This link says Johnson was preapared to fight Gunboat Smtih as soon as his broken arm had healed [broken against Jim Johnson,] and he as defended against Moran. Johnson states ,if his terms of $30,000 for a title defence are met ,he will fight Smith ,and /or Langford. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0A12FE355D13738DDDA00894D9405B848DF1D3
Johnson seems to have been particularly interested in making a fight with Smith after he beat Langford. He perhaps saw it as an easy way of getting the "Langford issue" out of the way.
You guys might not agree with me, but i htink that Langford (as a heavyweight) is seen as a much bigger threat to Johnson's crown nowadays than he was back then. The clessic case of high risk Low reward. He was a good figher but slipped up too regularly to force Johnson's hand to fight. Presumably, this affected his ability to attract backers fora megafight contract taht was needed.
Not sure about that. It is certainly true that the early offers for a Johnson Langford fight were derisory. This was more due to the white hope obsesion than anything else. When the big offers came, it was later in Johnsons title reign, and they were coming from foreign countries. If Johnson ever had rematched Langford, it would probably have been in Australia or Russia. Langford was regarded as being great during his career though. Never doubt that.
Johnson v Langford was viable in Australia and Paris.McIntosh was prepared to promote it" Down Under" , until Johnson fell foul of the Mann Act ,then he withdrew . Barney Curley stated Johnson and Langford.[or Johnson v any black man,] would not draw in the US. Johnson said he would defend against anyone ,provided his price of $30,000 was met. It appears that this amount,[the same that Burns demanded and received ,against him] really became a fixation with him.
