Originally posted by poet682006
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On the topic at hand, I think it's fair to say that Langford is a legitimate ATG. While he never won a world title, he did challenge the immortal Barbados Joe Walcott, who was the welterweight champion at the time (1904), although it's unclear whether the fight was for the title (it probably was). It was officially a draw, but most, including Nat Fleischer, felt Langford deserved a pretty comfortable decision. Additionally, he did defeat Stanley Ketchel, albeit in a six rounder, shortly after Ketchel lost his title. He also knocked out Tiger Flowers in two rounds in 1922, just before Flowers won the middleweight title. Granted, Langford was a lot bigger, but he was also blind.
Also, let me clear up the Joe Gans issue. Langford fought Gans in 1903, back when Langford fought between 140 and 147. Gans was the lightweight champion. Langford weighed 140 for the fight, and Gans entered the ring at 136. Langford was exceptionally strong and big for his weight, but it wasn't as though he outweighed Gans by 40 pounds, the way some make it seem. Later in his career, Langford took the bigger money fights, which were at heavyweight. However, he was a very small heavyweight, even in his day. He could have maxed out at middleweight, and his best weight was arguably 147. Even so, he went 8-2-4 against Joe Jeannette and went life and death with Jack Johnson. At light heavyweight, he demolished former champion Philadelphia Jack O'Brien in five rounds.
In sum, yeah, Langford fought and beat plenty of world class fighters, ATGs, and world champions.
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