Unable to sign boxer Joe Louis to movie contract, Republic Pictures had to make do with the losers of Louis' heavyweight championship bouts. One of these was Billy Conn, who after being knocked out by Louis in the 13th round awakened to star in the Republic programmer The Pittsburgh Kid. The story finds clean-limned pugilist Conn (playing himself) being managed by pretty Patricia Mallory.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| BBilly ConnBilly Conn | Billy Conn |
 Jean ParkerPatricia Mallory | Patricia Mallory |
 Dick PurcellCliff Halliday | Cliff Halliday |
 Alan BaxterJoe Barton | Joe Barton |
 Veda Ann BorgBarbara Ellison | Barbara Ellison |
 Jonathan HaleMax Ellison | Max Ellison |
 Ernest WhitmanFeets Johnson | Feets Johnson |
 John KellyKnockout Riley | Knockout Riley |
| EEtta McDanielMagenta | Magenta |
 Dick ElliottGarvey | Garvey |
 John HarmonMorrie | Morrie |
 Robert BarronDevlin | Devlin |
| HHenry ArmstrongSparring Partner | Sparring Partner |
| SSam BalterRadio announcer (voice) | Radio announcer (voice) |
| AArthur DonovanReferee | Referee |
| JJack RoperThe Champ | The Champ |
 Freddie SteeleFreddie Steel | Freddie Steel |
| DDan TobeyFight Announcer | Fight Announcer |
 Edmund Cobb(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
 Donald Douglas(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
 William Forrest(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
| HHarrison Greene(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
 Kit Guard(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
 Russell Hicks(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
 Nora Lane(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
 Charles Sullivan(uncredited) | (uncredited) |
| WWilliam Telaak(uncredited) | (uncredited) |