Which of these old timers is a tougher task for Smokin’ Joe?

Sam Langford by far should be harder, Fitzsimmons already fell to a proto Frazier in Jeffries, and Langford's short height would probably cause difficulties for Frazier's bobbing defense; he was used to being the shorter man.

 

langford but i'd make frazier a big favorite in either fight.

 

Langford definitely. Although Fitzsimmons’ power is a wildcard, he makes an easier target for offensive-oriented Frazier. Langford’s versatility is dangerous.

 

Maybe Langford but Bob hit like mad so can't totally rule him out.

 

They'd both be steamrolled by JF. There's no evidence that Joe had trouble with smaller men, and there were no big dynamos like Frazier during Langford's and Fitz's prime years.

 

Hard to say, but both are very dangerous fights for Frazier, since Fitzsimmons and Langford were both very experienced and both had excellent right hands, which Frazier even at his best was very vulnerable to.