Charlie Rose, who saw many champions and lived past 90 felt Langford was the best. He also said Sam would KO Joe Louis after a few hard rounds of slugging. What Sam's chances vs Louis?
Sam has a very good chance with anything but a completely formed Louis. That is, you could drop Sam on Louis in 1937 or 1938 and you have to give him a very very good chance. In some regards it'd be like looking in a mirror, the excruciatingly steady pressure executed by baiting footwork designed to draw the most devastating opening and the sudden, pastique ladened punches but Louis does certain things much better, not least the controlling jab, a punch that Langford never was that fond of. Louis had one of the very very best up until his time. This is the key punch in this fight and although it is the only one that arguably got better even in Joe's second career, it was absolutely superb during the early part of his title run too. So I make Joe the favourite, taken in tandem with Langford's baiting defence and determination to engage. But i'd be more comfortable seeing this fight happen in 1941 with Godoy and Burman behind him. Langford's Schmeling + smarts and power could turn a trick even after Louis had laid the German low, but i'd pick Joe.
I think it was Jack Blackburn who confided to a friend that Jack Johnson [who Blackburn despised] would have outmaneuvered Joe Louis were they to have met...I disagree...
Yes Mc. I had read years ago an article in which Joe Louis's closest friend Freddie Guinyard, revealed that Jack Blackburn confided to Guinyard that he believed that Jack Johnson who Blackburn hated, would have ouytboxed Blackburn's beloved Joe Louis, because Johnson was much more mobile...For what it's worth...The article was in a boxing book chapter... Of course Blackburn would NEVER tell his pupil Joe Louis that ...
i was thinking about this matchup the other day and i'm glad to see it posted. i think langford is lb for lb the best fighter ever but i'd have to favor joe in this matchup. sam's aggressive style might be disaster for him in this fight vs the greatest puncher ever.
Peak Peak 2 years of Louis I make a favorite against Sam... Most other time periods... I would pick Sam
