Conn, William David, Jr.

▪ 1994

      ("BILLY"; "THE PITTSBURGH KID"), U.S. boxer (b. Oct. 8, 1917, East Liberty, Pa.—d. May 29, 1993, Pittsburgh, Pa.), was on the brink of defeating Joe Louis for the heavyweight championship title by outpointing him when he brashly decided to knock out the champion but instead was knocked out by Louis with two seconds left in the 13th round. Conn, who had lightning-quick hands and feet, was outweighed by Louis but had nearly knocked him out in the previous round of that celebrated fight on June 18, 1941. Though a rematch was scheduled, their fight was postponed for four years, first because Conn broke his hand in a fight with his father-in-law and then because both Conn and Louis were inducted into the army. In the June 1946 rematch, Louis knocked out the agile Conn in the eighth round and thereby illustrated his famous prefight line, "He can run, but he can't hide." Earlier Conn had reigned as light-heavyweight champion, beating Melio Bettina for the title in 1939. Conn had three successful title defenses before relinquishing that crown to compete as a heavyweight. He appeared in the film The Pittsburgh Kid (1941), scored a few victories in 1948, and sparred in December of that year with Louis in a six-round exhibition fight in Chicago (losing on decision) before retiring. During his professional boxing career (1935-48), Conn fought in 75 bouts; he had 63 wins (14 by knockouts), 11 losses, and 1 draw. Conn was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1965.

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