Sam Langford vs Max Baer

Hard to say if Sam could contend with the modern day type of fighter from films I have seen they were pretty wild wingers in his day. Baer when in shape was a force and powerful puncher but he was an erratic in the gym. Could Sam contend with Baers power when Max was in good form (see Schmeling fight) I would pick that Max but Sam could box a bit and bang so I would have to pick him against the clown but not the Baer

 

Langford would pick Baer apart.

It would be horrendous to watch.

 

I have to agree with Janitor here, Baer could be very open and easy to feint, both bad ideas against a prime Sam. If Max survived the route I would expect to see him pretty bruised up.

 

Bummy, Max Baer was the furthest thing from a modern fighter imaginable .. wild, roundhouse swinging, back hands , seriously ... the Carnera, Galento and Schmeling films could not be clearer .. Sam would lose to big, highly skilled heavyweight boxers who would jab and move but a guy that you could not miss like Baer would get brutally beat up .. too slow, too hittable ..

 

An interesting match, and they would present quite a physical contrast together in the ring. Both dangerous punchers at all times, but I believe Langford's all-around ability would overcome Baer's hitting power. Both were extremely tough as well. The fight would be a real crowd-pleaser and probably go the limit with Langford winning a comfortable decision.

 

He was modern compared to the horrible films I've seen of Langford, and his generation, film can not do such an injustice to ability, Sam was a banger with Rhythm, Max could fight well when he was in shape try peeping the Schmeling fight when you can. In Shape he could bust Sam's hole

 

I thought Sam shows up quite well in the films of his day especially compared to others of his time but also with modern boxers. He moved in quickly, at times with a weave, had good balance and distance, had good speed, solid punching to the head and body, threw his punches text book and unlike most of his generation had a two fisted attack. Dempsey's statements about Sam being the only fighter he would have feared weren't just talk.

 

Sam looked good against a crude slugger I saw on film but was limited and looked like a crude slugger, Jennette and Wills did not impress me slow and hittable....maybe it was the slow black and white film but out of them all Sam looked best but not enough to scare me

 

What is your definition of modern , frames per second ? The film of Langford defeating Jeanette in Paris shows a far superior fighter in every capacity than the Baer of Carnera and even Schmeling. I actually find it hard to find a fighter that looked more amateurish than Baer excluding Galento .. was Baer more skilled than Johnson and a Joe Gans as well ? In possession of a better jab and threw better combinations ? Was Baer better defensively as well ? :huh

 

Fred Fulton doesnt look very skilled, fluid, or good on film, neither does Gunboat Smith, and both beat Langford. Fulton had 4 inches in height and three inches in reach on Baer but Baers chin was a heck of a lot better and despite their identical KO percentage Id pick Baer as the heavier puncher of the two. Both guys were front runners but Baer was a lot more aggressive. Id favor Langford but Baer would be a very live underdog. I think the fight would end up being a shootout and whoever can take the other guys punches better wins.

Also, no doubt Sam was the more skilled of the two. Hes just beautiful to watch and anyone who thinks hes crude needs to pay close attention to the subtle headwork and feints he uses. He is an early version of Tyson, which I would term an aggressive counter-puncher. A guy who is always moving in, forcing you to throw in order to keep him off and countering whats coming at you. You can watch him set traps and the leverage he gets on his punches is just unreal.

 

Agreed but Fulton was a boxer puncher who defeated Langford by utilizing a Wlad Klitsckko type of style, one Baer would never be able to match. He used his huge height and reach to outbox Sam. Smith also squeezed a tight decision but was destroyed in the rematch.

 

This is what I have seen in his films also, yes an early version of Tyson. He was a two fisted fighter unlike the one at a time and hold versions of his day. One thing about some of Sam's losses to lesser fighters was his showing up in poor condition and health due to his not always being able to train or eat as needed, such were his conditions though much of his fight life and later with Jersey Joe Walcott also.

 

The problem with Baer is knowing which version would turn up.

If it's the version that stopped Schmeling then he has a good chance of koing Sam.
If it's the Max that froze against Louis then he gets brutalised.
I think Baer had the capability to beat every heavyweight that Langford did , but would he?
PS I think Langford is very impressive on film.

 

Langford would get bombed out early by Baer. Langford hit hard for a light heavyweight but Baer hit hard for a heavyweight. A 6 foot tall Jack Johnson gave Langford more than he could handle. 6 foot 2 Harry Wills seemed to have beaten him about twenty times when they weren't just sparring.