Customer Reviews

Billy Conn - The Pittsburgh Kid

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It's about time that someone wrote a biography of Billy Conn, one of the best boxers in the sport's history and an American original. This marvelously entertaining book brings Conn to life and allows the reader to feel like he is right at ringside. Kennedy obviously possesses substantial knowledge of boxing and an appreciation for the effort involved in becoming a champion of the sport.
The books recounts many of Conn's bouts in vivid, almost breathless detail. Kennedy builds steam as he takes you through chapters called "rounds," culminating in the classic match, Conn versus Joe Louis for the World Heavyweight title.
Kennedy writes with humor, respect and an obvious affection for Conn, filling the book with telling anecdotes that reveal Conn's character and legendary Irish charm. He shows the reader both the boxer and the private man, who, despite his tough, aggressive boxing style was also an artist, family man and clearly a romantic. The colorful story of Conn's lifelong devotion to his wife, Mary Lou, is woven throughout the book, and humanizes Conn.
An added feature is Kennedy's attention to the setting and the era. He ties Conn's advancement in boxing to current events of that time, giving the reader a much appreciated context.
I highly recommend this book. Conn has been neglected and his story is well worth reading, whether you are a general sports fan or a boxing fan. For boxing enthusiasts, it's really a must read. Some older readers might also enjoy the nostalgia that Kennedy evokes by his descriptions of life in America in the Depression and World War II eras. A final bonus - it's also a terrific history of that great sports city, Pittsburgh.

This book is great IF your only interested in detailed descriptions of Conn's fights. Unfortunatly the auther gives us almost nothing on the Conn out of the ring.Considering the Conn family gave there support I expected alot more than the 98% of this book that is fight blow by blow accounts.
Im hopeing Sweet William due out in Nov. will be much more informative.
Save your money and find a copy of the 85 sports illustrated with the story called The boxer & the blond and you'll find out alot more about Mr. Conn than in this whole book.

Very good and well written biography about one of boxings greatest fighters. The author gives us great insight on Conn's personal and professional career, and shows us that Conn was born to fight. The minor problem I had with the reading was that the author gives us a little too much blow-by-blow for most of Billy's contest. I was trying to figure-out how the author got so much detail as there are few films of Conn in action, perhaps newspaper blow-by-blow accounts from local papers during those years ? But as I said, minor concern. Terrific book, if you're a boxing fan and like to read, this one's well worth the cost.

The story of Billy Conn cannot be told apart from the story of the city in which he was born, and in which he died, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Paul Kennedy realized that when he set out to write this biography of a boxing legend, one whose story, as noted by another reviewer of this book, has been sadly neglected until now. As Kennedy notes, Conn died in 1993, and the city he left was much like the city he grew up in, a quilt of ethnic neighborhoods, each with a character and reputation of its own. Kennedy captures what it meant to grow up Irish and poor in East Liberty, "sliberty" to Pittsburghers. Kennedy knows firsthand what it means to grow up Irish on the East End of Pittsburgh - he was raised just a 5-minute trolley ride from East Liberty, and, though not poor, he was one of nine children of a foreman at Westinghouse Electric. Paul Kennedy knows of what he writes, he's walked that walk, and his background as a journalist and historical writer serve him well in this tale of a Pittsburgh boy who almost grabbed the crown, but was noble, even in failing. To understand Billy Conn, you have to understand Pittsburgh. And Paul Kennedy understands Pittsburgh, and so will his readers who take the time to read "Billy Conn, the Pittsburgh Kid."

Bruno F. Battistoli
Kingston, New York

This author captures what Pittsburgh (and 'sLiberty') was, so well. This is when boxing meant something and folks rallied 'round their favorite. The description of the crowds, the anticipation for a fight, the local pride truly captures what it must have been like. Billy was a hero for so many....my Dad, 90, is not a boxing fan, but he KNEW of Billy and loved this book. It captures a glorious chapter in boxing...when men behaved liked boxers, not fighters!

I absolutely loved this book! Makes me want to learn even more about this great boxer!