Which Black heavyweight really was the best out of those who never held the ultimate crown? Wills,Langford,Jeanette,Mcvey,Godfrey ,Jackson? Make your pick from these or another.
Either Langford or Jackson. Jackson did have the British Empire crown, which in the late 1800's was very close to even with the American heavyweight title. It is plausible that Langford could have been a tripple crown winner at middle, light heavy, and heavy if given the chance.
Oh sorry, didnt see that Langford was in there, i think he is the best P4P uncrowned champ ever, including the black murderers row, however, seen as though this is which HEAVYWEIGHT was the best of the pick, i'll stick by Wills
For overall resume, Langford. For who would've had the best chance against the reigning white heavyweight champs...I don't know.
the old-timers who saw Jackson and the later fighters said Jackson was greatest of them all lost heart and started to drink when they "drew the color line" against him
I honestly think that Langford could have held titles from welterweight to heavyweight given the chance. Yes I said it. Welterweight When the 18 year old Langfor fought Barbados Joe Walcott many thought he should have been given the title. Admitedly he would have been utilising an unusual chain of circumstance here (Walcott defending his title against an unknown 18 year old and not training too hard) but it is certainly plausible.
Here's one such report that favoured Langford in that fight with Walcott, and this short writeup comes from The Evening World out of New York on Sept 6th, 1904; "MANCHESTER, N. H., Sept. 6 -- Joe Walcott, welterweight champion, met his match in a fifteen-round battle with Sam Langford before a crowd of 1,200 at Lake Massabesic, and Walcott was clearly outpointed, and only his aggressiveness in carrying the fight to Langford saved him from a decision that would have given him the short end of the purse. Langford did not get a scratch and in the third round he brought the champion to one knee by a straight jolt to the jaw. The referee declared it a draw." And to further your point about Langford having the possibility to win the welterweight title, Janitor, here's a short article taken from the Washington Times on Sept 28th, 1904; "An opportunity to fight for the welterweight championship of the world is the inducement offered the winner of the Dave Holly-Sam Langford match next Friday night at Germania Maennerchor Hall, before the Eureka Athletic Club. While Gans has announced that the match scheduled for Friday night with Joe Walcott in San Francisco would be his last, it is rather certain that if he succeeds in beating Walcott that he would consent to another bout with the winner of the match that is down on the cards for Friday night. Both Langford and Holly have shown what they are able to do with the two Joes. Walcott has met both, and the little welterweight has none the better of the matches. As a matter of fact Langford is the only man that has succeeded in getting a decision over Gans since he held the title of lightweight champion. Holly has also put up several creditable exhibitions against Gans, the last one in Philadelphia almost resulting in Gans being sent to dreamland in a six-round contest. As the bout was in Philadelphia, no decision was given." In referencing those two fights that same newspaper, the Washington Times, also mentions the agreement where the winners meet for the welterweight title in their writeups on the day of the fights, Sept 30th; "The reason for the great interest in both contests is the fact that all four men have signified their willingness that the respective winners be matched to fight for the welterweight championship of the world." The Langford/Holly fight report as printed in The Evening World on Oct 1st, 1904; "BALTIMORE, Md., Oct. 1 -- Sam Langford, of Boston, and Dave Holly, of Philadelphia, fought fifteen fast rounds rounds to a draw before the Eureka Athletic Club. Both men were below the weight of 142 pounds, and after the fifth round, it was a grueling affair. Both men were trained for the hour and seemed fit to go the limit. For four rounds the battle was tame. Holly assumed a crouching position which greatly puzzled the Bostonian, and it was a case of clinch after clinch. In the sixth round both let loose. Holly was the aggressor, but he found Langford there with the goods. Holly soon showed his superiority at infighting and played a regular tattoo on Langford's stomach, while Sam shot left after left to Holly's eye and soon had Dave's left optic closed as tight as an oyster. After this, one round was a duplicate of the other. Science at times was thrown to the wind, the arms of both men flying like windmills and but little damage being done. One minute one would land a telling blow and a moment later the other would hand out a smash to even up matters. At the finish it looked as if Langford had the better of the argument, but the decision of a draw was a good one." Another postfight writeup from the New York Sun, Oct 2nd, 1904; "There was plenty of action in the fifteen round bout between Dave Holly of Philadelphia and Sam Langford of Boston at Baltimore on Friday night. Both are negroes and bitter rivals. Although the result of the contest was a draw, the mill was exciting from start to finish. The decision was not altogether satisfactory to the crowd, who appeared to think that Langford should have recieved the verdict. He took little punishment and landed three effective blows to one for his opponent. Holly was the aggressor, but Langford was too quick on his feet and kept always out of his antagonist's reach. After eight rounds Holly began to get the worst of it, Langford landing on the head and face." A couple of papers that thought Langford may have deserved the decision (one close), but the Washington Times didn't indicate too much wrong with the draw besides mentioning that "many" thought Langford deserved the decision, while "others" thought Holly had won. They thought the draw was "all right", although they spent much time being critical of the fight with the clinching and Holly's crouching style, as well as saying that Gans "must have been in a trance" when he lost to Langford earlier. Ok, where was I going with this again?
