conns weight for louis1

[rightsideup]

One of the first books on boxing was a joe Louis biography and it stated conn came at 168 but was announced as 174 joe trained hard to get in under 200 and it was alluded to have hampered his performance

[Ray Corso]

I don't believe that, he hadn't weighed under 170 in almost 10 years!
Why weigh in light against a known heavier opponent.
Back in that era fighters trimmed down to get as much cardio going to be able to work at their best rate over 15 rds.
If you look at Conn he doesn't look slighly built at all, he was 6' 1.5" and he looks to be 180lbs to me.
Joe may have trimmed down thinking the faster Conn might be to elusive.
Either way you could run but you can't hide over 15!!!!
Ray.

[The Old LefHook]

I think Ray is probably right about Conn. As for Louis, I remember reading a quote from him once long ago. This was in a book. Perhaps a biography. He said his weight was 201 and he told the commission or whomever that he didn't want to weigh over 200 lbs. against a man of Conn's weight. So they changed his weight on the spot--presto--to 199.

[rightsideup]

I don't believe that, he hadn't weighed under 170 in almost 10 years!
Why weigh in light against a known heavier opponent.
Back in that era fighters trimmed down to get as much cardio going to be able to work at their best rate over 15 rds.
If you look at Conn he doesn't look slighly built at all, he was 6' 1.5" and he looks to be 180lbs to me.
Joe may have trimmed down thinking the faster Conn might be to elusive.
Either way you could run but you can't hide over 15!!!!
Ray.

You are probly right ray bill had about 5 hw bouts and even came in around 190 for the rematch