Fighters who Sam Langford could not possibly beat.

Sure Dempsey wouldnt find sam in 1917, Dempsey was just a kid at the time. he was a hobo who hadnt had world class training yet. I highly doubt the 1919-1921 Jack Dempsey would say that, and I highly doubt sam could take that version of jack even on his best day.


I also may be in the minority, but I dont see langford ever beating jack johnson. Johnson was only 185lb and still immature when he absolutley dominated the 160lb langford. knocked him down twice and won almost every round. I cant see how even a bigger langford ever beats a mature sound 205lb ripped jack johnson, going by there first meeting. I also think on film jack johnson has better skills. langfords style plays right into johnsons hands, johnson would tear him apart anytime....and as we all saw on film johnson looked like a beast throwing around supermiddleweights like burns and ketchel, i think he could control sam in the clinches, and take him apart with short uppercuts...I think sams wide hooks will be blocked by johnson very adequatley, and if johnson opens up on sam he could floor him.

 

Dempsey said that when he was already retired.

 

What about a Gene Tunney or Jim Corbett?

Both could withstand heavyweight punching (Tunney in particular) and both would tie up and jab at long distance, using their speed to avoid Lanford. I think that both would give Lanford major problems and could be the difference.

Despite their supposed chin problems, i think that Lewis and Vlad both pose similar type of problems which would make it hard for Lanford to land regularly on them.

 

Damn.

 

"Sure Dempsey wouldnt find sam in 1917, Dempsey was just a kid at the time. he was a hobo who hadnt had world class training yet. I highly doubt the 1919-1921 Jack Dempsey would say that,"

The Dempsey of 1960 said it.

 

It's a good thing he didn't take either of those fights. The fight he did take against John Lester Johnson cost him several fractured ribs and all he got out of it was a draw. Gunboat Smith, even then, was probably a step up from Johnson and Langford probably would have KO'd that version of Dempsey.

 

For those who doubt Langfords physical dimensions:

Langford with Joe Louis

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Langford with Joe Louis and Tony Canzoneri.

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Joe Louis with Harry Wills and Panama Joe Gans

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:good

Vitali is the worst matchup POSSIBLE for Langford. The other super heavies such as his brother and Lewis have suspect chins so Sam could, concievably, get the KO. Bowe gets drawn into brawls so Langford has a shot there.

But Vitali is so durable and uses his height so well I can't see him beating him. The only way is if Vitali quits like against Byrd.

 

If Joe Louis is 6'2, then Harry Wills has to be at least 6'3 1/2 to 6'4.

 

who knows sam very well could make vitali quit on his stool. after all, he did quit against a lightheavyweight with limited power

 

Vitallys durability might fall away markedly if he fought the kind of quality and volume of oposition that Langfords oponents fought.

The bottom line is that there is no such thing as a good chin against sombody like Langford. It could be deemed undentable and he might still end up sparking you.

 

I dont think there is anyone ,who has put on gloves that Langford would have no chance at all with, but Ali would be my pick, a fast jabber against a man under 5 7in,I think he would do a Fred Fulton.

 

All true. This is boxing after all and anyone could beat anyone with the right punch and Langford certainly has a chance with anyone.

But do you agree that Vitali is probably the hardest fighter (or at least one of them) for Langford to beat?

 

I would not care to comit myself to saying that.

For me VK is something of an enigma even today. I have learned more in his last two fights than all of his previous fights but I am still not sure quite what he could have been.

I do know that Langford beat a lot of larger fighters including some durable ones and could make VK fight a long drawn out fight if that would produce a breaking point.

 

He does look like a very big man, but he probably wears normal shoes whereas Louis is in training outfit, which makes for an inch or so.