The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

Oh dear!

Top notch Mand. :deal

 

That's quality Mand', Farr was class :good

 

Name: Sam Langford

Height:: 5′ 6½″ / 169cm

Birth date 1883-03-04
Death date 1956-01-12


Boxing record
Total fights 309
Wins 206
KO's 129
Losses 48 (9 by stoppage)
Draws 55

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Sam Langford was a true freak of boxing, fighting ATG opposition from Lightweight to Heavyweight. With wins over Dixie Kid, Harry Wills, 'Gunboat' Smith, Jim Johnson, Sam McVea, Kid Norfolk, Tiger Flowers, Joe Jeanette, Joe Gans, Young Peter Jackson, Jack Blackburn, 'Philadelphia' Jack O'Brien, George Godfrey and draws with reigning Welterweight champion and P4P ATG 'Barbados' Joe Walcott (15 rounds, highly competitive) and middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel (6 rounds, controversial) cement Langford as one of the greatest fighters of all time, who would take on any challenge no matter how great or big.

Before the days of Floyd Vs Pac, there was Sam Vs Jack. A small middleweight, Langford was thoroughly beaten by Johnson when Jack was close to the Cruiserweight limit and chasing a fight with the consensous Heavyweight champion Tommy Burns, who had beaten most of the top opposition around the Globe following James J. Jeffries retirement as undefeated Heavyweight champion.

Langford participated in catchweight fights, fought around the globe for bogus titles (a fight with McVea was once stipulated as being for the 'British Heavyweight championship' and Sam was famously the holder of the 'Mexcian Heavyweight championship') and this is how it was before numerous weights and with consistent fighting. Langford would fight anyone, anywhere, sometimes taking little to no purse just to display his superiority over his opponent.

When Johnson won the title, and Langford was destroying Heavyweights whilst weighing in around the Light Heavyweight limit, Johnson did his utmost to avoid Langford, claiming the money wasn't right or flat out declaring that Langford was too dangerous. It was known amongst fans and the media that whilst Johnson refused to face men of his own race (declaring the 'White Hopes'were much easier) that Langford, Joe Jeanette and Sam McVea were going the right way about proving who the best challenger was; by fighting each other. Langford, always outweighed and the much shorter man, went pretty much neck-and-neck with the bigger stylist in Jeanette, and definitely got the better of the much bigger jab-move style of McVea as they went through their series (watching McVea in action to study his style) being able to change from mid-range boxer-puncher, to a best swarming on the inside.

One of Langfords most awe inspiring wins is over ATG 135lber 'The Old Master' Joe Gans, at that time THE Lightweight champion of the World, as good a puncher as he was a master of 'The Sweet Science''. Langford, fighting at around the Light Weltwerweight limit, struggled mightily to make the 135lbs limit, but as he could only make 136, his dominant win over the top fighter P4P of the day was registered as a non-title win. Langford was starting to develop from a raw, hard-punching Welterweight into a cagey operator could would force his opponents to lead, and pounce on mistakes by walking them onto his stiff right cross, or his powerful left hook (his weapon of choice, mainly because his opponents feared the right, Langford often over-using it to make them less wary of the more powerful left swing)

Footage Of Joe Gans In Action

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML5WLvrc0P8&feature=related[/ame]

ATG Weltwerweight Champion 'Barbados' Joe Walcott

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The original Joe Walcott had an impressive blowout of top Heavyweight Joe Choynski, flattening him in a few rounds and dropping him many, many times early on. Known for only being 5'2, Joe Walcott was the top Weltwerweight in the World, and used his experience at fighting out of a crouch (accounts have him leaping into explosive hooks) to earn a draw against Langford. Walcotts career at the top was cut short after a hand injury suffered by accidentally shooting himself in the hand with a Revolver he was showing to a friend.

