Conn, "Billy" (William D. Jr.)
Boxing
b. Oct. 8, 1917, E. Liberty, PA
d. May 29, 1993
Conn, nicknamed the "Pittsburgh Kid," is best known for his unsuccessful attempts to win the heavyweight championship from Joe Louis, but he was a very fine light heavyweight champion. He left high school to begin fighting at 142 pounds in 1935.
After a mediocre start, Conn won all 23 of his fights in 1936. Among them was a 10-round decision over Fritzie Zivic, who later became world welterweight champion. Conn won 15 of his next 18 fights before meeting Melio Bettina of Italy for the vacant world light heavyweight title on July 13, 1939. Conn won the championship with a 15-round decision.
A clever fighter without much of a knockout punch, Conn gave up the title in 1941 in order to meet Louis for the heavyweight championship. He led on all three scorecards after 12 rounds of the June 18 fight but was knocked out by Louis late in the 13th round. Conn became so celebrated in defeat that he starred in a Republic Pictures movie, The Pittsburgh Kid, later that year.
After serving in the Army during World War II, Conn had a rematch with Louis on June 19, 1946. The fight drew the second biggest gate in history up to that time, nearly $2 million, and Conn earned $325,958. But he was rusty after more than three years without a serious fight, and Louis knocked him out in the 8th round.
Conn retired for a time, returned to the ring for three fights in 1948, and then quit for good. He won 63 of his 75 professional fights, 14 by knockout, while losing only 11, 2 by knockout, and he fought 1 draw.
