What do we actually know about Sam Langford

[them_apples]

I realize for everything readable on Sam Langford there is another report that goes against it. from his weight, his height - who he fought, when he fought them and who won.

He has been said to have had around 700 bouts. He fought in the newspaper era. For those not familiar with this - the judging was simply done by news paper reports. One paper could list one guy the winner, the other paper could and would list a different result. True wins were registered as knockouts. Many fights are unrecorded / undocumented.

So that being said, I mistaken, posted some information about Sam Langford that I read - only to find a different account written somewhere else. In turn I found this happening with a lot of things involving Sam Langford.

On top of him fighting in the NWS era, he was also black. fighting for different titles and I will bet even less accurate documentation.

Should he be left out of ranking all together? It should be noted that Jack Dempsey in on camera stating he never wanted to fight Sam Langford, and figures Langford would have stopped him. Johnson, who fought a green Langford, stated he was an extremely tough fighter - and still remembers his right hand whistling past his head.

[Bronson66]

I realize for everything readable on Sam Langford there is another report that goes against it. from his weight, his height - who he fought, when he fought them and who won.

He has been said to have had around 700 bouts. He fought in the newspaper era. For those not familiar with this - the judging was simply done by news paper reports. One paper could list one guy the winner, the other paper could and would list a different result. True wins were registered as knockouts. Many fights are unrecorded / undocumented.

So that being said, I mistaken, posted some information about Sam Langford that I read - only to find a different account written somewhere else. In turn I found this happening with a lot of things involving Sam Langford.

On top of him fighting in the NWS era, he was also black. fighting for different titles and I will bet even less accurate documentation.

Should he be left out of ranking all together? It should be noted that Jack Dempsey in on camera stating he never wanted to fight Sam Langford, and figures Langford would have stopped him. Johnson, who fought a green Langford, stated he was an extremely tough fighter - and still remembers his right hand whistling past his head.

Langford had more fights than Johnson when they met.
George Byers taught Langford how to set up his big punches, and, after their fightJoe Walcott coached him further saying, it's okay I ain't ever going to fight you again."
Dempsey was a young up and comer when his the manager, a piece of work called John The Barber tried to match him with Langford,and Jack sensibly refused ,he knew he wasn't ready for him Langford was half blind,and on the downside when Dempsey won the title in1919.

[DeeMoney]

Langford had more fights than Johnson when they met.
George Byers taught Langford how to set up his big punches, and, after their fightJoe Walcott coached him further saying, it's okay I ain't ever going to fight you again."
Dempsey was a young up and comer when his the manager, a piece of work called John The Barber tried to match him with Langford,and Jack sensibly refused ,he knew he wasn't ready for him Langford was half blind,and on the downside when Dempsey won the title in1919.

Langford had more pro fights, but Johnson was older, and I feel had already grown into his heavyweight body. Langford weighed in as darn near a super welterweight for the fight, and was just over a year removed from fighting for the welterweight title.

This was not quite yet prime Langford who had a similar build as Qawi, though maybe even more stout and with a slightly longer reach

[Bronson66]

Langford had more pro fights, but Johnson was older, and I feel had already grown into his heavyweight body. Langford weighed in as darn near a super welterweight for the fight, and was just over a year removed from fighting for the welterweight title.

This was not quite yet prime Langford who had a similar build as Qawi, though maybe even more stout and with a slightly longer reach

Johnson was185lbs he stated his perfect condition was for Jeffries ,for which fight he weighed 208lbs, 23 lbs heavier.
Clay Moyle,the expert on Langford states Langford's best weight was between175 and180lbs so he was below his best weight by20/25lbs. Langford had a 44 in chest,huge arms and shoulders.
Langford's reach was 74in the same as Johnson's and 3 inches longer than Qawis,those huge shoulders!