Top Ten Uncrowned Champions - 1 - Sam Langford

Whilst opinion differs as to where the phrase pound for pound originated, few if any could argue that it was never more appropriate than when applied to the number one in our list, the legendary Sam Langford. Born in Nova Scotia in March 1884 Sam was a boisterous boy who left home at 14. Despite being short of build Sam was physically strong and found work easy to come by, however his desire to travel saw him leave Canada, arriving in Boston in 1901.

Once in the city Sam found work at Joe Woodman’s drug store and gym where Sam’s duties including cleaning and general upkeep of the place. However, perhaps inevitably it was not long before Sam was sparring with the fighters and it soon became apparent Sam was a quick learner and that his power was something truly special. Sam had a very brief amateur career before turning pro in 1902. In his first 26 fights Sam only lost one. His breakout opportunity came next when he got a match up with the great lightweight champion Joe Gans. As Sam was over the limit his title was not on the line and this was to be something Joe was thankful for as after taking the first few rounds Sam began to work out his vastly more experienced foe and from the fifth on he took control of the fight and whilst the fight was close when the decision was announced few took umbrage with Sam being announced as the winner. This was a remarkable win for a fighter of only 17 years old and less than 30 fights, what was even more remarkable was Gans announced pretty much straight after he had no intention of meeting Sam again anytime soon.

One the back of the Gans win Sam found his level of opposition improving and himself being matched against the excellent Dave Holly and Jack Blackburn, who would go on to earn more fame as Joe Louis’ trainer but was an excellent fighter in his own right during his career. Whilst Sam would not always win during this period he was showing enough form and improvement to prove the Gans win was no fluke. His next named opponent was against the big punching welterweight champion Barbados Joe Walcott, although the official verdict in the fight was a draw most at ringside thought this fortunate to Joe and Sam should have received the nod.

1905 saw Sam continue to fight the usual suspects but it was clear that title shots in the lower weights were not going to be forthcoming and unbelievably in December of that year Sam decided to test his luck in with the heavyweights when he took on the excellent Joe Jeannette. It should be stressed at this point Sam stood little over 5ft 7 and just a year ago had been fighting at welterweight. Although Sam lost this fight Sam decided he saw enough to encourage him he could compete with the big boys and he was to spend a good amount of the next few years and indeed the rest of his career fighting heavyweight and conceding massive size and weight advantages.

One of the heavyweights faced by Sam during this period was the future world champion and all-time great Jack Johnson. Whilst Johnson deservedly won the fight Sam showed enough form and power that he seems to have seriously spooked Jack because during Johnson’s title reign, by which point Sam had more experience of fighting heavies, countless offers were made for Johnson to defend his title against Sam, all of which were declined. Australian promoter Hugh Macintosh is even on record as saying he would have paid Johnson the not inconsiderable sum of $50,000 for such a fight.

As Sam entered 1907 he entered what was almost certainly the purple patch of his career between 1907 and 1912 Sam was to record only two losses from 53 fights, both of which were avenged and one, a loss to Sam McVea was also hotly contested. His form during this period is even more impressive when one considers he was fighting regularly against such excellent fighters as Joe Jeannette, Sam McVea, Jim Barry and Jeff Clarke.

Perhaps one of Sam’s most interesting fights during this period was against middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel. Sam had an eye on a shot at Stanley’s middleweight champion however in their fight Stanley would only agree to a six round no decision affair. Sam now found himself in a difficult position, he wanted to show enough form to suggest raise interest and financial backing for a title shot but not too much form to send Ketchel running to the hills. According to most reports it appears Sam did this, whilst no decision was issued most newspapers were split over who deserved the nod, with most perhaps leaning to Ketchel, although pretty much all agreed Sam was fighting well within himself. Irrespective of how Sam performed in this fight Ketchel’s untimely death was to end any chances of the two meeting for the title proper.

Sam fought regularly throughout his career around the world taking in fights in France, Australia and the UK and he was always well received on the back of both his exciting fighting style and easy going good nature outside the ring which inevitably drew him favourable comparisons with the more arrogant and difficult Johnson but did little to get him anywhere nearer a title shot with his nemesis despite offers being made by promoters in all three of these countries.

