Greater fighter, Harry Wills or Sam Langford?

[Ivich]

Which do you consider the greater fighter of these two classic fighters?

Poll added.

Langford for me was the greatest fighter of the four black boxers that comprised.
Wills
McVey
Jeannette
Langford
Though not as great a heavyweight as Johnson, Langford is P4P ,the superior fighter to the others including Johnson imo. Given the opportunity he may very well have won titles at
Middleweight Ketchel wanted no part of him in a real fight.
Light Heavy, he was O Brien's master
Heavyweight,after his win over Jeffries ,Johnson was never in top shape again,before Sam put on so much excess weight,
Had he caught Johnson when the champion was not at his best he may very well have taken the crown off his head!

[QueensburyRules]

They almost didnt sign Tunney agreed to the match verbally with the winner to face Dempsey but Wills and his manager refused. Which if Wills would have won he would be given the Dempsey fight. You know Tunney never fought a black fighter in his career?

- - All true. Don't know what Wills and his mgr were thinking other than holding out one hand hoping Dempsey fight lands on it and Shltting on the other, and then what do you have?

[JAB5239]

- - All true. Don't know what Wills and his mgr were thinking other than holding out one hand hoping Dempsey fight lands on it and Shltting on the other, and then what do you have?

Wills had been told for years he was getting a Dempsey fight only to be asked to jump thru hoops while Jack fought rematches with guys he had already beaten or less deserving fighters. Wills had no reason to believe Dempsey would honor anything at that point.

[Ivich]

Wills had been told for years he was getting a Dempsey fight only to be asked to jump thru hoops while Jack fought rematches with guys he had already beaten or less deserving fighters. Wills had no reason to believe Dempsey would honor anything at that point.

That is true but feeding on a diet of well chewed meat did not exactly help his case did it?

[Willie Pep 229]

Langford for me was the greatest fighter of the four black boxers that comprised.
Wills
McVey
Jeannette
Langford
Though not as great a heavyweight as Johnson, Langford is P4P ,the superior fighter to the others including Johnson imo. Given the opportunity he may very well have won titles at
Middleweight Ketchel wanted no part of him in a real fight.
Light Heavy, he was O Brien's master
Heavyweight,after his win over Jeffries ,Johnson was never in top shape again,before Sam put on so much excess weight,
Had he caught Johnson when the champion was not at his best he may very well have taken the crown off his head!

Who other that Langford and his manager said that the Ketchel fight wasn't real?

Over and over again, everytime a black fighter from that era doesn't perform well against a white fighter we're told (usually by the fighter himself) that he was coerced into not fighting to his potential.

It is time for someone to prove such allegations and not just repeat the popular CW because it's popular.

[Ivich]

Who other that Langford and his manager said that the Ketchel fight wasn't real?

Over and over again, everytime a black fighter from that era doesn't perform well against a white fighter we're told (usually by the fighter himself) that he was coerced into not fighting to his potential.

It is time for someone to prove such allegations and not just repeat the popular CW because it's popular.

I'm referencing Clay Moyle.
I suggest you take it up with him?

[JAB5239]

Who other that Langford and his manager said that the Ketchel fight wasn't real?

Over and over again, everytime a black fighter from that era doesn't perform well against a white fighter we're told (usually by the fighter himself) that he was coerced into not fighting to his potential.

It is time for someone to prove such allegations and not just repeat the popular CW because it's popular.

I think if Ketchel wanted him he would have fought him with the title on the line instead of a 6 round non title bout. Thats just my opinion. Did Sam take it easy? Hard to say. But I would bet dollars and cents he wasn't going all out as in to not ruin any chance of a possible title shot.

[JAB5239]

That is true but feeding on a diet of well chewed meat did not exactly help his case did it?

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Ivich]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Of course, it was Catch 22 .What is certain is that Wills deserved his shot and never got it.

[Ivich]

I think if Ketchel wanted him he would have fought him with the title on the line instead of a 6 round non title bout. Thats just my opinion. Did Sam take it easy? Hard to say. But I would bet dollars and cents he wasn't going all out as in to not ruin any chance of a possible title shot.

That's my take on it too.