Langford vs Frazier

What really big punchers did he meet ? One x2 result ko by 2 rds ,ko by 5rds.
Frazier was 29 years old when he met Foreman, the same age as Ali was ,when he fought Frazier after being off for 3 1/2 years.

 

This is the key point, no ones saying Langford isnt a top puncher for a 180lb man, but Foreman is maybe the strongest HW punching machine of all time and never had Frazier counted out.

If Langford had faced the same Foreman, would he fare any better? I doubt it

 

Yes he didn't face many massive punchers, just maybe the best punching machine of all time and some very decent punchers with little in between. If he had beaten Shavers/Mac Foster would you rate him higher?

I think you are somewhat underrating the power of Ali, Quarry, Bonvena and Bob Foster. Especially the way Ali was sitting down on his punches more than I've ever seen, Ali really thought he'd knock Frazier out, but couldn't budge him

Against Bonavena he proved he could come back from KDs and almost being out

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23jSTnq1f5A[/ame]

 

Bottom line, one top puncher , faced twice ,result stopped both times.Total rounds 7.
I would expect Langford to hit harder than Ali,Quarry.Bonavena,and Foster myself,and his 129 kos possibly supports this.

 

frazier ud, both could bang frazier probably harder and both could take a good shot

 

....

 

You should note that the films of boxers of this era are sped up because of the lack of frames. We don't know how much they have been sped up and in order to judge speed they need to be slowed back down to the original tape speed. In effect we can't tell how slow or fast they are. Langford certainly has great punching technique, from the vid

Welcome to the forum SB :good

 

This content is protected

. :thumbsup

Lack of quality film of te old timers is the always the problem isn't it. Reports of the day are the next best thing. From memory the Youtube video shows some slow motions particularly the uppercuts.

 

Manuel Ramos

 

Your bottom line ignores the fact Foreman could do that to nearly anyone, Langford couldn't hit nearly as hard as Foreman, who did Langford face who hit remotely as hard as Foreman? Or had near the offensive talent as Ali for that matter? Would Langford have made it past the mid way point against Ali? Maybe but not necessarily.

 

I still think footage is still the most important source, I don't whole heartedly trust reports because I find myself disagreeing with many reporters of modern day fights. Then you have to bear in mind they haven't seen modern fighters so can't make the same comparisons we can with that hindsight. Its certainly a real pity we don't have more footage of Langford/Johnson/McVey/Jeanette/Wills/Greb

In terms of skills I believe the skills of the time could often be exposed by great fighters that came along later, Langford in a way has a more modern style and I have to hand it to him he has excellent punch technique - the way he shifts his weight from foot to foot especially. But I don't think he ever faced anyone quite like Frazier.

I've picked Frazier but I'm generally thinking along the lines of 'a good big un beats a good small un'

 

A lot of people who either saw,or fought Langford stated he was a monster hitter.
Maybe he didnt hit as hard as Foreman ?
Then again, maybe he hit harder han anyone else, Frazier faced?
Langford faced many big hitters including.
Iron Hague 16 kos in 20 wins
John L Johnson 24 kos in 25 wins[broke Dempsey's ribs]
Joe Jeanette 68 kos in 81 wins
Sam McVey 47 kos in 61 wins
Jeff Clark 70 kos in 92 wins
Harry Wills 54 kos in 68 wins
Fred Fulton 70 kos in 79 wins
Battling Jim Johnson 20 kos in 23 wins
Al Kubiak 22 kos in 24 wins
Gunboat Smith 39 kos in 53 wins
I think these compare favourably with Quarry,Bonavena ,Ramos for power.
Quarry lost both fights, on his feet because of facial damage.
Bonavena was never down in two fights.
Ramos quit.

 

PowerPuncher..........some of the reports are definitely dodgy but I reckon if you can get your hands on a few different sources an opinion can be formed.

I haven't read Adam Pollocks books about, Suillivan, Corbett and Jefries but he apparent quotes 7 and 8 newspaaper reports on the fights. With that amound of info it should make it easier to form an opinion.

In terms of Fraiser v Langford it's going to be a close fight. When Fraiser fought Ali the first time he didn't weigh much more that 200lbs. McVey/Jeanette/Wills all weighed as much as Fraiser or more so Langford could beat bigger very good fighters.

I don't know if Langford can beat Fraiser but I wouldn't rule it out. Langford can lose but that doesn't mean he isn't a more talented fighter than Fraiser.

Bottom line: IMO talent wise Langford wins but Joe's size, iron will and stamina might carry him home against the smaller man.

 

I don't put that much stock in KO percentages I'm afraid, wasn't Ali's KO percentage around 90% coming into the Frazier 1 fight? Without footage we'll never know about Langford and his competition. There are so many unknown variables here

Personally I think Langfords power would rate somewhere between Foreman and Ali. Another problem in that fight for Frazier was he couldnt get off before Foreman largely because of Foremans reach. If Frazier doesn't have the reach problem he does better as it breaks the rythm of his opponents attacks

I would say you have convinced me somewhat that Frazier may not have an easy time putting Langford away

 

They are not percentages per se, are they? They just show how many wins via ko a man has out of his victories.
I think its a pickem fight, as I said ,just that my pick is Sam.