Tough 1 this, Jeffries has something 40lbs on Langford, size wise Wills is his nearest common opponent. Jeffries most likely stronger than Wills and the same size, most likely, but was he as skilled as Wills? Impossible to know. Langford ofcourse said 'I'd beat anyman except Jeffries' but I think we can take this with a pinch of salt given Langford kowtowed to white society to the extent that he crossed the road when he saw white people walking towards him on his side of the path Anyway impossible to judge with the available footage
tough matchup. Jeffries is one of the most durable HW's in history imo but it's his frame that will be his main benefit here. From what footage we have Jeffries is more of a backfoot fighter and I think this could go similar to his fitzsimmons fight (is that a fair comparison?) sam might start strongly but he'd have to be in the pocket to work on jeffries, and he'll be taking shots during these exchanges. Over a large amount of rounds Jeffries is bound to turn the tables and stop sam late. obviously this all depends on what the distance is. Over 10 rounds sam could nick it on points but over 12 I think james knocks him out.
Langford did not actually say this, his manager, Joe Woodman said on Langford's behalf . Langford challenges any man ,but bars Jeffries. At the time of the challlenge Langford had recently fought Walcott for the welterweight title, 147lbs. I think it is entirely reasonable for Langford/Woodman not to entertain fighting the 218/220 lbs Jeffries. A 5'8"180lbs Sharkey gave Jeffries 45 rds of trouble in 2 fights . I believe Langford ,in his prime was better than Sharkey ,around the same weight ,with more speed ,and more power. I think he would give Jeffries all sorts of hell, but would probably find Jeffries too durable to stop unless by tko. I would take Jeffries by a bitterly close hard fought decision.
That is the hardest ball you could have thrown me! The cop out in this situation is to take the guy who is disadvantaged by the circumstances, and declare him the looser!
No way. Fitz, Choynski and Tom Sharkey couldn't dent Jeff with their power, and Sam's not outboxing Jeff from long range. He'd be mauled and thrown outside from close quarters like Foreman did Frazier. As tough and mobile as Langford was, he could go the distance in a 15 or 20 rounder, but there would no question as to the eventual winner long before the final bell. If he tried going inside like he did Jeannette in Paris, he'd be flung back like a rag doll. Not hooking with a hooker favors Jeff here, not Sam. Too much size, speed, strength, punch resistance, stamina and power for even Langford to compete with here, and Sam apparently knew it. Jeannette had some success nailing his right to Langford's body from range. Jeff's right fractured Sharkey's ribs in their rematch. Sailor Tom only survived their 25 round Coney Island rematch because Ernst Roeber ****ed up Jeff's left elbow in a training camp medicine ball prank gone bad. Give Jeff two healthy arms, and Sam would be picking himself off the deck a least a few times.
Sharkey gave Jeffries huge fits, Fitzsimmons gave Jeffries a battering early, and choynski fought Jeffries to a draw. None of those men were as good as Sam Langford. I think Langford has a real shot here. Jeffries clearly did not use his size/strength very well on smaller men, hence why he struggled so much with men 50-60lb lighter than him. Jeffries wasn't a fighter who worked a long jab and controlled distance, he was a mauler who lacked great power. He would play right into Sam's strengths.
Poor Jimmy Jeff often gets dicked around here in the classic section..... Jeff didn't have a whole lotta' fights, but he had athletic ability and good conditioning for his era.... Jeff was not the typical lame, redneck fighter who was around back in the 1890s and early 1900s... Jeff could fight.... MR.BILL