Whilst Sam was to remain a valid contender for a good few years on his form began to take a downturn from its imperious peak, this was down to a number of factors, the knowledge that a title shot with Johnson would not happen must surely be a factor as was Sam’s less than stellar approach to his training, but equally as big a factor was the emergence of the excellent Harry Wills, Sam was to fight eighteen fights with the excellent Wills and whilst he won some of their earlier encounters as Harry improved and Sam aged Harry was to have the wood on Sam and replace him as the most likely contender for a title shot, although as Harry’s place on this list tells us he met with as much success as Sam in actually securing a shot.

Sam was to fight on until 1926 despite the fact he was nearly blind at the time and his later fights appear to have been farcical and tragic affairs but even as late in his career in 1922 Sam was capable of showing signs of the old magic beating fighters as good as Tiger Flowers and irrespective of age and failing eye sight if Sam could connect with one of his honey punches it tended to be the end of any fight.
Tributes to Sam from his rivals and those who saw him in the flesh are almost universal, featherweight great Abe Attell described him as the best ever even going as far as to say Sam would have known too much for the legendary Joe Louis. Nearly all of Sam’s opponents such as Harry Wills and Fireman Jim Flynn describing Sam as the heaviest hitters they ever faced, with Fireman Jim Flynn describing being hit by Sam as either being hit by a baseball bat or taking ether such were the sleep inducing effects. Even a cursory glance at the records of Wills and Flynn will tell you how high a compliment the endorsement of these two is.

It would be easy to look at Sam’s record and see the occasional losses to the likes of McVea, Johnson and Wills and suspect he was over rated or undeserving of his place atop this list. This for me would be an unfair reading as what should not be forgotten was Sam by right had no business being in the ring with these guys in the first place being barely above 5ft 7 and perfectly capable of making the middleweight limit. The simple reality is Sam fought the big guys because nobody at his own weight would entertain the idea of meeting Langford, such was his greatness.

10 Jim Driscoll
9 Kid Norfolk
8 Peter Jackson
7 Lew Tendler
6 Harry Wills
5 Mike Gibbons
4 Jimmy Bivins
3 Packey McFarland
2 Charley Burley
1 Sam Langford

One of the most interesting series that I've read on the board is deservedly capped off by a man who still belongs among the ten greatest fighters of all time, in my opinion. Ten worthy uncrowned champions, but Langford remains head and shoulders above them all. McFarland would be my second choice, but the reality is that Sam is a day's march ahead of him.

Fitting end to a great series. Superb. Thanks for all the hard work, although it definitely looked like a labour of love.

Don't post much on the boxing forum but this series has been a great read

Im an admirer of your work Jeff

A great series comes to an end with the right man sitting at the top of the pile. Fine work again, Jeff.

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what Langford's best weight was, but suffice to say that he could have been an excellent world champion anywhere between Welterweight and Light-Heavyweight had the politics of the time allowed it. Some men can go through the weights beating good fighters, which is remarkable in itself, but Langford's opposition as he went up reads incredibly; Gans effectively as a Light-Welter, the Ketchels of this world as a Middleweight, guys like O'Brien at Light-Heavyweight and then of course his work as a Heavy, understandably a little spotty but at the end of the day it was nigh-on a miracle that he was campaigning at a high level there to begin with.

And then of course the fact that Dempsey reportedly wanted nothing to do with a man who was long in the tooth and had started as a Lightweight about twenty years earlier! Incredible.

Marvellous series rowley.

Thank you.

He would be heavyweight champion if he was around now thats for sure.

Gordy wrote:He would be heavyweight champion if he was around now thats for sure.

Do go on.

Melkor wrote:

Gordy wrote:He would be heavyweight champion if he was around now thats for sure.

Do go on.

Please don't.

Melkor wrote:

Gordy wrote:He would be heavyweight champion if he was around now thats for sure.

Do go on.

This is the worst era for heavyweights. Langford was unlucky he could not become champion in his own era but if he was around now he would be heavyweight champion. Look at the division at the moment. Its a shambles.

Gordy wrote:

Melkor wrote:

Gordy wrote:He would be heavyweight champion if he was around now thats for sure.

Do go on.

This is the worst era for heavyweights. Langford was unlucky he could not become champion in his own era but if he was around now he would be heavyweight champion. Look at the division at the moment. Its a shambles.

Thank you for your insight. Who's your hot tip for best heavyweight prospect currently? I am looking to involve myself in a spot of profitable and lucrative gambling.

How many rounds do you think the current pair of heavyweight champions would have lasted against Langford, or do you think they would have lost wide decisions?

