Was kind of wondering how these two never met? Did it ever come close to happening? Any stories of sparring? Who would have won? They both weighed close to the same...surprised they never met in a ring.
It could have been done, but it would have been a pretty ghastly spectacle. We should probably be grateful that it didn't happen!
Greb didn’t debut until 1913 by then Langford was a highly skilled veteran competing at heavyweight by the time Greb would have been ready to fight him Langford was in serious physical decline and blind in one eye
So I guess the stars never aligned for a fight? As opposed to people avoiding each other for whatever reasons? I know they both fought a long time. Both ended their careers around 1926.
neither fighter would duck any man it just never made sense for them to fight each other in the 1920’s greb would have hurt Langford and vice versa in the previous decade
It certainly could of happened. Langford KO'd Flowers in 1922 and lost to Wills that year and was Mexican champ in '23. Greb was facing HWs as early as 1919 but maybe he considered Langford a bridge too far for no title.
flowers is a great win for Sam but Greb had a better chin then tigers by far however any version of Sam pre-1920 crushes Greb Actually hold on maybe they should have fought lol
Langford was still putting together some serious wins in the early 20s. Wills was beating him but he beat Lee Anderson, McVea, Jack Thompson, Godfrey, Jeff Clark, Fireman Flynn. He also ko'd one of Greb's toughest opponents in Kid Norfolk in just 2 rounds back in 1917.
I think Greb kind of new his limits when it came to the HWs. Almost certainly would of taken on Greb for the HW title. But not much point facing off with Wills, Langford, Firpo and Fulton for more modest purses and risk to his health
He was actively pursuing Dempsey until the writing was on the wall that Rickard had no desire to make the match and that his skills were beginning to decline.
Yes he drew with Norfolk that year and many publications had him beating Greb 2 years later in 1924. More publications voted in favour of Greb but you have to remember the racial prejudice of the time may have had them picking the white fighter over the black one. Rated 2nd from 1924 onwards, which is the first ring rankings. Also all reports of the Walker fight claim it was a robbery. [url]https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/The_Ring_Magazine%27s_Annual_Ratings:_1924[/url] Clearly wrong
Different conversation but there's a better argument that Greb won all three of the Flowers' fights than Flowers won two of them.
Two years is a long time in boxing. I rate Langford as highly as anybody, but Flowers was not a big scalp in 1922.
