Everyone's going to jump and say Langford here but I highly doubt a young pre-prime Langford beats Burley who was 1 of the most talented 147-160lb fighters ever. Burley would be nearer his prime, better schooled, faster with better movement. He also beat another great multi-weight future great heavyweight in Archie Moore.
Langford would win. His firepower was simply too much, and there no way Burley's hit hard enough to deter Langford's attack.
I dont know, i leaned towards Burley, but im not sure, and like Powerpuncher said, most will likely jump at picking Langford here, im not too sure
Didn't Langford hail from an era where boxing technique was a lot more crude? In that case, how much would play into a fight against a modern boxer like Burley
Let's say you are right - Langford led with his face. This draws fire and violence is exactly what the puncher in the fight, Langford, wants to create, especially as he is one of the most durable fighters ever to have breathed. Regardless, crude is the wrong word. Langford wins this one big. He's got the type of persistant footwork power and punch resistance that will always make the smaller man miserable, and Burley was never big at the weight, though he had the reach. Langford WPTS on the pressure and probably one or two KD's.
I'll take Burley by UD. Langford has a great chin and is very powerful...But in the Lang fight, Langford did exactly as you say McGrain, he led with his chin in order to get Lang to punch, opening himself up in the process. Langford strikes me as a incredidibly strong and very confident individual in the ring, and he would press Burley hard. But from judging on film, Burley would have ample opportunities to counter... Bottom line is...if Sam had somewhat a bit of difficulty landing on a defensive minded Bill Lang, imagine the hard time the ultraslick Burley presents him with. I could see Langford eventually landing and maybe dropping him, but like I said, I'll take Burley by decisive UD for 15 rds.
Langford is my favorite classic fighter..But i also think that Burley would be to precise..Langfor was wild.I see Burley winning a close decision or stoppage on cuts
'The Boston Tar Baby' was ahead of his time and carried his punch up to heavyweight knocking out massive opponents. Burley may well be one hell of a slick boxer, but can he stand up to Langford who could hit like a 'kick from a horse'?
Tough call. I think Burley's skill would be a bigger edge here than Sam's power, although that is debateable. The Burley that by all accounts pretty much bounced Archie Moore around the ring was a force to be recokoned with, one that Langford might not be able to beat. I don't think Burley was ever stopped, even moving up to fight men who weighed 200+ pounds. Stylistically, I'd probably give the edge to Burley, but Sam was exceptional. I've only seen about 4 fights of Burley and just 2 of Langford plus some other clips, so maybe I'm missing something of one of the fighters, but I'll go with Burley by decision in a close fight.