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

He averaged about 218lbs

 

Willard never really beat any top fighter except an old Johnson who still boxed his ears off early. McMahon, Cox, Gunboat all troubled him and the Luther McCarty fight is his brightest effort, doesn't cut it for me, any decent heavy has a chance to beat him.

 

The fight would have taken place in 1916.Willard would be 34 then as he was no spring chicken. Langford in by then was too old / shop worn to expect victory. Wills however would have been a war. I've seen Harry three times on film and he does not impress. Willard does looks half way decent vs Moran. 50/50

 

Willis would be very competitive and would probably win. Langford would be at a serious physical disadvantage; Willard would lay on him and wear him out.

Sure Dempsey Bolivianated Willard, but Willard also took tremendous punishment without actualy being knocked out. I don't see how Langford could get to the big guys chin.

Anyway, Willard would duck both black fighters so not only are these matchups imaginary but also are impossible.

 

1916 Wills was coming into his prime.
Langford had enough juice left in1916,it was the fight with Fulton in1917 that ****ed him. NB The footage of Wills is of a past prime Harry.

 

He publicly said he would pay no attention to black challengers.

 

You've seen Wills that was 10 years older than the version we're talking about, way past his best and uninterested anymore.

 

Around 215 lbs in his best condition.

 

"As usual Joe's best weapon against Sam was a stiff left jab,which he utilized to good effect to keep Sam at bay",this is from their MSG bout won by Jeannette.Source ,"Sam Langford ,"byClay Moyle.Highly recommended.

 

I saw him vs Maddden, Fripo and Uzcudun. To past his prime in 1924? He won the Madden and Fripo and both were fighters of known quality for what they were. He lost Uzcudin of course but that one in 1927 ( age 38 ) when he was too far gone. He was not in bad shape for Madden and Fripo and IMO he did not impress with power, speed or technique. Granted not at his best, but not too far gone for Madden and Fripo.

 

Thanks for the quote, it gives me some thoughts about this subject.

 

He was 35 in 1924 and fought at the highest level for a decade. He was at his best around 6 years before.

 

Gracious.

 

He was on the down path by then..

 

Wills can look quite ponderous in the scraps of surviving footage, but fight reports from earlier in his career are full of admiring comments about his speed and agility. In his first win against Langford way back in 1915 he was described as "wonderfully fast", "faster on his feet than any living man his weight" and even "on his toes like a bantam".

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