Could Sam Langford or Harry Wills have beaten Jess Willard for the World Heavyweight Title?

Yes I believe they would have had a good chance. Harry wills in particular was not a small man. He was 6’2” and fought over 200 lbs his whole career. Beat Langford several times too. I would favor wills to beat Willard

 

I think they could've both done it. Unfortunately we'll never know.

 

It's the first time I see someone calling Wills small. He was around the size of Ali, which isn't small at all.

Both would have a chance and I would favor both.

 

Haven't seen enough of them to say. Willard has never impressed me but his size advantage would be huge.

 

Wouldn't call Wills small.
In theory Sam should be able to step around Jess and lace him with shots to the body.In practice Langford was susceptible to good jabbers ,Jess had a telescopic reach,a top chin and power in his right hand either delivered in a cantilevered right cross or in the form of an uppercut which Langford would be particularly vulnerable to .Once inside Sam could go to work ,but Jess has only to drape his huge torso over him and smother his punches several rounds of a man 50lbs heavier leaning,tugging and mauling on you will tire even a Langford.
Wills I think beats Jess he was a strong guy in his own right, a good boxer ,infighter and carried power. So though I rate Langford the superior fighter I give Wills the better chance of winning here,which doesnt mean Langford couldnt cut down that Redwood,just that Wills, as the larger man has the more likelyhood of doing so.

 

Is that true though? How many times prime Langford struggled to deal with good jabbers?

 

Jeannette 1st fight,Johnson,Fultonx2,Smith 1 st fight.McVey Paris fight,McVey Australian1st fight,McVey first half of the 2nd Australian fight.Clark 2nd fight.Wills 2nd and 3rd fights.

 

Langford dominated Jeannette and McVea throughout their careers. Fulton and Wills fights were already past his physical prime. I don't know, I'm not convinced.

 

I didn't expect you to be,maybe if you devote less time to my posts and more to reading respected authors such as Clay Moyle and Adam Pollack you'll have a better grasp of Langford's abilities,and also his limitations? Then perhaps you won't make statements such as Langford dominated Jeannette and McVey.
Sam v Jeannette L,W,D,D,W,W,W,W,D,W,D,L,W,W.
Sam v McVey L,W,W,L,W,W,D,D,D,D,W.
Robinson beat Lamotta 5 out of 6 fights,did he "dominate," him?

 

Langford probably not by then.

Wills I would install as favorite.

 

I dont rate Willard at all, only way he might win is with Havana like conditions.

 

Sam Langford was past his best by then, so I doubt of he could have beaten Jess at that time, but it's certainly possible that Sam could have dug deep and found one more good fight in him, especially for the World Lineal Championship. I think Harry Wills could have beaten Jess Willard. (All IMHO, of course.)

 

Harry Wills? yes. Langford? probably not