Based on the little footage the remains of Langford he does seem to have defensive lapses, to say the least. At times he comes straight in winging hooks from his hips with little regard for counters. This may be due to the inferior level of opponent he met in filmed fights. I am sure he tightened things up a bit for Wills and the like. He would have to be more cautious against Schmeling who was quick and powerful and very sound, much more sound that vast majority if not all of Langford's opponents. Schmeling is getting a bit underrated here.
Sam Langford with the beat-down...what he lacked in size,he made up for with grit. Jack Johnson wouldnt grant Sam a rematch after he won the HW title,..this says something right there. Of course I do admit to being a bit biased,...Sam was born just a few miles from where I was born and raised,lol... I am simply happy that others still have him on their mind after all these years,way to go guys....
He and Trailer Park Boys are the two greatest achievements of Nova Scotia, I imagine. He was a rare, rare fighter who I consider on of the 3 or so greatest... depending on the day.
The Boston Terror must be favored here. It is clear from the scraps of film that I've seen, not to mention the reports, that Langford was more dynamic, more powerful, and multi-faceted. He was a phenomenon. Schmeling was a careful, stand-up fighter with a good right hand, but I see him getting swamped and overwhelmed here. Unless he faces blind Sam, he just hasn't got the right answers.
If they paid Johnson as many as for fighting "white hopes" I think that there would be Johnson - Langford II. Remember also that not many wanted to see two negros fighting for the most prestigious sport title in the world.
Lang and Flynn are NOWHERE, REMOTELY in the same league as Schmeling, if those are the scraps you refer to. If Sam wades in, hands down, winging hooks at Max, he will meet a well-timed right hand or 10 that end the affair. Conversely, on film Schmeling is light on his feet and shows excellent movement from the waist. He was very well schooled, quick and had loads of power. Being sold way short here.
Whether he's underrated today or not, he still ain't beating Langford. You seem to be placing a bit too much stock in an assumption that Langford had "lapses" based on the Flynn or Lang fights -both of whom I agree are nothing close to either man in question. Although, I hope that you'd admit that Schmeling's resume is not close to Sam's. Anyway the Lang fight shows Langford's short hooks, combinations, and the kind of aggression that I can't see Schmeling being very comfortable with. When considering a fighter of Langford's caliber, I would not make assumptions about anyone a few tiers below him handling him. The burden only gets worse when you have a dynamic fighter on one hand and a fairly static fighter on the other.
You have to consider that Schmeling badly beat the greatest Heavyweight of all-time as he was approaching his prime, a guy whose jock Johnson, Wills and Jeanette simply could not carry. Sorry, I just don't believe those guys from the 1900-1915 era could hang with the fighters of the 30's. Langford would be my only exception to this notion.
You are more or less singing to the choir. And yes, Langford is an exception. Though there are -at least a few- more as well. Schmeling found a basic mistake and capitalized on it, to his everlasting credit. Otherwise, his resume doesn't shine. I have a very high regard for the man, and respect him as a boxer, though not as much as some.
Guys i hate to upset the established order but in what i feel is the greatest quote in boxing history.. "Don't ever tell Chappie (Joe Louis) I said this but Jack Johnson wouldda whooped the ear-locks offa that boy! This comment was said by none other than Jack Blackburn quoted in Ronald R. Frieds exceptional book Corner Men.
You're posting this quote to support Jack Blackburn's opinions on head to head match-ups? Because, honestly, I truly feel Joe Louis would have knocked Johnson out cold. Do you have opinions of your own, or do you just tell everyone what Jack Blackburn probably thought?
I consider Jack Blackburns boxing I.Q. to be far beyond yours or mine or anybody I could think of today to tell the truth and I don't hesitate to defer to him in this situation but yes i do have opinions of my own I can't imagine Schmelling giving Sam too much of a problem...OK?