Was Harry Wills a greater HEAVYWEIGHT than Sam Langford ?

Wills, of course.

 

Wills should rate far above Langford at HW. His resume is amazing, on resume alone he rates above Dempsey. Arguably Wills was the best HW in the world from 1912-1926

P4P Langford rates higher

 

Wills as my #15 Heavy; Langford #16.

 

I think Langford.

The series between them dose not tell the whole story because Langford was on the decline when it started.

Wills to a certain extent swept up the remenats of the black dynamite trio, Langford, Jeanette, McVea.

Contemporary fighters were in awe of Langford while they saw Wills as ugly but efective.

 

Langford was past his prime when he engaged in his series with Wills.
Langford also scored 2 clean KO'S over the much larger Wills.
As far as I know there arent any ring historians who saw them both fight that rate Wills as the better fighter,that vote is reserved for Langford.
From what Ive read I believe Wills to be a bit overated.
Even the esteemed Ray Arcel didnt think Wills was considered a great fighter.

 

Langford was well past his prime for most of the Wills fights. And I don't consider being an ABC beltholder to effect a fighter's historical standing. Being "colored champion" is much more significant in my eyes, since the colored title actually represented a large portion of the division, wasn't full of bogus rankings and money-making maneuvers, and didn't constantly strip its own champions for no good reason.

 

Yes by Far, he was #1 contender for a very long time, Dempsey should have fought Wills then and he would easily have beaten him the same way Uzcudun did.

 

Insanity is ruling the roost here Robert. Revisionist bigger is always better horse ****. Lol. Madness of the younger poster.

 

I think Wills was better as a Heavyweight, certainly more dominant.

Langford did have the better competition, not a lot in it for me.

 

Langford

 

Langford but not by much

 

I am resurrecting this old thread because my Dad, Brother, and I are looking into this very question right now. Prime vs. prime, so far, my dad and I slightly favor Sam Langford, while my brother seems to slightly favor Harry Wills. Does anybody here, in 2025, have anything to add to this nearly 18 year old thread?