Billy Conn - The Pittsburgh Kid

by Paul F. Kennedy

There has never been a fighter like Billy Conn. Handsome as a movie star and tough as Pittsburgh steel, Conn threw combinations with the beauty and speed of later masters Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. The kid from the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh began boxing professionally at age 16, as his manager Johnny Ray fed him older, more experienced pros in a "baptism of fire." Conn developed quickly. At age 19 and 20 he defeated most of the world's best middleweights, a division rich with talent. Still growing, by age 21 he won the world light-heavyweight title. After dominating that division, he sought greater challenge in the heavyweight division. He beat three of the best heavyweights, one by knockout and two by easy decision. Only one challenge remained - the great heavyweight champion Joe Louis. Their first fight remains one of boxing's all-time classics, ranked by some as the greatest fight ever. Conn's story transcends boxing. He pursued and eloped with the love of his life, the beautiful Mary Louise Smith, despite her father's vehement and public opposition. Conn and his father-in-law tangled in a chaotic brawl at a lavish christening party at the Smith home. Billy starred in a Hollywood movie, The Pittsburgh Kid, and developed friendships with big stars like Bob Hope, Robert Taylor, and Frank Sinatra. Through all the glamour Billy remained the unpretentious "kid" from gritty Pittsburgh, the city he loved. He became an icon of that city, of the downtrodden Depression-era working class, and of the American Irish. Conn's place in boxing and American folk history has been neglected and forgotten in recent decades. His story of a poor kid with talent and spirit who went for it all is one worth reading.

238 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[David]

the only thing I know about billy Conn was he was lightheavy who lost to heavyweight Joe Lous, so I wasn't all the interested in him. I knew he almost beat him but heavys are supposed to beat lightheavies. what I didn't realize what a fantastic career he had beating lots of champs and hall of famers. He also had an equally fantastic life married the beautiful girl of his dreams, was movie star good looking and earned a boat load of money.

like the boxers of old he fought a lot and often and his trainer refused to give him easy fights on his way up, feeling he wouldn't learn anything, but even though he took a lost of losses early on it obviously paid off and made him a champ.

but like the boxers of old it was exempt from the military severice and after beating the great Joe Lous and at the height of his powers, rather than get a rematch within the stipulated 60 days, World War Two broke out and he served in the military.

the rematch came over four years later but both he and Louis had lost their reflexes, footwork, and ring sharpness and that was essentially it for them as boxers.

[Hali Jacobs]

My cousin was doing some genealogy and found that we were related to Billy Conn. I hadn't heard of him at all until years ago when finding that out. I was interested in reading and learning more about him. It was very interesting, even with a lot of boxing stats in it. I couldn't stop reading about him. I found that there are two more books about him and a movie he starred in, although cannot find that the movie is available anywhere. I did watch a brief clip of Joe Lewis and Billy Conn fight and continue to look for more information on him.