Langford vs Frazier

Not as a lightweight himself. Just in general. Since Frazier is a full fledged heavyweight, I don't see what the comparison is bringing up langford's fights that happened at lightweight/welterweight. If anything, this shows Frazier was the naturally much bigger man.

 

"If anything, this shows Frazier was the naturally much bigger man."

I agree with that. One of the most impressive things about Langford to me was just how much success he was able to have against so many bigger men.

 

Agreed. As you know best yourself Clay, Langford was a freak of nature. Long Arms, Huge Torso. Freakish natural physical strength. All contributing factors.

 

There is not much film on Langford to suggest he has the style to beat Frazier and the little you see of him doesn't do him any justice. Frazier KO's most of, if not, all of the fighters he fought anyway. On tape you can clearly see he has huge lack of head movement, and will promptly get his head taken off.

Frazier TKO.

 

Beat an Ali who had 18 rds of combat in 3 1/2 years and the fight,nearly finished him, in hospital for a week after.Gave him hell ?That went both ways.
Went life and death with Bonavena, dropped twice, won two decs ,never had Oscar down,Oscar was floored by Folley and Ellis, floored, and stopped by Ali.
Stopped Quarry on cuts, on his feet at the stoppage ,Ellis retired on stool,Mathis stopped after 11rds,an unranked man who had never beaten a contender.Mathis gave him a decent scrap.
Never fought Martin, or any big puncher ,outside of Foreman, who used him as a human yo ,yo.
Fought 2 ATG's in 5 fights won 1, lost 4.

I guess I have no brains then.

I don't put either man in the top 10 at heavy myself

 

This is true ,but Frazier's weight was largely concentrated in his legs.Frazier is smaller, in the shoulders,biceps ,and chest than Langford ,by a considerable margin ,and Frazier only has one inch in reach over Sam.
Langford had the upper torso of a heavyweight, chest as big as Liston's, he had slim short legs , but he was a heavyweight from the waist up.

 

That same Ali would beat Langford and anyone he faced McVey. 4-1 against ATGs - yes but that 1 win is against most people's no1 of all time in the war of the century the other 2 against most peoples number 1 and the most physically dominating opponent in HW history in Foreman - your talking as if thats crap, Langford never fought anyone as formidable

Just because the absolute monster puncher of all HWs took Frazier out twice doesn't mean all punchers including smaller punchers could either. I also think you're underestimating Frazier's power. Firstly he had iron chinned Ali ready to go, he destroyed Foster like no one else, he had Ellis all but out and he quit because, he wrecked Mathis - as big as Godfrey/Wills pretty much. He was incredibly relentless and got results because of this like no one else, maybe it was the 1 eyed blindness that provided 1 of the sweetest left hooks I've seen

But anyway this is a very very good match up, a hell of an exciting one that fans would love to watch, it would be a war, a fun fight, between 2 HWs that are both respectable in P4P ability. The thing is Frazier is the bigger stronger of the 2 who beat the better opponent.

The winner in this match up is the fans :thumbsup

 

This was perfect .. really no additional response is needed !

 

Show me evidence Langford's hands were faster than Fraziers?

 

Langford was still fighting when he was nearly blind at the age of 44 ,he had 129 kos to Frazier's 209rds of actual fighting, yet a poster says Frazier will destroy Sam. BULL****!
Mathis was UNRANKED and carried rolls of fat around his belly ,see any on Wills or Godfrey? Mathis was a comparatively light hitter at top level.
Frazier had ONE great win,after which he defended against 2 unranked ham and eggers.
Foster had been stopped by Doug Jones and Ernie terrell, Foster NEVER beat a top heavy.The fight proved NOTHING.

Frazier is taller than Langford, there the disparity ends, he is smaller in the upper body and whether he is stronger is unproven.
Speaking of unproven, Frazier never proved his chin against a real hitter, the ONLY one he faced treated him as a rubber ball.
I agree it is a great matchup, and I pick Sam.:good

 

Jack Johnson, Harry Wills, Joe Jeannette, Jim Flynn , Gunboat Smith and Sam McVey all said no one ever hit them as hard in their life as Sam Langford. Flynn and Smith both said this after fighting Jack Dempsey. Langford's power is not legend but fact based on the heavyweights he fought and flattened. How much more verification is needed. Are now now going to hear they didn't hit as hard back then either ?

 

I'm not sure ... ask SQ, Langford wasn't that good .. He was no Rex Layne ..

For the record, none of this is a knock on Frazier, a man I greatly admire and have supported on this Board for years .. Langford is simply a terrible match up for him stylewise ...

 

I rank Langford in my top 15 heavyweights of all time list. Rex Layne does not even make my top 50. I think these placements are both proper and well justified. If you disagree with them, then please state your case. The verdict is out on you.

Disagree...Langford is no Foreman/Liston/Tyson. That's what it takes to bomb out Frazier early...Langford is no Joe Louis either at heavyweight. Not even close on film.

I personally think Joe matches up fine against Sam Langford.

 

Langford moved out of the middleweight division because no one would fight him ...
a well known poem from the day ...


"Who’ll Fight Sam Langford!
(A Pugilistic Nursery Rhyme)

I.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Stanley K.,
“Britt has taken me away
And I’m signed to do a play.
Then I’m going to the hay.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

II.
“Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Jack the Twin.
“I am careful of my chin
And I’m pretty near all in,
And suicide’s a sin.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

III.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” is Papke’s wail,
“I’m a lily white and pale
And my life is not for sale;
Why I’d sooner got to jail.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

IV.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford
“Not I,” said Kid McCoy;
“I’m a pretty game old boy,
But this unrefined employ
I will leave for hoi polloi.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

V.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said poor old Fitz.
“Though I’d fight for just six bits,
Still I haven’t lost my wits;
I’ll preserve my speckled mitts.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.

VI.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Hugo Kelly.
“He would pound me to a jelly
And I’d lose some vermicalli.
Not for me. What ta helli?
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

VII.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Joe da Grim.
“I no like to fight with him
Cause he shutta up my glim
And da chances are too slim
I’ll notta fight Sam Langford.”

VIII.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” Al Kaufman said.
“You are crazy in the head.
Chase yourself and go to bed.
I ain’t anxious to be dead.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

IX.
“Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not us.” The low brows cried.”
And they turned around to hide.
“Nix: the color line is wide,
And we’re going to stay inside.
We’ll not fight Sam Langford.”



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