Is Sam Langford The GOAT?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by djanders, Aug 8, 2021.



  1. djanders

    djanders Boxing Addict Full Member

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    "Langford was one of the greatest fighters who ever stepped into the ring; He fought successfully in every class from lightweight to heavy, usually against larger and heavier men." -Tracy Callis.

    Sam probably had between 200 and 300 fights in his career, possibly more than 300.

    I was thinking about this, this morning: Can we find a weight class where we can call Sam Langford The GOAT?

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  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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  3. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    There's at least as good an argument for him as anyone else.
     
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    He has an argument. For me, it's Greb, Langford, Robinson or Armstrong. Of these, Robinson is the most impressive on film, and of Greb there is no film. In between are Armstrong then Langford, off-argument for Fitzsimmons maybe.

    If you like an eye test, you might argue that there isn't enough of Langford. But no fighter impressed me more in terms of what he did in his career, however much we'd like to see him do more.

    He's my pick for the greatest.
     
  5. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He's top 5, or in the conversation for GOAT. Certainly the most amazing, along with Greb.
     
  6. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I bounce back and forth between Langford and Greb. That was just a different era. Guys don't pile up 300 fight careers any longer. 300 fights lets you meet a lot of other greats enough times to defeat them at least once and add them to your win tally. Also, 4 rounders and newspaper decisions can enhance the status of a victory that may have been nothing more than a barnstorming stop in a podunk town to fleece the locals for a few dollars.
     
  7. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's between Greb and Langford to me. I prefer Greb's consistency personally, but you can't go wrong with him at number one.
     
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  8. Kamikaze

    Kamikaze Bye for now! banned Full Member

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    If you ask the uncrowned champion he said he’d had 600 or so fights in his life. He is as deserving as any other of the GOAT title.

    He was the greatest of them all to lace them up. And I am absolutely envious you got to see him fight live.
     
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  9. djanders

    djanders Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Quoting Kamikaze:

    "If you ask the uncrowned champion he said he’d had 600 or so fights in his life. He is as deserving as any other of the GOAT title.

    He was the greatest of them all to lace them up. And I am absolutely envious you got to see him fight live."


    I met Sam once, but I never saw him fight. He was before even my time.
     
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2021
  10. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He's up there,,but on film it's Ray Robinson
     
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  11. Samtotheg

    Samtotheg Active Member Full Member

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    See I Langford looking better on film than ray robinson too, folks are judging boxers on how modern boxers box , you know the modern guys with watered down technique . Sam Looks superior on the inside and looks a lot more economical than Ray and unlike Ray who on film is mostly beating up shorter guys , Langford is the shorter guy beating up all the Big guys!
     
  12. Samtotheg

    Samtotheg Active Member Full Member

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    its between Langford and Greb , I put Greb first but have no issue if someone went Langford!
     
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  13. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    He might be the P4P GOAT. Finding a weight class in which he deserves it is tricky. He did his best work at heavyweight really.

    At Welterweight, he was capable, but not at his best, and he didn't really do anything at Middleweight.

    He did claim the Light Heavyweight title, and it's probably around his best weight, but the division wasn't much of a thing at that point, so he didn't really do much there.

    Though it's a bit of a stretch I think the best case for him as a division's GOAT is Light Heavyweight.

    It's also the elite weight jumper's paradox, they end up being spread thin over multiple divisions, so while it's super impressive, jumping up multiple weight classes tends to leave their case as the best in a single division weaker.
     
  14. louis54

    louis54 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Greb, Robinson, Benny l, joe gans, landford, for me
    Half man half alligator greb Number one
     
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  15. From.Russia

    From.Russia Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Jack Johnson ducked a rematch with him, haha.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2021