sam langford the most underated heavyweight of all time

[Yogi]

This is interesting stuff Yogi. I always thought it was for financial reasons that he ducked McVey, Langford, and Jeanette but I had no idea the demand for a Langford rematch was so high. Very interesting.

Oh, it was in demand, Kid, just not really demanded in the states...But McIntosh REALLY tried hard to get that fight in Australia and was willing to pay out the big dough (at the time) for it to happen. Promoters in London also tried matching them up on at least a couple occasions, as did Paris on at least one occasion...

Johnson versus Jeanette & McVey weren't in as much demand as Johnson/Langford, but still, quite a few offers were made to Johnson to fight them guys overseas (including that big money offer for Johnson to fight/defend against all three of them in Australia).

But of course, Johnson came out with that infamous & fairly well known statement in 1913, and I quote;

"I won't box any of those coloured boys now. I have had a hard time to get a chance. I gave Langford, Jeannette and those boys a chance before I was champ. I'll retire still the only coloured heavyweight champion of the world."

[Yogi]

Smasher, I can't find anything concrete on how much Johnson made for the fight with Jeffries, although it seems that they were fighting for a total purse of $101,000, with the winner to get 75% of that (it looks like Jeffries also had a guaranteed purse added on to that, though)...

If that was the case, Johnson made just over $75,000 for it.

[Kid Achilles]

Yogi, do you happen to know how much money that ($75,000) would equate to today with inflation and everything? I'm sure it'd be a few million at least.

[Yogi]

Yogi, do you happen to know how much money that ($75,000) would equate to today with inflation and everything? I'm sure it'd be a few million at least.

Yeah, and it's really not that much according to the inflation calculator...

$1,539,778.98

But that was still a HUGE sum of money during that time and in comparision to what other fighters were making up to that point.

[SuzieQ49]

good stuff yogi, good stuff.


what does everyone think about langfords WIN resume? pretty impressive huh?

even a blind langford was beating very good fighters in the late teens-early 20s

[SuzieQ49]

btw,


anyone see langford on film that they want to comment on him?



i just ordered


sam mcvey- jim johnson

langford-flynn

[Yogi]

what does everyone think about langfords WIN resume? pretty impressive huh?

His win resume, the contemporary fight reports of his, contemporary opinions of him, and the video footage that's still available...it all equals ELITE ALL-TIME GREATNESS to me, and he may very well have been the p4p greatest two-fisted fighter of all-time...

At least that's my opinion on Tuesdays, Thurdays, and Saturdays.

[GunStar]

Langford beat better heavyweights than Toney though.

Wlad has a great resume.

[GunStar]

His win resume, the contemporary fight reports of his, contemporary opinions of him, and the video footage that's still available...it all equals ELITE ALL-TIME GREATNESS to me, and he may very well have been the p4p greatest two-fisted fighter of all-time...

At least that's my opinion on Tuesdays, Thurdays, and Saturdays.

I've read the old article about Langford, I guess you agree with that article. I will never put Langford in my top 10 P4P list.

Anyway I know you think he was the greatest of all time, but he really wasn't. He lost too many times in his prime.

[Yogi]

I've read the old article about Langford, I guess you agree with that article. I will never put Langford in my top 10 P4P list.

Anyway I know you think he was the greatest of all time, but he really wasn't. He lost too many times in his prime.

What old article?

I've read a ****load of different articles on Langford, both contemporary and modern writings of him. I've also seen the two fights that are available of him nowadays and for the most part, yes I do agree with what is written about Langford, although I don't see the defensive genius that is often written about (from what I see, his defensive skills are based largely on him having great reflexes, which he does posses...kept his hands pretty low, though, and he does take some punches).

And when would you define his prime as being?

Would you agree with most opinions that state his prime was from about 1908 to about 1913, which IS when he was getting the most attention as a serious threat to the champions like Ketchel and Johnson (that's according to the papers of the time)?

If so, you can see he didn't lose that many during his "prime", and even when he did lose to someone he was coming back & gaining revenge in quick time.