Langford's Record Against Opponents his Own Size

Two interesting ,and informative posts, which ,added to my knowledge thank you.

 

Yes but don't forget that Walcott broke his arm in this fight. The fact that he was able to duel evenly with Gans with a broken arm speaks volumes about the man :good

 

Thanks for the info, Clay! Always great to have our resident Langford expert lurking about.

 

You're welcome. I tried to send a huge amount of information about the Ketchel - Langford fight, but it was over 4,000 words and the posting limit is 1,000. I was too lazy to chop it up and send it in 5 separate posts. But the bulk of that information is in one chapter of the book anyway, and I guess I should instead encourage those who haven't purchased the book to get it that way anyway, eh?

 

Anyone who hasn't read your book is missing out on a priceless bit of boxing history. It's invaluable for educating oneself on Langford and the era in general. Indispensable.

 

Clay's book on Sam Langford. You can get it on Amazon. It's a purchase you won't regret.

 

Damn right it's got pride of place right in the middle of the eye level shelf in my boxing bookshelf - a brilliant brilliant book - and Sam Langford - well he was just totally out of this world - a fistic marvel :happy

 

His best fighting weight was around middleweight or light heavy. About 165 I'd say (though I defer to Clay). I'd say no, he didn't have a rival at that weight. He was feared by everyone. I have a copy of a letter written by a boxing man who once asked Harry Greb while he was working on the heavy bag why he never fought Langford. Greb supposedly laughed and said "Do you want me to commit suicide?" That says a lot.

Here's a poem that was written at the time. It gives a good glimpse into what kind of regard Langford was held back then:

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," said Stanley K.,
"Britt has taken me away
And I'm signed to do a play.
Then I'm going to the hay.
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," said Jack the Twin,
"I am careful of my chin
And I'm pretty near all in,
And suicide's a sin.
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," is Papke's wail,
"I'm a lily white and pail
And my life is not for sale;
Why I'd sooner go to jail.
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," said Kid McCoy,
"I'm a pretty game old boy,
But this unrefined employ
I will leave for hoi polloi.
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," said poor old Fitz,
"Though I'd fight for just six bits
Still I haven't lost my wits;
I'll preserve my speckled mits.
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," said Hugo Kelly,
"He would pound me to a jelly
And I'd lose some vermicalli.
Not for me. What ta helli?
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," said Joe da Grim,
"I no like to fight with him
Cause he shutta up my glim
And da chances are to slim.
I'll notta fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not I," Al Kaufman said,
"You are crazy in the head.
Chase yourself and go to bed.
I ain't anxious to be dead.
I'll not fight Sam Langford."

Who'll fight Sam Langford?
"Not us," the low brows cried
And they turned around to hide.
"Nix; the color line is wide,
And we're going to stay inside.
We'll not fight Sam Langford."

 

These are some pretty heavy endorsements:

"I think Langford was the greatest fighter we ever had." - Jack Dempsey

"The greatest fighter of them all, bar none, was Sam Langford." - Harry Wills

"Langford was the greatest fighter who ever lived. Sam would have been champion any time Johnson had given him a fight, and Johnson knew it better than anybody. Man! How that baby could hit. Nobody could hit like that. Well, maybe Joe Louis could, but don't forget that Sam only weighed about 160 pounds. Louis was about 195." - Joe Jeannette

"Who's the best fighter I ever saw? That's an easy one. Sam Langford and nobody ever came close to being as good as he was at his peak." - Gunboat Smith

"Now there was a fighter for you. Sam Langford! Yes, sir, in my book he was just about the greatest of them all." - Abe Attell

"Sam was about the best fighting man I have ever watched." - Grantland Rice

"Sam Langford was the greatest fighter, pound for pound, who ever lived." - Hype Igoe

"Langford was probably the best the ring ever saw." - Joe Williams

"Sam Langford was the greatest fighter of the time." - Hugh McIntosh