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Sam Langford
Sam Langford is usually cited as the best fighter never to win a World Championship, Langford beat masses of great, great fighters. A lot of the time during these he was past prime(Tiger Flowers), Had significant weight disadvantages (Sam McVey) or had to carry oppnents (Stanley Ketchel.)
Sams first major fight, was against Joe Gans, the current LW champion and usually given the acolade of Top 3 Lightweight. Langford won this fight, and the extraordinary thing about it is: Sam was only 17 years old at the time of this fight. Sadly young Sam didn't get to keep the Lightweight title, after it was removed from him as he was over the Lightweight limit. Gans would not lose again for four years before relinquishing the title to Battling Nelson
At LW Sam also beat good fighters including; Joe Louis' trainer, Jack Blackburn.
Next Sam grew out of his Lightweight figure and moved up to Welterweight to challenge the great Barbados Walcott. The contest was declared a draw at the end of the bout, many newspapers contested the decision as did the supporters at ringside. Langford was once again, unlucky not to receive this title. Langford beat Blackburn again at this weight, split a series with Dave Holly.
Sam was now a middlweight and beat Young Peter Jackson in his first two fights, beat Jack Blackburn again Won series over Jim Barry and Larry Temple and beat Fireman Jim Flynn. He lost to Joe Jeanette weighing as a MW, with Jeanette weighing around 185Ib, although Sam(still near MW) avenged this defeat twice. He also defeated the huge Sandy Ferguson and Al Kubaik weighing in near MW. At this weight he also lost the infamous Johnson match, being outweighed by 30Ibs a match he would never get a second shot at, as Johnson ducked him ridiculously. Langford beat Top competition during this period, while maintaining a 25 fight winning streak.
His 25 fight winning streak came to an end when the once again heavier Fireman Flynn beat him, this loss was quickly avenged-brutally- by knockout.
Sam Langford then weighing 166 pounds, boxed an exhibition with Stanley Ketchel, Langford won the decision by NWS majority. However it was reported Langford carried Ketchel, so not to be avoided making a shot at the MW title posssible. Sadly that title shot would never come seeing Ketchel was shot and killed months later.
After this Langford weighing an estimate of around 172 beat the heavier Joe Jeaneate twice, and boxed a draw with Sam McVey. He then beat Philly Jack O'Brien something Johnson didn't manage. Beat Joe Jeaneet once again and lost to Sam McVey this time. McVey obviously just made ol' Sam angry who proceeded to beat McVey in their next 4 meetings being outweighed in all as per usual.
This was Langfords prime, and beating Top Contenders like McVey and Jeanette miltiple times and other vert good fighters should have granted him a shot at Johnsons HW title. Unfortuanetly it didn't and Langford was horribly avoided by Johnson for years.
After this period of greatness, he picked up a loss to Gunboat Smith, this was the end of Langfords prime, and he started picking up scattered losses from then on. He grew to a Heavyweight still beating good fighters such as Jim Johnson, avenged win against Ginboat Smith, Jeff Clark and having mixed results against, Mcvey and Jeanette.
He also found his first conquerer, a man by the name of Harry Wills, you may have heard his name mentioned in Dempsey threads as he was avoided but, that's a whole different topic. Wills was a fully fledged Heavyweight, and a very good and under-rated one. -While Langford was a blown up LHW/MW who was now fat but his skills kept him in the game-. Beatling Langford on many occasions. Although Langford did get a few KO victories over Harry.
He then lost decisions to Fred Fulton and was now blind in one eye by this point(had toubles throughout his career) confirming he was no longer the fighter he once was but, again managed to pick up good results such as a KO win over Kid Norflok.
Now well past prime just plodding along, he defeated his old foe Young Peter Jackson once again, picking up losses along the way to beating, Fireman Jim Flynn twice again and almost completely blind during this reign, also managed to defeat one of the greatest Southpaws of all time and eventual Greb conquerer Tiger Flowers.
Sam beat many other good fighters during his career, these are just the great or very good ones.
Sam Langford has an amazing career, I've tried to cover it as best I can and the Greb installment will be here soon but, for now I leave you with a quote.
"I'd pick him(Sam Langford) to knockout Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano. When he was not under wraps, he was a ring marvel" - Frank Erne.
