Langford vs. Corbett

Hey, I agree that Langford possibly could knock out Corbett or anyone at any time, because he had real knockout power. But, I also know that Langford at times struggled with guys who employed a stick and move, clinch, safety-first style, and Corbett definitely was a survivalist with fast feet, fast hands, and knew how to clinch. He was a very careful guy. So if guys like Jeannette and Gunboat Smith (and others) could outbox Langford at times, it isn't entirely outside the realm of possibility that Corbett could do so for a while. Jim could run, but for how long could he hide from those big blows? We know he did for a while against a lot of big punchers. Hence, my inclination that if Langford got him, it would be in the second half of the fight.

 

Yes ,there's no denying Sam had trouble with good jabbers and movement,doesn't everybody?
Fulton sure had his number.
Perhaps one of the problems about Langford is knowing what shape he was in for some of these fights,Clay Moyle in his excellent bio of Sam ,said in his opinion Sam's best weight was around175/180lbs, how many times was he near that optimum weight? We match them prime for prime,and I admit I am biased,I'm not blown away by Corbett's resume ,he put up a valiant effort against Jeffries, but still eventually succumbed.
Was Jackson slightly past his best? Did his ankle injury play any part in the fight?
I see Fitz as the much more accomplished fighter,but then,I have your excellent book on him and haven't bought the Corbett one yet,maybe after Dempsey three.

 

I don't think Jackson was a particularly heavy hitter and Sully was too far gone to land his big ones. Having said that, as stated, Sam could be outboxed and had some trouble with taller boxers too. Sometimes he caught them, the odd time he didn't. Interesting matchup but if I had to bet I'd go with Langford.

 

I'm taking the prime version of the guy who twice put Harry Wills to sleep, beat McVea, beat Jenette, beat O'Brien, beat Ketchel, for all intents beat Gunboat Smith... There just isn't much meat on Corbett's resume. He had a mutual stall with an injured Jackson, beat an ill, hog fat alcoholic in Sullivan... and made some good, losing efforts.

 

I won't claim to be as knowledgeable as someone like Moyle, but I've always felt that Langford was at his best as a(n unofficial) super MW. In fact, I rate him as the best super MW-sized fighter of all time, ahead of even Roy Jones.

IMO, this fight here is Langford squarely at his peak, & (according to the commentator) he weighed around 165:

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I would question that myself. Corbett has so relatively few genuine fights (not counting his numerous exhibitions) that it's difficult to accurately gauge his quality. I'm not certain he was really all that much better than someone like Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, who had a similar style as Corbett but fought far more frequently & had many more fights vs. elite competition. I certainly don't think opponents like Wills & Fulton are proper barometers for judging how well Langford handles boxers, as he was not only past his peak by then but also massively outsized vs. them.

 

Langford's kryptonite was good jabbers,but if he caught Corbett with a good one it would be over, because Sam was an excellent finisher.

 

Imagine a primed Langord against the burnt out drunk shell of Sullivan that Corbett took out?

 

Langford batters him.

 

I've felt Corbett was a generational transition fighter , bridging eras ... he had physical gifts of decent size, exceptional speed and at his best conditioning but he was a stiff armed , awkward puncher from all I've seen on film .... I don't see him being able to keep Langford off him .

 

good lb4lb battle but Sam L was one of the best little men - Fitz was dangerous but I think Sam prevails with his better durability for a KO win before the 10th rd

 

Exactly my feelings on him - he was a pioneer/trailblazer more than he was a genuinely great fighter. He disposed of the fading remnants of Sullivan's era (including the big man himself), but typically came up short vs. more "modern" opponents of that era.