Any Middleweights you'd favor over Sam Langford?

I'd favor Hagler over any mw with srr being the possible exception

 

How does one realistically evaluate him?

 

People don't realize when Sam Langford fought Stanley Ketchel in 1910, Langford was about 15 pounds heavier than the 158 pound middleweight Ketchel...
Fifteen or more pounds is a heck of a lot weight to spot Langford, who was morphing into a light heavyweight about this time. Ketchel supposedly was in the throes of opium abuse and soon after he went to rest up at a friend's farm in Missouri where he was fatally shot...
I would choose Bob Fitz to beat Langford both at 160 lbs and I agree with Nat Fleischer who when asked " how long would it take Sam Langford to catch up with Harry Greb and ko Greb "?. Fleischer answered " I don't think Langford would ever catch up to Greb and stop him ". Langford was at his peak at about 170 pounds or so...It has been whispered that when Jack Dillon was at his MW
peak, Langford was "not anxious to meet Jack Dillon". It was said. But we can never know...

 

Could change it to middleweights-165 pounders youd favor over Langford

In the film vs Lang he was 165, and may have been around 165 for Flynn III, (hard to tell with Langford his weight jumped around so much), and 161 for McVey I around this time, so its easier to judge him for this just above middleweight since we have film of him around that weight

At Middleweight-165 I think Greb would be the top choice, its so hard to favor a lot of guys over Langford though, he was such a man destroyer

I wouldnt favor Fitz over Langford, Dlck Tiger could be an interesting one but again Langford winning by KO seems like a strong possibility and I could see strong arguments being made for that

 

Didn't Nat Fleischer say Langford couldn't catch up to Greb? Langford vs. Fitzsimmons... imagine...

 

John The Beast Mugabi

 

Important points, as you say and Clay Moyle agrees , Langford was at his best at 175lbs. Was Sam that awesome at 160lbs?

 

Doubt it, it was probably said to hype Dillon

As good as Dillon was its hard for me to believe Langford was somewhat worried to face him with all the guys he fought

 

According to Clay's book, Langford outweighed Ketchel by 19 pounds for their 6 round fight ..... 178 to 159!

 

Monzon, Hagler, RJJ, BHOPs, Toney, McCallum would all outbox him.

 

"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.”

 

Charlie Burley Might prove interesting ?

 

There is no doubt that Langford could have made 160 for a large part of his career .. he moved up only because no one would fight him. He essentially carried Ketchel in the hope of generating a big money title rematch which of course never happened. He clearly handled Stanley pretty easily ..

I don't see any middleweight knocking Sam out or our punching him .. it is possible that he could be outpointed by someone but it would have to be the very best version of a Robinson or a Jones or maybe a Nunn .. and that's a maybe .. you can never rule out Greb but considering what hard times he had w Norfolk I don't see it .. Sam was a one off .. a middleweight that knocked heavyweights dead ..