Some Perspective About GunBoat's Win Over Langford.

Great info Mac!!!!!

 

Langfords biggest issue throughout his career was lack of focus. It was very common for him to show up to fights out of shape. When he was motivated and in shape he was a monster. He wasnt focused and showed up fat he was ordinary. Dangerous, but ordinary.

 

That's a broad based 101 statement. Why would he be unmotivated ? Why would he lack focus if her ever lacked it ? It all ties into the same narrative of the road forced to travel by the less fortunate fighters. More fights under short notice, under unfavorable conditions , while injured, after traveling all night under a train, out of one's best weight for tiny purses against brutal opposition week in week out, year in year out takes it's toll. Langford should never have had to fight over 168 and could have stayed at middleweight well into this early thirties. He went up because he was ducked and screwed endlessly and it took it's toll in every way. A man's bandwidth gets taped and they lose the focus and the drive and it becomes a paycheck. Who wouldn't have been inconsistent under like kind circumstances ? Let's put the unquestionably great Ray Robinson in his place. How would Ray have done fighting the same pace and opposition that Sam did straight up through heavyweights from age twenty seven to say forty ? Maybe we's be saying he was great when focused but ...

 

I think Mac's overall post explains Langfords initial lack of condition and subsequent motivation and condition for the rematch. You are right for sure about the difficulties and drama's of the era but the point is i guess Smith would have never beaten Langford at close to Langford's best.

 

Langford was an interesting character. He looks incredible in the few existing films of his fights.

 

I completely agree .. very, very few could have.

 

Oh god, here we go again. Doesnt your heart get tired of bleeding so much? Was Langford the only fighter of the era to fight often and all over? No it was the rule not the exception. Hell, Langford had more chances at the big dance than almost any fighter of the era and rather than be descriminated against in his career he was wildly popular. Would you care to count the number of times Langford showed up fat, out of shape, and ill prepared? Care to bet that wasnt the biggest knock on him? Ill win that bet.

 

I think that as fighters like Langford realized that they were unlikely to get a title shot, they were increasingly forced into unfavorable schedules, to bank the money while they could.

There might be other fighters who fought to a similar schedule to Langford, but similar schedule against the best opposition of the day?

I am not quite seeing it.

 

Jack Johnson pulled out of a signed contract to meet Johnson in 1909 in the UK. Now that would have been a historical fight.

I bet Sam would have been in shape for that one.

 

Langford was great for me he looks far better than jeanette and mcvey on the limited film we have of those 3.

 

Anyone know why exactly Langford ballooned up in weight? Was he a heavy eater or drinker?

 

Langford was a good time charlie. Thats why he ballooned up. He loved cigars, food, booze, whores, gambling, and generally living life to the fullest. He was apparently a hell of a fun guy to be around and those good times didnt always translate to good fights. Langford didnt balloon up because he was depressed, quite the contrary. I have no doubt he was frustrated by not getting a shot but he was still one of the most sought after and popular fighters for over a decade and seems to have taken the lemons life threw his way with a smile and a wink. Grant and others are projecting their own biases onto him and what they seem to think of his personality, mental state, etc doesnt jive with any contemporary account of the man Ive read. If Grant wants to bring to bear his volumnous body of research (lol) to back up his contention ill be here waiting but how many times have I asked this of him to be left standing at the alter while he hides his head in the sand? This after all is a guy who contends SRR ducked Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore in the 40s and supposes that a dominant beating by Johnson over Flynn was actually Johnson slowly being worn down by Flynn... whatever.

 

I agree 100%. He was great. But thats not what Im saying. Im saying he was very well known for showing up to fights not just out of shape but obese. I cant count the number of times he was called hog fat or compared to bowling ball or criticized for being unable to put up a good fight. Thats just a fact. Go back and check the reports yourself if you dont believe me. If the guy showed up in shape everytime he could his record would have a lot less red marks on it and it looks damn good as it is.