Langford-Flynn: Who to believe?

[Dempsey-Louis]

If you read the BoxRec's caption to the fight you are left believing Flynn suffered a severe KO at the fists of Sam Langford.

"After the KO, Flynn was placed slumped and dazed on a stool in his corner, while his seconds spent some time attempting to revive him. He eventually got to his feet."

If you read the NY Times article of the fight it tells a different story.

[HOUDINI563]

The fight was filmed. Flynn indeed missed a right hand but in process ran into a Herculean left hook which ended the bout.

[travestyny]

Hahaha. I love the headline!

"Flynn falls on mat and is counted out."

[Dempsey-Louis]

The fight was filmed. Flynn indeed missed a right hand but in process ran into a Herculean left hook which ended the bout.

There is film of Langford fighting?

[HOUDINI563]

Yes. Several of his bouts. Look on YouTube.

[Dempsey-Louis]

Got me all excited for nothing. -- Yea found the film - that didn't help. They brag about the film being digitally enhanced and still you see couldn't see ****.

Occam's Razor suggest that Langford must have gotten a short punch in there somewhere, that the ringside press didn't see, (that makes the most sense) but as usual the film confirms nothing (people still argue the infamous 'anchor punch' from '65). If you want to see a punch you can; don't, and you won't.

Was it racism? Was it better for a white man to knock himself out that than to be KOed by a black man? (So the press stole Langford's thunder.)

Did Flynn take a dive?

Did Flynn actually miss a punch and literally kiss the canvas, or did the press just miss the punch?

As usual the film was useless in settling the issue.

Although, both serve as another lesson as to why you trust only half of what you see, and none of what you read.

[HOUDINI563]

Useless? Certainly you see Flynn missing a right hand but certainly a huge hook was landed by Langford. Flynn went down and was counted out. By any stretch or standard Flynn was koed.

Regarding Ali Liston 2 no one argues that Ali's right hand did not land. It landed and was hard enough to jerk Listons head to one side and lift his lead foot off the canvas. One can argue whether the blow was hard enough to ko Liston but not whether the punch landed.

[travestyny]

Got me all excited for nothing. -- Yea found the film - that didn't help. They brag about the film being digitally enhanced and still you see couldn't see ****.

Occam's Razor suggest that Langford must have gotten a short punch in there somewhere, that the ringside press didn't see, (that makes the most sense) but as usual the film confirms nothing (people still argue the infamous 'anchor punch' from '65). If you want to see a punch you can; don't, and you won't.

Was it racism? Was it better for a white man to knock himself out that than to be KOed by a black man? (So the press stole Langford's thunder.)

Did Flynn take a dive?

Did Flynn actually miss a punch and literally kiss the canvas, or did the press just miss the punch?

As usual the film was useless in settling the issue.

Although, both serve as another lesson as to why you trust only half of what you see, and none of what you read.

I think maybe you're looking in the wrong place. Perhaps it's difficult to see the punches that land, but (particularly if you slow the film down, but even without doing so) you can clearly see that Flynn's head never hit the canvas. So there is no way that he fell and smashed his face on the canvas. Also, I severely doubt Flynn threw the fight. Langford was really going after him with some hellacious blows.

[Dempsey-Louis]

This is the best video I have found regarding the punch.

[HOUDINI563]

And you can see the right hand clearly landed.