned June 25 rematch with Louis. The fight was rescheduled for October 12, but Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson cancelled the bout on September 25. He said it conflicted with "the standards and interests of the Army," and he ordered Louis and Conn, both whom had joined the U.S. Army earlier in the year, to return "at once to their military duties."

See Also

External Links


Preceded by:
Louis vs. Baer I 		NBA Heavyweight Title Fight
# 31 		Succeeded by:
Louis vs. Nova
Preceded by:
Louis vs. Baer I 		NYSAC Heavyweight Title Fight
# 29 		Succeeded by:
Louis vs. Nova


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