Langford v Wlad?

Perhaps the most difficult fight possible for Langford.

 

Langford struggled against long opponents with exceptional jabs that boxed with great discipline. He punished aggression mercilessly. He is almost a foot shorter, out-reached by around ten inches, out-weighed by sixty pounds, is quite possibly the hardest puncher Langford ever met, certainly the best jabber he had ever met, and almost certainly the most disciplined fighter he would have ever met.

Horrible, horrible style match up.

 

No.



Larry Temple, who out-pointed Sam in 1905 "used his left to great advantage" and a moving shifting style to maintain distance and out-point Langford in 1905.

Jack Blackburn, who always gave Langford trouble enjoys a reputation today as an exceptional left jabber.

Jack Johnson fits the Wlad bill almost to a tee, he was one of the best jabbing heavies of his era, he was exceptionally disciplined and he had a reach advantage.

Jeanette closed his eyes with one-twos in 1905, and in 1907 "did his best to keep Sam Langford at bay with jabs" in the drawn rematch. A long jab was twice the cornerstone for Jeanette in first beating, then drawing with Sam.

In 1913 Gunboat Smith outpointed Sam. "Smith's tactics were to hold of his man with his left hand then swing the right." Another lengthier fighter taking advantage of that length.

It took time, but Wills too established his jab.

Langford beat loads of good jabbers, and lots of these men, but he was brilliant. Bang in prime though, guys were able to trouble him with this style. I'll stick my neck out and call Wlad the best of these guys generally, the best jabber, the hardest hitter.

I'd be given to arguing this in favour of Bob Fitzsimmons, possibly, but there won't be much in it.

 

There's something to this, but the Wills-Langford series details Wills rise as much as Sam's fall. He was a baby for the era when their rivalry began, in terms of experience. Not in a million years would I expect a heavy of that tender experience to beat prime Sam.