Conn and Mike Spinks were great light heavyweights who fought two great but aging heavyweight legends who it turned out were still far from the pasture---but with different results. While Conn lost twice, both by KO to Joe Louis, Spinks won but both by controversial decision over Larry Holmes.
But those results should not detract us from the issue at hand. Especially as to the worth of Billy Conn who was way ahead on points when he committed the mistake of engaging Louis in that fateful round and therefore got KOd in their first fight and was coming off military duty when he fought and lost to Louis by Ko in their second fight.
Prime for prime, I think Conn is a match or even superior to Spinks in terms of boxing skills, smart and savvy. Conn was a serious master boxer in the mold of a Willy Pep who would not have anything to do with the gimmick of his opponents. He usually fought and won the best way he can, using speed, great footwork, constant movements and rapier-like punches to befuddle, frustrate and unsettle the opponents.
In all his career as a 175 pounder, I don't think Spinks had came across somebody like Conn. Spinks won over the bangers and KO punchers like him but struggled against movers like Murray Sutherland and Eddie Davis.
On this account, I think prime Conn beats prime Spinks by masterful 15 round UD.
Great match up. This fight can go either way. Billy Conn can outbox Michael Spinks early on like he did against Joe Louis but if he got careless, he can run into the Spinks Jinx and get KO. I am not sure what is going to happen, just have to use your imagination.
Conn was a slick master-boxer. He was faster and quicker and had a potent jab. Spinks was stronger and had more power in his punches, but Conn would outbox him to UD win.
billy conn would dance circles around him conn would win by points
conn is the superior of the two at 175.
15 rounds at their best
