I'm sure the consensus says Langford...and perhaps, rightly so...But I'd like the opinion of some of our resident historians on the matter. At middleweight would Darcy be able to hang in with the terror? Remember whether Langford carried Ketchel (or not), Sam reportedly had a 18lb weight advantage in their six rounder. The accounts say that Ketchel got the worst of it...but he did manage hurt Langford in that bout. With a fight being at 160lbs, would Darcy stay with Langford? In the films I've seen of Darcy, what sets him apart from fighters of that era, was a very good smashing left jab...and quick footwork. I lean towards Langford, because he was absolutely fantastic...But I feel Darcy gives him a great fight given his style. I think it would be close. Cheers.
I think Darcy most definitely would have been able to hang in there with Langford. I'd go as far as saying he even has a good chance of winning the fight.
DPW.. Interesting match up mate. Being Aussie, I'd say Darcy would eat him alive.. lol.. Langford, in Australia, holds a fine place of value; One of the greatest to ever grace the shores and perform his art with such acceptance and thanks. From all reports of the past, Langford toured the antipodies with a smile, power and every ounce of respect deserved to him. Darcy vs Langford.. It's a hypothetical that's better than most. Without reservation, Langford wins in 75/100 meetings... As Darcy matures, Sam will be matched with a great opponent. Langford's a typical fighter by design.. losing against (assumed) fighters of superiority.. regardless, it's not a difficult suggestion that he'd tossed a few victories to the weyside for the sake of future bouts. The connection of Darcy and Langford in Oz is still legendary, with both men having swapped words and respectfully (albeit, inadvertantly) shown a level of respect. Two legends.
Les darcy was a great middleweight,who hadn't yet reached his prime.Strong and powerful, Darcy as a youngster in Australia, licked the very best American middleweights,in Australia. He was considered to eventually be the equal of the great Stanley Ketchell, but alas World War 2 came...For whatever reason,Darcy did not enlist in the Australian army, and he was criticized for that...He went to America, to try to win the title, but was booed by the American fans...Downhearted and depressed, Darcy died soon after from an infection [not broken heart]'''Tragically, his full potential was not realized...I think Sam Langford, in his prime, would have beaten Les Darcy, as he was a proven alltime great fighter, and Darcy still dadn,t reached his peak yet....Incidentally, one contemporary of Sam Langford, and supposedly Langford avoided was the bullish, Giant Killer, Jack Dillon, who at 170 lbs kod top heavyweights of the time...Unforgotten today, but Sam Langfords equal...What a match that would have been...Good for a new thread on ESB.....
Simple error mate.. lol. :good Darcy had tried to enlist in the Australian Army more than once. Being under the age of 21, his parents had to provide the go-ahead for the minor to enlist. As Les was already supporting the family, there was no chance of parental acceptance of Les going off to war. Darcy had been made offers by scab Jack Kearns, and Hugh McIntosh/Snowy Baker had also intended to take Darcy to the USA. Upon the WW1 incidentals affecting Australia, Darcy had a Passport request refused. Implying he'd like to face some of the American's on American soil to raise enough money to support his family eternally, Darcy would then go off to war. He was simply not permitted to leave the country.. the pathetically pro-British goverment refused young Les to leave. 2 days before the FAILED referendum for all able bodied men to head off to a foreign land to kill foreigners for the Kings glory, Darcy and ET O'sullivan pissed off. The outraged McIntosh and Baker, embarrassed governmental dickheads and Pro-establishment half wits, all kicked up their heels, as did inbred US Governers and Promoters. Don't ever suggest the fight fans booed him. Thats completely ridiculous. "Place Les Darcy in a uniform and ten thousand men will march to their deaths behind him".... Interesting politically motivated slogan, wouldn't you agree????? Darcy had signed the Oath of Alliegence to become an American Citizen, joined the US Aircorps and sworn to surrunder himself after 3 perspective bouts in the USA.. therefore, he'd been allowed the time to engage in these bouts, alas the grim reeper took him first. Darcy remains a national treasure for ten thousand reasons... the figures, arseholes involved in the political stunts that attempted to tarnish his own value, remain spoken of with contempt.. even to this day. That will not change in the next century either. Maitland (Darcy's home town) City Council are currently well into the process of restoring the Darcy Family Vault.. having made a personal input towards this effort, Im a very proud man. Perhaps another great topic to discuss in the Fred Fulton saga?? Fulton, the leading contender to Willards H/W crown, was pounded from pillar to post by Darcy in a sparring exhibition.. Fred quit after the second round!!!!
From all I've read and seen on Darcy he was the real goods and a tragic loss ... that being said, he got hit to much in my book to survive Langford ...
Flamengo, thanks for your insight on the great Les Darcy...I did not mean to judge him...I was implying that when Darcy arrived in America, he was wrongly percieved as a slacker, by some fans and boxing writers of the time....Supposedly, Darcy took these innuendous,too heart, before his tragic death....Who wouldn"t? Thanks for your input.....
So true Burt. As the troubles continued in endless corners, Darcy wrote more and more to friends at home.. almost seeking the kinship he'd longed for. The support of many in America certainly kept his bouyancy levels up, as did hope after failed hope... a genuine country kid without an ounce of falseness in his soul, it's very easy to see frustrations manifest into dispair as the dwindling hopes faded, elevated and faded again. No referee ever struggled so hard to count ten, as the Reeper did.
Look at the tragic Middleweight division,since the beginning....Stanley Ketchell murdered, Billy Papke, comitted suicide, Harry Greb, died on the operating table at 32, Tiger Flowers, soon after died after eye surgery,at 32,Marcel Cerdan [whom I saw in 1946], died in plane crash at 33, Carlos Monzon, killed in car crash,at 53....EERY.....
Good thread guys. Won't try to add other than to say that, like Phar Lap (the 30's Melbourne Cup winning racehorse) and Dave Sands, sadly the world didn't get to see the very best of Darcy. Recently bought Peter Fitzsimons' book on Darcy. But knowing I won't put it down once I've started reading it, I've shelved it just for now.
Sam Langford and Les Darcy met each other in Sydney and Darcy put up the challenge for a fight. Darcy was 17 or 18 years old.The fight never eventuted.Darcy was a confident young man.
