Sam Langford, school me!

Totally fearless, loved to fight, think Joe Frazier with his hands down versus Ali grinning all over his faced although Langford seemed to be elusive in a strange way - didn't seem to make any really obvious elusive dodging moves although did seem to have great anticipation and glove blocking - an absolutely terrific hitter with either hand and fast - against Lang his fists are like flashing bombs - wasn't afraid to mix it up to draw you in either - certainly of the filmed fights I've seen of his (vs Bill Lang, Vs Jim Flynn & Vs Joe Jeanette) no one really seemed to be able to cope with his punching and everyone seemed to be really on the run big time from him - very very modern style wise - very different to most other fighters from his period.

 

I did a similar thread a few months back. This is one man where the more you read the more you have to go "wow"

I mean to put into context he fought over 300 times and only came across 5 men he couldn't defeat. 1 early in his career. 1 when he was outweighed by 30 pounds against prime jack johnson. The other 3 opponents beat him when he was in his 30's and had a detached retina (although one of them might have caused it)

The best lw ever at that point was gans, langford beat him. Arguably the best welterweight ever at that point was walcott, langford got robbed of a decision and drew against him. Arguably the best middleweight ever at that point was ketchel, langford beat him.

That's 3 winning performances against atg's from lightweight to middleweight. That could be enough right there.

He beat pretty much every meaningful heatweight that would fight him throughout a 12 year rein of terror that say johnson never give him a rematch even tho he was whipping the top contenders of his day. Harry wills, long time top contender to dempsey, langford knocked him out when half blind.

Tiger flowers, the guy who would go on to twice defeat one of the goats in greb, langford knocked him out when he blind. Blind and he beat one of the top middleweights in history.

His heavyweight resume is amazing. His weight jumping exploits put pacman to shame.

Sure he lost a lot but he nearly always avenged it when given a rematch.

 

He famously avoided both black and white fighters. He was prejudice against all race and you could fit in your pocket.

 

It's hard to say how many fights have been lost in the annals of history but I think his fight against jeanette is generally regarded as him being in his prime and that's on film.

 

Luf,all U say about "old Tham" is true. Just one thing.
When Ketchel fought Sam Langford on April 27, 1910, Sam Langford was
about TWELVE pounds heavier than Ketchel ,and a light heavyweight morphing into a heavyweight. Lest we forget.! To spot the great Langford is a feather in Ketchel's cap I believe .Yes there is conjecture that Langford was taking it "easy" on the Michigan Assassin,hoping for a big 45 round money match. But also,there was varied opinions on who "won"there 6rd bout...
Another thing L, Ketchel from what I have often read ,was taking opium by now,was also on the downside though 24,and as a result went to Col.Dickerson's
ranch in Conway, Miss., to recuperate, where he was killed by a ranch hand
Walter Dipley,only SIX months after the Langford fight. So yes Luf, Sam Langford was second to none, but give some credit to as great and as TOUGH a scrapper as Stanley Ketchel, as WELL. Cheers...

 

Read Clay Moyle. In his book, and also , great article "IN The First Black Boxing Champions".Both will enlighten you !

 

And credit I did give. I referred to him as arguably the greatest middleweight in history by that point. That's some company he's keeping also considering the non pareil and ruby had preceeded him.

 

not a bad intro here...

http://coxscorner.tripod.com/langford.html

moyle's book is more important IMO

 

Langford hit the canvas more than 50 times during his career.. awesome puncher but all those trips to the canvas tell another story

 

He also fought hundreds of fights and the best competition of his era in pretty much every weight class with the exception of Dillon, sometimes on short notice, and took on much bigger men with weight disadvantages and failing vision too.

50 kd's is just a number, no context buddy

 

Very good article. I detect a slight bias towards sam in it and it skips a couple of losses but on the flipside also skips some victories.