Joe Frazier vs Harry Wills/Sam Langford/Jack Johson

Well most people here are picking him to win the series against Jack Johnson, who is a consensus top 10 all time heavyweight. That includes me and I have Johnson at No3.

I think it is more a case of Sam Langford being acorded a verry high status and you can thank Clay Moyle for that.

 

Fantasy match-ups are, of course always speculation, but when there are so precious little or no footage of two of the involved we are truly moving into fortune-teller territory.

I think it's kind of funny with those predicting Langford KO'ing Frazier, though. What guys Langford's size in Frazier's era would one even consider hurting him? Bob Foster was bigger and he sure didn't. In fact, which guy Langford's size that there are plenty of film of would you predict could KO Frazier?

It's funny how these mythical figures disappeared with the coming of film.

 

There were pleanty of guys Fraziers size and much bigger who ended up stretched out at the tar baby's feet.

As for the issue of Langford's size it is somewhat misleading. You get an awfull lot of man out of 185 lbs if he is only 5' 6''. Look at some pictures of Sam Langford with Harry Wills or Joe Louis and you will see what I mean.

 

Really who hit harder than Foreman and Frazier that Langford fought?

Because Johnson who wasnt a puncher gave him a beating, Wills who wasnt a puncher beat him 15 out of 17 times, McVey/Jeannette arent considered massive punchers, the rest are pretty much garbage men types

 

If Tracy Callis believes the completely unproven Jeffries who struggled with C Class opposition and midgets is a class above Liston/Foreman/Frazier/Holmes hes a ****wit plain and simple

 

http://www.corbisimages.com/Enlargement/Enlargement.aspx?id=U773587INP

http://www.corbisimages.com/images/U1981459.jpg?size=67&uid=8D5E438B-9E7F-4C6F-A579-DBE7E0DFE645

 

Yeah, but in most cases far from as skilled. Hell, I can probably lay-out a 200 lbs guy who walks into the gym for the very first time. I'd bet just about all of us can. If the guy has some skills it's a WHOLE different story, though.

He has some very impressive results against big, skilled guys like McVey and Wills, but the KO wins against such opponents are more of an exception. And it's not like Frazier was easily KO'd. Foreman is the only one who did it.

This, coupled with the lack of film, makes it seem a far fetched conclusion at best to say that Langford would KO Frazier.

 

Langford KO'd Godfrey, Willis, and McVey. All were Ali's weight or greater.

 

What makes you think that guys like Wills and Godfrey were unskilled?

Even Big Bill Tate shows prety good textbook skills on film.

 

Well I don't agree with everything he says, but at least he learns about an era before making broad sweeping statments about the fighters in it.

 

1. 1 miniute weight is irrelevant next miniute he was too small, which is it? Langford carried a few pounds of fat at 180lbs anyway.

2. I have no doubt McVey was a puncher, I just know he wasnt a huge 1 in the league of Foreman/Frazier. On topic Frazier must be 1 of the most undersold punchers on record, that left hook was just nasty

3. They weren't top level fighters and I'm sure many had to supplement their income with work, maybe 1 was a garbage man, they didn't have taxi's back then