Let’s pretend that after Papke won the middleweight championship he fought Sam Langford, 20 rounds, who comes out on top? And would the fight last the distance?
Certainly possible, but Papke was a really hard man to stop, and lot of fighters that size and smaller took Langford the distance.
Itd be an interesting fight with Langford having to make 158. I dont think hes stopping Papke having to make 158 in late 1908 or early 1909. He never really stopped anyone great at that weight. His best KO wins over middleweights were probably Willie Lewis (who was more of a welterweight) and George Gunther, who was ordinary. Papke was not nearly as crude as Hague or Tiger Smith and by this point Langford was putting on weight fast. I think the best he could hope for against Papke would be a decision and I think it would be a surprisingly brutal fight. As physical as Papke was and as tough he could potentially take a weight drained Langford well out of his comfort zone.
At 160 Papke has a chance it wasn't Langford best weight although he'd still be favoured but not by much. Over this weight Sam has a big advantage.
