Editing Billy Conn (section)

==Early career==
Conn debuted as a professional boxer winning on July 20, 1934, against Johnny Lewis, via a [[knockout]] in round three.

Conn built a record of 47 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw (tie), with 7 knockouts, before challenging for the world [[Light Heavyweight]] title. Along the way, he beat former or future world champions [[Fritzie Zivic]], [[Solly Krieger]] and [[Fred Apostoli]], as well as [[Teddy Yarosz]] and [[Young Corbett III]].

On July 13, 1939, he won the world light heavyweight championship by outpointing [[Melio Bettina]] in New York. Conn defended his title against Bettina and twice against another World Light Heavyweight Champion, [[Gus Lesnevich]], winning each in 15-round decisions. Conn also beat former World [[Middleweight]] Champion [[Al McCoy (boxer)|Al McCoy]] and [[heavyweight]]s [[Bob Pastor]], [[Lee Savold]], Gunnar Barlund and Buddy Knox in non-title bouts during his run as World [[Light Heavyweight]] Champion.