How would Langford fair against the following fighters? Rocky Marciano at heavyweight Sugar Ray Robinson at Middleweight Archie Moore at Light Heavyweight Max Schmeling at Heavyweight Tommy Gibbons at Light Heavyweight Marvin Hagler at Middleweight Joe Louis at Heavyweight Who does he beat, who does he lose to, and, if you have the time, why?
He loses to them all, except Gibbons, pretty easily. As good as Langford obviously was, he was a primitive fighter. There are very few boxers who could get past the difference in style and be successful in either era. Langford would probably struggle to get into the top 10, when the names above were dominating. Marciano KO Robinson UD Moore KO Schmeling UD Hagler UD Louis KO
He beats them all, probably by KO. Except maybe Joe Louis, but I'd still give Sam the edge. He could box with the best, had a steel chin and punched like he had a piledriver at the end of each arm!
marciano by ko robinson dec langford kos moore langford kos schmeling langford dec gibbons undecided about the hagler fight louis by ko
I think Langford best weight divison would be light heavy or crusier. I think he defeats Moore and Gibbons. I don't think Langford was slick enough to out point Robinson at middle weight, even though Sugar Ray's best stuff was at welter. Langford might beat Hagler based on aggression and being the harder puncher at 160. I'll call this one a draw. Marciano vs Langford would be a war! Hard to call, but I'll go with Rocky on a split decsion. Some felt Langford would beat Joe Louis. After watching some film on Langford, I think Louis jab would land often, but I also think Langford's crowding style would bother Louis a bit. I'll go with Louis on points, with a chance for Langford to upset. I think Langford TKO's Schmeling.
You think a 5'6 fighter could fight at light heavy/cruiser today are you out of your mind. He would have been a light Middle today.
Montell griffin was a 5ft 7 inch lt heavy who beat toney and jones. (albeit by DQ.) One of the dwight muhammeds was also about 5ft 7 and a world class lt heavy.... TYson and tua are also very short for world class heavies. (maybe tua is 5 9 and tyson 5 10?)
for the last time he would not be a light-middle today, his body was massive anf hewas a light-heavy. End of story
Also he was not 5'6". He was 5' 8" tall. He also KO'd three or four good heavyweights who were 6' 2" or taller.
No he was 5'6. And as for saying he koed big guys so what, thats got nothing to do with his size, more his excellence. But as for Tyson and Tua they where 5'10 and massively built langford was nothing like their build, he was broad and long armed but if you look at him in say 1912 near his peak he actually looks quite slim certainly not a beefcake. At this time he was fighting heavyweights. Regardless most guys of 5'6 are best at welter/light middle these days IMO.
He loses to ALL of them by KO, the HW's just do him in a round. And he wouldn't crack top 30 in a more modern era, but I would say he cracks top 10 in the Louis era.