Evening star., 1963-01-26
SEGH AT LARGE
Billy Conn Says
Clay Isn't Ready
By MORRIS sIEeEL

BILLY CONN., WHO LOST two fights to Joe Louis and
to his father in the prime of his boxing
watched Cassus Clay blast away at Charlie Powell the
other evening in Pittsburgh Conn's home field
When Conn was 81 he talked almost as much as Clay
does today The big difference that Conn fought better
something the personabe former ghtheavyweight cham
pion reminding his audience of in the wake of Clays
three-round walkover.
"They got the next heavyweight champion in Clay"
Conn expere6 but not if they send him against Lston
in the future Clays got good moves, he's a
conner, but right he's got too many bad moves.
"If he ever wades into roughneck like Sonny with
his hands down the way he fought Powell he'll get his
back broke What they ought to do with CaSsus is bring
him along easy. Get him Pete Rademachers and
Cut and Shoot Harrises to fight But no Listons not
for while yet"
BILLY WAS DULY impressed with the makeup of
Clays 10-man board Of directors group of wealthy and
influential Louisville business leaders who bankrong
and advising brash Cassius.
Must be lot of brains and lot of money in that
outfit" Conn mused, "but it won't mean thing unless
they got somebody who knows how to maneuver fighter
Who do you suppose is calling the shots for ClayP"
The early morning audience, composed mostly Of re-
porters and other friends of Billy didn't know One
guessed it was Clay himself Conn couldn't buy that.
"He talks too much to be smart the Irshman protested
Leave it to him and he'll fight Lson tomorrow If he
does he'll get his skull broke"
THERE WAS ANOTHER thing Conn didn't appreciate
too much about Cassus the sefaccaimed Prophet Of
Boxing" who has called his shot the last two fights and
IL out of 10 times. he claims
He'd better cut that stuff out" Conn warned, "or
people will get the idea the fight is in the bag He said
he'd take Moore out in four and he did. He hit the
number with Powell too but it's not doing him any good
Too many suspicious about the racket without having
this kind of stuff going
Some people I was sitting with just couldn't wait
for the third round to if Cassus could deliver When
he did they sad See carried him for two rounds and
then decked him. Promoters like the stuff that Clay
does and I'm for lot of it. too 1t helps put people IN
the joint But he'd better be careful about calling the
shots 1t makes people suspicious"
WHILE CONN RAMBLED about Clay and the current
state of boxing Navy enlisted man. interested in neither
walked by the table where Billy the Kid holding court
1t broke him up.
"I came close to being in the Navy" chucked Conn,
who helped the World War II effort by putting IN an
occasional appearance in the Army European sector.
Mike Jacobs took me to lunch with big-shot Navy
admiral who was in charge of the Sd Naval District IN
New York" Billy recalled Mike said he wanted me to
get in the Navy in the Gene Tunney program.
"I told him I'd CO. but not If had to wear those
funny pants and blouses. They called Tunney and he
said he'd boxing instructor first class Sounded
good still does but Tunney said I'd have to wear sailor
clothes said wouldn't go, wanted to be in the shirt
and-tie Navy
"Tunney said he couldn't do it, SO went right down.
stairs in the same building in which this admiral and
were talking and enlisted in the Army"