Sam Langford
Sam Langford is usually cited as the best fighter never to win a World Championship, Langford beat masses of great, great fighters. A lot of the time during these he was past prime(Tiger Flowers), Had significant weight disadvantages (Sam McVey) or had to carry oppnents (Stanley Ketchel.)
Sams first major fight, was against Joe Gans, the current LW champion and usually given the acolade of Top 3 Lightweight. Langford won this fight, and the extraordinary thing about it is: Sam was only 17 years old at the time of this fight. Sadly young Sam didn't get to keep the Lightweight title, after it was removed from him as he was over the Lightweight limit. Gans would not lose again for four years before relinquishing the title to Battling Nelson
At LW Sam also beat good fighters including; Joe Louis' trainer, Jack Blackburn.
Next Sam grew out of his Lightweight figure and moved up to Welterweight to challenge the great Barbados Walcott. The contest was declared a draw at the end of the bout, many newspapers contested the decision as did the supporters at ringside. Langford was once again, unlucky not to receive this title. Langford beat Blackburn again at this weight, split a series with Dave Holly.
Sam was now a middlweight and beat Young Peter Jackson in his first two fights, beat Jack Blackburn again Won series over Jim Barry and Larry Temple and beat Fireman Jim Flynn. He lost to Joe Jeanette weighing as a MW, with Jeanette weighing around 185Ib, although Sam(still near MW) avenged this defeat twice. He also defeated the huge Sandy Ferguson and Al Kubaik weighing in near MW. At this weight he also lost the infamous Johnson match, being outweighed by 30Ibs a match he would never get a second shot at, as Johnson ducked him ridiculously. Langford beat Top competition during this period, while maintaining a 25 fight winning streak.
His 25 fight winning streak came to an end when the once again heavier Fireman Flynn beat him, this loss was quickly avenged-brutally- by knockout.
Sam Langford then weighing 166 pounds, boxed an exhibition with Stanley Ketchel, Langford won the decision by NWS majority. However it was reported Langford carried Ketchel, so not to be avoided making a shot at the MW title posssible. Sadly that title shot would never come seeing Ketchel was shot and killed months later.
After this Langford weighing an estimate of around 172 beat the heavier Joe Jeaneate twice, and boxed a draw with Sam McVey. He then beat Philly Jack O'Brien something Johnson didn't manage. Beat Joe Jeaneet once again and lost to Sam McVey this time. McVey obviously just made ol' Sam angry who proceeded to beat McVey in their next 4 meetings being outweighed in all as per usual.
This was Langfords prime, and beating Top Contenders like McVey and Jeanette miltiple times and other vert good fighters should have granted him a shot at Johnsons HW title. Unfortuanetly it didn't and Langford was horribly avoided by Johnson for years.
After this period of greatness, he picked up a loss to Gunboat Smith, this was the end of Langfords prime, and he started picking up scattered losses from then on. He grew to a Heavyweight still beating good fighters such as Jim Johnson, avenged win against Ginboat Smith, Jeff Clark and having mixed results against, Mcvey and Jeanette.
He also found his first conquerer, a man by the name of Harry Wills, you may have heard his name mentioned in Dempsey threads as he was avoided but, that's a whole different topic. Wills was a fully fledged Heavyweight, and a very good and under-rated one. -While Langford was a blown up LHW/MW who was now fat but his skills kept him in the game-. Beatling Langford on many occasions. Although Langford did get a few KO victories over Harry.
He then lost decisions to Fred Fulton and was now blind in one eye by this point(had toubles throughout his career) confirming he was no longer the fighter he once was but, again managed to pick up good results such as a KO win over Kid Norflok.
Now well past prime just plodding along, he defeated his old foe Young Peter Jackson once again, picking up losses along the way to beating, Fireman Jim Flynn twice again and almost completely blind during this reign, also managed to defeat one of the greatest Southpaws of all time and eventual Greb conquerer Tiger Flowers.
Sam beat many other good fighters during his career, these are just the great or very good ones.
Sam Langford has an amazing career, I've tried to cover it as best I can and the Greb installment will be here soon but, for now I leave you with a quote.
"I'd pick him(Sam Langford) to knockout Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano. When he was not under wraps, he was a ring marvel" - Frank Erne.
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