Whilst short, Langford was famous for his barrel-chest, long arms and super human strength and punch resistance. Against Bill Lang, a strong Australian Heavyweight who had beaten down a way past his best Bob Fitzsimmons, Langford demonstrated his massive punching power; a classic anecdote is that before the fight started, Langford had told Lang exactly where he was to drop him! Notice that the fighters are wearing white gloves; it was thought that Langs punches would show up better on Langfords skin. They had many fights; Langford beat him badly in many of them.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SvbTck039Y[/ame]

Lang overwhelming a past-prime Bob Fitzsimmons

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5clfV1gZV0A[/ame]

Langford was renowned for his in-fighting ability, and his deft movements allowing him to counter from inside the pocket. Against Joe Jeanette, a top HW contender of the time, his ability to close the distance was tested often. Jeanette was slick for his time, with a stiff long jab with which he could keep distance expertly. The below is an absolute war (they had many) and in the middle rounds, Langfords hooks and uppercuts are displayed to their fullest; knocking Jeanette, known for his amazing powers of recovery, around the ring and knocking him down numerous times. His parries, movement and ability to close the distance are also well demonstrated here, as are Jeanettes heart, speed and jab and move style. Essential viewing this.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvdt3xm3ql0&feature=related[/ame]

There is footage of his fight with perenniel contender 'Fireman' Jim Flynn amongst a highlight video online, poor quality though.

Stanley Ketchel, an ATG puncher, came in under the Middleweight limit so he had an excuse would he be bettered by Langford (who was around the light heavyweight mark for their fight) and demanded a 6 round no-decision bout which meant Langford would have to knock him out within the six rounds to win the fight, and that the middleweight title would not be on the line. Again, Langford was having World Championship opportunities wrested from him, but he took the fight nonetheless. The fans in attendance felt Langford took it easy on the champion, but Langford claimed Ketchels unstoppable whirlwind style made it hard for him to find counter punching opportunities.

Stanley Ketchel Defending His World Middleweight Championship

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Avjlmtni0[/ame]

Langford had a hard-fought series with ATG HW Harry Wills, who bested him more often than not (for the 'Coloured Heavyweight Championship' that Langford had been deemed the holder of).Wills was not highly-regarded when Langford first started fighting him, but would get more and more recognition as arguably Jack Dempseys most viable HW contender (avoided due to 'the colour line). In one of their most competitive contests, Langford had been dropped numerous times, but rallied in the 14th round to spark Wills, who was going for the finish and caught by a big left hand.

Harry Wills

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Wills past his best against Joe Louis opponet Uzcudon

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBOUmkoI44w[/ame]

George Godfrey was amongst those touted as Gene Tunneys successor when he retired as undefeated HW champion; the colour line barred him getting a shot (the likes of Sharkey and Carnera were felt more viable) but Langford defeated a green Godfrey a few times as well.

Godfrey vs Carnera; footage on youtube

http://www.phillyboxinghistory.com/more/attendance/19300623_carnera_godfrey.jpg

Wills Vs 'Battling' Jim Johnson

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Du1z8R_f8&feature=related[/ame]

Langford bested both Wills and Johnson numerous times. Wills is never what I expected him to be. For a beast at 5'11, you'd expect him to be a Tyson-esque figure, but even his most loving fans in France saw him as a bit of a Dirrell-type figure; not a fan of pressure, and more likely to move and use his jab. Langford often beat him up, after figuring out his style after dropping a few fights to him. At one point Langford felt McVey was too big. Eventually winning Australian authorities round to his style of ín-fighting', which Police officials felt was dirty, Langford learned the close the gap and beat McVey up more often than not.

Sam McVey

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McVey Vs Langford

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Battling against serious eye problems, Langford was known for 'feeling out'his opponents as his career went on, his sheer power allowing him to pick up victories amongst losses he never would've received in his prime. Renowned as one of the hardest hitters P4P in the history of gloved boxing, 'The Boston Tar Baby'was without a doubt one of the greatest fighters to have ever lived.

 

langford, cont'd;

Strangely, many of the white fighters of the time revered him. Tommy Burns, John L. Sullivan and James J. Jeffries all rated Langford as the best fighter of the time and a sure-fire bet to beat Jack Johnson. Langford, revered as a Gentleman, was classed by white pundits/fans/fighters as having 'a white heart', and as there were no viable white contenders around seen good enough to beat Johnson, Langford was seen as the lesser of two evils and as Johnsons closest adversary. By all accounts, Johnson did everything in his power to avoid rematching a much more experienced Langford, who against all the odds had gone the 15-round distance against Johnson being outweight by upwards of thirty pounds (Langford was between Welter-Middleweight at the time of their fight) and got through on sheer heart alone.

