Following their
June 1941 bout, there was immediate talk of a rematch between heavyweight champion
Joe Louis and
Billy Conn with promoter
Mike Jacobs suggesting that the two could meet again in September. He also confirmed that previous plans for Louis to fight either
Abe Simon or
Buddy Baer in July were off. However on 21 June, Jacobs confirmed that
Lou Nova had signed to face Louis in September. On 1 July, Conn secretly married Mary Louise Smith, the daughter of former Baseball player
Jimmy Smith, who strongly opposed the union and had told reporters "I'll punch hell out of that fellow if he doesn't stay away from my family. I don't want my daughter to marry a prize-fighter, I know how those people end up." Plans were in place for a 25 June 1942 rematch, however on 10 May at a family gathering following the christening of their first child, Conn's father in law, started a brawl with him that left Billy with a broken left hand. This forced the postponement of the Louis rematch first to September, then to 12 October. However on 25 September, it was cancelled by the order of
Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who ordered both Louis and Conn to return to their army duties. With the end of
World War II, both men were swiftly discharged from the army, Conn on 24 September 1945, Louis on 1 October. By 15 October, both men had signed to meet in June 1946. Part of the deal was that neither man was allowed to have any tune up bouts prior to the rematch. Conn had been out of the ring since February 1942, while Louis had made a title defence in November 1944 as part of a exhibition tour. In January, Jacobs confirmed the bout for 19 June at
Yankee Stadium,
New York City. During the build up Louis was asked "Will you chase him if he runs backwards", this prompted the champion to respond with now the famous line: "
He can run, but he can't hide". Former 3-Division champion
Henry Armstrong was among those believing that Conn would defeat Louis, telling the press "Joe is my very good friend but I think he's finding it hard to get into condition. I was at his camp a week or so ago and also visited Conn and I've got to like Conn in this fight. Louis is too slow. At least he didn't look fast to me. He's fat and flabby and I believe Conn will be too fast for him. Billy should outpoint him.". The would be the first heavyweight title bout to set broadcast live on television, with
NBC acquiring the rights. Louis was a 7 to 2 favourite to win. ==The fight==