I picked the Rock but wouldn't be in the least suprised if it went the other way. I was basically picking a 1953-1955 Marciano against a 1910 or so Langford. On a come-along at the same time basis, don't even know who I' d pick. Would love to see the match and the re-match. Marciano was usually brutal death in rematches (other than Lowry); Langford was murder in rematches if he did bad enough in the previous match that his reputation was now on the line.
Being knocked out a few times doesn't mean he had a shaky chin either, especially when you take into account the circumstances that he was stopped under. I believe Harry Wills was the first one to legit KO Langford when Sam was 35 years old going against a man 8 inches taller.
Shaky chin? Are you ******ed? Langford was as tough as they come. You don't have a shaky chin just because you don't have punch-resistance on the level of Jake Lamotta. Very few people ever had. Langford fought far more often than LaMotta for a start, and was 5'8" former welterweight. Getting knocked out by huge heavies in 20 odd-rounders doesn't mean he had a 'shaky chin'. You tool.
Langford had one of the best pound for pound chins of all time. The number of times you get knocked down ins largley a function of the level of opposition you fight and Langford's schedule was just plaimn silly.
His height was probably exagerated to sell fights. It is also possible that he grew an inch while active as a profesional fighter. People somtimes continue to grow up to the age of 21.