The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-06-16
Dillon Graham Says
Conn's Speed, Jabs
Will Whip Bomber
BiIly's Confidence Sells
Camp Visitors; Tells
How He'll Fight Heavy
weight Champ
By DILLON GRAHAM
Sports Editor. AP Feature Service

l6.-Billy Conn threw his chick
en- bone on the floor and pushed
his chair back from the rough,
typewIiter-laden press room Ia
BILE.
Here, he said, "rll show you
how Joe goes.
Conn was fresh from a work
out, rundown and shower at his
training camp here and wore
Stacks and a sports jacket. He
had shifted at the kitchen door
and grabbed half a fowl, then
wolfed it as he sat among the
eer-drinking boxing writers.
Someone had asked the Pitts
burgh Adonis how he expected to
weather Louis blows. Conn, you
know, challenges for the heavy
weight championship in a Is
rounder at New York's Polo
Grounds Wednesday night.
Louis shouldn't ever hit me-
Billy declared mot the way he
fights. See, here's how he goes"
Billy, his hair wet and tousled
from his shower, walked over to
the corner, slumped into the fa-
miliar Louis crouch with hands
up high, almost touching.
Then he began moving for
ward in that curious little hip
pety-hop, feet close together,
shuffling movement with which
the Brown Bomber stalks his
foes.
A boxing writer laughed. i've
been watching Louis for seven
years but I've never seen anyone
mimic him as well as Billy does"
"HiYah". Billy yelled. This is
the way. hop and anchor. hop.
and anchor. Think a guy in this
position can hit fast-moviag
man like me? Not on your life.
The guy shouldn't ever hit me-.
saw, Billy, another writer
said. @Joe's bound to hit YOU.
Sure. he'll touch me with
some glancing blows, but mean
he'll never land a full, clean blow
at my Chin, Conn explained.
"And don't let anyone kid you
into believing that If he does hit
me I'll get my temper up and
slug with him. know T did that
with APOSTLE and some of the
other bows, but | knew | could
hit as hard as they could. / can't
hit with Louis and amt gonna
try. There'n be visions of a mill
lion bucks dancing before my
eyes that night and I can ditch
my Irish pride for that kind of
cabbage.
Il never have any trouble
with those big. slow-footed
guys. I handled that Lesnevich
pretty well didn't I? And how
about Savold7 Say. the guy
didn't touch me until I let him.
There was, away out front
on points, and the guy hadn't got
near me. II was a lousy fight and
the fans started clapping. | said
10 myself, Well. Billy, you're the
light heavy champ. It's up TO you
70 give them a fight, So I waded
into Savold and traded punches
with him.
But that guy broke my nose.
/ thought my head was coming
of. When / went back to the cor
ner. I said to Johnny Johnny
Ray. his managerl: oh, my poor
head. Johnny that guy liked to
knocked il of. He can punch.
but he ANITA gonna hit me no
more, no more. And he didn't,
Billy said.
But next time It's Mr.. Louis
turn. He's the champion and
It's ur 10 him 20 force the 90.
ing. When the fans start clap
ping. It's up 10 Louis to do
something about II. That clap.
PING Is goina 10 worry Louis.
NOT me.
SIN a-gonna stick him with
my left. and rUn. IN lab his nog-
GIN off Biuy's not going TO take
any chances.
But. he said. Elm not going
70 miss any opportunities III
fcint him and ne lets one go and
leaves himself open III sock him
with right appeFcut. There's
difference between taking
chances and seeking an open
spot
The guy starts off holding
that left hand high. burt some
times he later drops Il. Boy. il he
drops il against me. I'm gonna
pop him.
Hes easy to hit with 4 right
He'll. even strangers and passers-
by could sock him with a right.
Conn RESPECTS Louis as q great
hitter be not Ire runehsr he
was two years $50. Hs has al