Gunboat Smith, Jim Flynn on Sam Langford

Recap of the 7th meeting between Langford and Wills, that took place on April 25, 1916:
"Apr. 25 – Harry Wills, St. Louis L 8
Wrote a St. Louis Post Dispatch reporter of this fight “According to his showing against 24 year old Harry Wills, at the Coliseum last night Sam is an obsolete battleship. His artillery lacks range, though of heavy caliber, his tonnage is too gross for his altitude, and his old engine is unable to delelop the speed and endurance of former years.

The report went on to say that a straight left and a fast right counter to the head won the bout for Wills on pints. He scored time and time again with these punches and got away without a return. Fast on his feet he came in quickly and dashed out again before Sam could catch him.

For his part, Sam never backed away, he blocked or took all the blows intended to stop him. His plan was obviously to get close enough to try and land his punch on Wills and was clearly looking for the knockout.

This meeting between the two was full of action. The general feeling was that were it not that Wills is younger, stronger, bigger and faster, it would be doubtful that he would be able to cope with Sam.

The reporter noted that Sam’s footwork no longer keeps up with his head. The legs and the feet can longer respond instantaneously as they did some years ago. Whereas before Sam’s footwork was one of his best features he has to rely more heavily on his head and punch now.

Afterwards in his dressing room Sam had this to say about Wills: “He’s tough, he’s tough, he’s awful tough.” Sam had just finished a vomiting spell and was shaking his head in solemn contemplation of what he had been through.

“The crowd was pleased Sam.”

“I hope so, I know I am pleased that it’s over,” replied Sam.

“Did he hurt you much, Sam, when he knocked you down in that second round?”

“Yes, sir, he hurt me. That right hand of his got me right on the point of the jaw. It wouldn’t do to get many of those. You know iron breaks now and then, and my jaw ain’t iron. I got up soon as I could, because if I had stayed down very much longer maybe I couldn’t get up. I clinched and held on. I could feel the strength in Will’s arms and I knew my jaw wouldn’t stand any more such punches as he had put over that time.”

 

I'm no expert on Langford but I might be able to answer this.

In the gym I go to, we have a Welterweight who fighting Welterweights is a guy you'd say is talented, a good technician but aggresive and fast, he stays low and uses changes of angles to launch into assualts. At our gym everyone spars everyone, so he spars Heavyweights sometimes.

This is where he excells, his fast movement and changes of angles is too quick for the big men and they look hopeless at times. Also as they are slower he can afford to really set his feet and put meat on his shots and can hurt Heavyweights.

I think Langford would have adopted a similar way of battling the big men.

 

Langford on film does not employ much defense at all. He goes after his man, and does not stay low. I suppose he is low already at 5'6 to 5'7".

However his offense is excellent. Fast hands, Good accuracy, lots of power, and combinations.

 

First of all who only rates him as a heavyweight ? Most rate him all time pound for pound. He was an all time heavyweight puncher despite his super middleweight size. At the start of his heavyweight career he was not past his best but close to it. Still, he dominated almost all the heavyweights that would fight him excluding Wills who was much bigger, much younger and an excellent fighter.

I feel Sam matches up well against many of the pre-super heavyweights. He would have had major issues against the much taller big men who could use their size and jab much like Fulton and Wills did. Keep in mind we are discussing a man who was basically the size of Dwight Qwai. As far as his power goes it is undisputed. Wills, Flynn, McVey, Jeannette and Johnson all said he was the hardest hitter they ever faced.

 

I agree with you Dempsey's chin wasn't suspect, a fighter with his style is open to a good right at times because of the relentless coming forward and always being in range of the other fighter other fighters like this Marciano, Frazier, Tyson and Tua rarely go down from a left hook.

 

And? He was being discussed as a Heavyweight in comparison to other Heavyweights. You missed my point, obviously.

 

With regard to his power which no one, I believe, is questioning ...

 

I may be mistaken but I think he was actually smaller than Qawi.