Jack Johnson French Serial from 1914

I think the Johnson-Langford comments are extremely interesting. I don't see any reason for Johnson to admit to being knocked down and almost out by Langford if he wasn't, except possibly to build up Langford for a title shot, if that was necessary.

I am only speculating, of course. I would say this is strong evidence that Johnson was indeed knocked down.

 

Ive an autobiography by Johnson," In The Ring And Out",.In it he refers to the fight with Langford and Langford's claim to have dropped him by saying" if he really beleives he dropped me he must be punch drunk ,because it didnt happen in fact I dropped him twice".
You pays your money and takes your choice.

 

This article contains some verry interesting insights.

Thanks for posting.

 

One wonders if they are true,or ,if Johnson even said them.He told so many differing stories,its hard to sift the wheat from the chaff.

 

Nice read! Thanks for posting this, guilalah! :good

 

It sounds like Langford did in fact score a knock down. Johnson goes into detail, so my conclusion is it happened. What was Sam Langford's weight prior to the Johnson fight. Does anyone know?

 

We have covered this with Appollack.
Joe Woodman ,Langford's Manager admitted in a ring article that no knockdown of Johnson took place ,and that he was trying to stimulate interest in a rematch.The magazine was one of the 50's , I have it somewhere

 

I would refer you to www.boxing insider.com.
There is an account by Don Buchan about this match ,stating that Johnson knocked Langford down twice in the 6th round ,a good description of the fight is in it.Buchan wrote articles in the Ring magazine that featured photos of him and Johnson, I have it still.
One book , his autobiography , has a denial of any knockdown ,one says it occurred,who to beleive ?
Langford himself admitted that Johnson gave him a hiding.
Joe Woodman his manager admitted that no knockdown took place and that he fabricated one to stir up interest in a rematch.He said this in a 50s Ring magazine.

Buchan's article also says there was 30lbs disparity in weights between them, which would tally with Box rec's 185 for Johnson and 156 lbs for Langford.

 

Then why do you use them so often?

 

You continually say that a newspaper account is more reliable than a book ,yet when a book surfaces ,"translated into English" ,by an unknown writer , because it serves your ends ,you immediately consider it gospel.
That is called in polite terms ," having your cake and eating it",and in impolite terms "being a hypocrite".
Ps don't eat too much of that cake :nono