Sam Langford vs joe Louis

More like 15 -20 years after he retired was the timeline Louis moved into the top 3. Key point by that time in the mid 60's to early 70's, many of those who saw past champions with limited film had passed. As such Louis rocketed up the charts. He was viewed as a hero. That always helps.

 

Chappie hadn't fought them Mac. May have only seen them fight once. He knew Langford's game inside out and so could have prepared Joe to the last detail.

 

That's true but shouldn't he have told Louis ."look this guy ,[Godoy] crouches very low ,so the punch to get him with is the uppercut."
"Schmeling's best punch is a right hand counter ,so after jabbing make sure you return your left back to the guard position". Schmeling, watching films of Louis spotted that Joe did not return his left back to protect his chin.Granted that Louis contributed to his own downfall by cutting training,playing golf and laying broads ,but trainers are supposed to spot not only your opponents weaknesses but yours too.
Eddie Futch, when he trained Norton told him,"when Ali jabs, his right hand is out of position it's a bit wide of his body, so when he throws the jab you throw."

 

To be fair to Joe and Chappie, they didn't lose another fight after Schmeling for over 10 years. The Godoy fight was a question of styles. Joe learned and took him out much quicker in the second one. Sign of a good Fighter.

 

An all time great fighter.

 

Yes, except he did not take Godoy out at all in the first one.
In fact, it was close, & some of the crowd booed the decision.
It would be a good thread-who did you think one the first Louis-Godoy fight, & by what margin?

The only other fight which was that close for an anywhere near peak Louis was with Farr. Not counting a come from behind, because taking out a Conn is easily winning.
And he had hurt his hand then against Farr.

 

The point I'm trying to make is that Joe learned from the first fight. This was a feature of his career and demonstrates his exceptionally high ring IQ.
To be fair, even Tommy Farr never claimed their fight was close. The British press tried to depict it as an unlucky or poor decision but the US reporters, while rightly praising Tommy's gameness were unanimous in saying that Louis won clearly enough.
Conn ? Well, that was the most expensive rush of blood in the history of Boxing.

 

Four points.

I know what you were saying about the first fight. I agree to a point, although adjusting strategies was a strength, he received direction & much of that high IQ from his trainer.
You said Louis took out Godoy in the first fight, that was false. Perhaps you misspoke
I am open to the Farr fight not having been close-I welcome any links describing this.

The conventional wisdom about Conn-perpetuated by him also, though psychologically him being foolish may have been easier to accept than the alternative that someone showed here ina video analyses long ago...
That the effective pressure of Louis led to Conn's downfall because he forced the action.

 

After Louis beat Baer, the Detroit News wrote the following:

"Nothing like this has ever happened before. No heavyweight champion in history was ever considered as anything more than a good prospect after eighteen months of professional boxing. Louis should continue flattening the heavyweights of the world and by the time he retires he will undoubtedly be nominated the greatest fighter of all time by acclamation."

Now I often wondered about that writer. His prediction although ultimately correct, was bold, and premature. Did he feel like a fool after Louis lost to Schmeling, to later be vindicated as his prophecy unfolded?

 

It would be a good thread if we had the complete fight to watch and form our own opinion,but we don't.

 

That isn't fair. It would be like saying Shcmeling is in Langford's camp and corner for Louis.

Those who assume Louis via KO perhaps should not. Langford from late June 1906 ( Pre prime ) to last June 1917 ( Post prime ) wasn't stopped in 124 fights. That's amazing, and he fought many punchers during that 11 year period, likely beating better fighters than Louis himself.

 

From the rounds and footage I have seen, Godoy was the better in the 1st fight. Louis came from way begin ti beat the showboating Walcott, Walcott had that fight in the bag. I have no idea why he did what hr did.

Conn was foolish as well. In a 12 round match he had Louis beat. He stuns Louis in the 12th, then tries to finish him in the 13th.

 

Who exactly?

 

Wills, Godfrey, Jeannette, and Mcvey, not once but multiple times in some cases. Langford has so many fights.

 

They were really good fighters. None of them was close to Louis though.