Benny Leonard (1917) vs Sam Langford (1903)

Okay I'll bite... I'm assuming its a 15 rounder with modern rules. The easy bet is Langford who's bigger, stronger and hits harder (he was more junior welter than lightweight). But he was also woefully underexperienced compared to Leonard. Plus Leonard just looks so smooth that I think Langford struggles to find him. The Gans he best was tired and even that want a shellacking. Leonard by comfortable decision although he gets dropped.

Did Dawson win an Emmy for that because he should have?

 

Langford did nothing at welter or lightweight apart from beat Gans. Leonard takes an easy UD dropping 2/3 rounds on the way

 

I don't like Langford down that low....... What was his diet---Watermelon and tossed salad???? Sammy Langford would be weak as hell at 135......

MR.BILL

 

The Ghetto Wizard would be too smooth at his own weight for a weakened, weight-drained Langford. Clear decision win for Benny.

 

Langford hovered between LW and WW in 1903-04 and was plenty strong and effective, dueling with many outstanding fighters such as Gans, Jack Blackburn, Dave Holly, Joe Walcott, etc. With his reach, skill and heavy punch he would be a danger to Leonard at all times. But Danny Duane, a slick and speedy boxer who didn't have Benny Leonard's power, gave Sam a licking.

I imagine Duane's battleplan would serve as the blueprint. Leonard gives Sam a pretty good (but careful) beating.

 

I dont just think Leonard wins, i think he totally beats up Langford and the fight looks a mismatch.

 

It's a genuine match up for me but Leonard was such a clever fighter he would adapt to whatever a young Langford could throw at him. Leonard would basically out smart the Tar Baby.

 

this thread scares me.

 

Because of the people underestimating Sam?

 

I just don't know who would win this.

I don't know enough, outside of the few name fighters, about Sam's opposition at lightweight. His best pelts were at higher weights. I don't want to transfer his excellence at heavier weights to his lightweight ability. I don't think that's fair. It's very conceivable he became a better boxer and fighter as he developed and rose in weight. And Benny Leonard just has such an amazing, immaculate record at the weight in discussion.

 

He got beaten by bums at lightweight and beat virtually no one.There is literally no evidence to suggest Sam woulda beaten benny at lightweight.