'Gunboat' Smith had easily bested Langford over the distance previously, and in the time between his first and second contest with Sam, had performed well against many top contenders (even battering Georges Carpentier to the deck before being DQ'd for an illegal blow whilst Carpentier was down) but in their rematch, Langford was better prepared. He dropped Smith four times in three rounds. Langford maintained Smith had beaten him fair and square first time around. Smith, touted as the'next 'White Hope' for Johnson, had his place taken by Jess Willard, Johnsons eventual successor who in no way wanted to harm his chances of getting a shot by fighting Langford.

'Gunboat' Smith

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'Gunboat' Smith, who faced Willard, Fred Fulton, Jack Dempsey and Harry Wills, on Sam:

"...nobody ever came close to being as good as he was at his peak. Why, old Sam could do everything. He could punch from any position, and hit hard too. He was a master boxer, difficult to hit, but if you did land you might just as well try to make an impression upon the floor of the Garden. He would take all the hear out of you and then give you a finepasting. He ruined me. I was all through after that last fight with Langford in Boston....could punch with either hand and had a wallop every time he landed, no matter where he started the blow'.

 

And people thought Floyd Jr. was bad.

Here's Jack Johnson on giving Sam Langford a rematch:

'Alexander the Great had nothing on me. I'm too good for any other man in the World. There is not anyone left for me to lick. After July 4, I will meet the rest of these white, black and blue hopes at the rate of one a week. This means Sam Langford too, but Sam must post a side bet.....I could put Palzer, McCarty, Flynn and Langford in a ring and whip the bunch without exerting myself.'

Sams Australian promotor (who I believe had promoted Johnson previously) claims that Johnson said;

'You're only wasting your time talking to me. I don't want to fight that little smoke, He's got a chance against anyone in the World. I'm the first black champion and I'm going to be the last'.

Johnson fought sporadically; announcing he would take a year off for theatrical engagements when Langford was chasing him around.

Tied into a contract to fight Langford in England should he defeat Tommy Burns for the World HW championship in Australia;

'Gentleman,
I undetake and agree to carry out my contest with Sam Langford on the 22nd February 1909, on the same terms and conditions as already arranged with Langford....Yours faithfully, J. Johnson'

Upon winning the title.

'The offer of the Club was absolutely ridiculous. Being a champion, I don't see why the National Sporting Club has a right to dictate to me as to how much I will receive for my appearance and boxing ability....I don't care what the public thinks'.

John L. Sullivan did feel Johnson would beat Langford, whilst he felt Langford was the best fighter in the game. 'Sam is too small to ever expect to cope successfully with a man of Jack Johnson's size and skill. No little man is ever going to whip Johnson. Langford is a wonderfully strong fighter....To my way of thinking it will take a big man, as big as Johnson, and a clever one with a terrific kick in either hand to whip Johnson'.

A very interesting anecdote I read in Moyles book, I'd never heard i before so don't know whether this will be of interest or not, but Stanley Ketchel had to genuinely be restrained from aborting Jeffries-Johnson by sucker punching Jeffries before the first bell rang, saving him from the inevitable beating he was going to receive from Jack. Ketchel was a f'n hard man.

Joe Jeanette ranked Langford as Joe Louis' equal in terms of power. Most of Langfords peers detail their fear at Langfords power.

 

This is the thread that keeps on delivering.

Tommy Farr is a legend who despite my hatred of all things Welsh is a man I admire.

Glad someone did Langford, I've been reluctant to do a post on someone with as rich a history as him but its a great post.

 

great new additions boys love this thread :good

 

Surely a lock for thread of the year... :think

 

Most likely but there is still plenty of time for competition what won last year?

 

I think it was the Nation in Fear of Destiny thread.

Although I gave Griff my vote.

The big question is who will become the new 'king of the noobs'? :think

 

Of course how can i forget i said Kos's Tv thread a waste of a vote in retrospect...

King of noobs sadly not many in the running this year DrMo is a good shout but Tom Sayers is also a welcome addition. If ScubaSteve ups his boxing related output he could also be in the running

Iron Chinned was **** though :deal

 

DrMo gets it for me at the moment for his Locche write up. :good

Didn't Steve say he was an alias a while back? :huh I may be mistaken.

Iron Chinned = ****. :deal