Would go against the consensus and say i'd have had Burley at number one.

It's very true that Langford was giving up a lot of size to the men he faced at heavyweight but to me Burley had to compete against a host of great fighters and did it with great distinction. Wade, Chase, Lytell, Moore, Williams, Zivic, Cocoa Kid and the Hogues are with the exception of Gans a step up from the Mcveas and Jeannettes of this world. Yes Bivins and Charles got the best of him quite decisively but at that point in time they got the better of everyone, Charles in particular is never losing to a fighter who started off at Welterweight.

Thanks for all the hard work Jeff, great stuff.

Fantastic series Jeff - -all up on the journal

http://v2journal.com/-top-ten-uncrowned-champions-1-sam-langford.html

Great series, Rowley. All really enjoyable reads, thanks.

Great finish to the series. Langford's ability to be among the best from lightweight to heavyweight is remarkable, as is the way his power carried through the weight classes. Musta been PED's.

I've been reading these while in exile and frankly, they've been brilliant. Hope you come up with a new theme soon, as these are so educational to those like me who don't look before the 60's

Really enjoyed this series Jeff and am looking forward to the next series on the best uncrowned champions of Strictly.

Would love to read more on Langford but all the books I've found on Amazon are excessively priced. Do you have any suggestions of cheaper books or which are the best ones you have come across (not suggesting you do anything dirty whilst reading up on old boxers).

Clay Moyle's is the best Huw but as you say it is going for a mint on Amazon. I have some contact with him though so will speak to him to see if he knows how to get it cheaper or directly from him mate.

Rotherham Joe Gans wrote:Clay Moyle's is the best Huw but as you say it is going for a mint on Amazon. I have some contact with him though so will speak to him to see if he knows how to get it cheaper or directly from him mate.

Cheers Jeff, would be very grateful.

Its sad that for all his hard work and talent, he eventually became penniless.
The accolode of being voted Nova Scotia best athlete of the 20th century is an immense achievement for a man from such humble beginnings in life.

Melkor wrote:

Gordy wrote:

Melkor wrote:

Gordy wrote:He would be heavyweight champion if he was around now thats for sure.

Do go on.

This is the worst era for heavyweights. Langford was unlucky he could not become champion in his own era but if he was around now he would be heavyweight champion. Look at the division at the moment. Its a shambles.

Thank you for your insight. Who's your hot tip for best heavyweight prospect currently? I am looking to involve myself in a spot of profitable and lucrative gambling.

How many rounds do you think the current pair of heavyweight champions would have lasted against Langford, or do you think they would have lost wide decisions?

There are no good heavyweight prospects around at the moment unfortunately. But what you have to remember is that the division is so bad now that there doesnt have to be in oder to become the champion. People are going on about guys like Joshua and Price being the next Lennox Lewis which is ridiculous. They are massively overrated and overhyped. Joshua hasnt even had a pro fight yet and Price is fighting guys that are rubbish. Lewis was beating top heavyweights like Tyson not hype jobs like Audley Harrison.

I dont think any of the heavyweights now would be able to go 12 rounds with Langford. He was known for his power. The last heavyweight champion that would have beaten Langford would have been Lewis, not the rubbish around.

Price is fighting guys that are rubbish. Lewis was beating top heavyweights like Tyson

They were both fighting at the British level at the same stage in their careers..... And Tyson... No coxy, just leave it.

Why don't you you take your rubbish elsewhere Gordy, a lot of hard work and time has gone into this series for you to then taint it with your Lewis man crush.

If you vote Gordy's comment be removed from this fine thread say "aye" (I'd hate for this, the pinnacle of a superb series to be tainted by his complete guff)

Gordy has said "I'm a casual boxing fan" and you talk about Langford? Get away.

Delete mine too if you want the thread to stay its course, just think his comment has nothing to do with Langford personally.

If you know your boxing you will know this is the worst ever era of heavyweights. Lanford fought back in an era when the heavyweights were far better that is the reason he was not champion. If he was around now with these heavyweights then you can be sure he would knock them out!

So Gordy, let me get this straight. You're claiming...that 5'6 Langford would knock out 6'8 Vitali Klitschko?

Just so I'm clear on this, I wish to know if you're serious.

Come on Gordy less the nonsense

You guys no you can just ignore it, right?

JabMachineMK2 wrote:So Gordy, let me get this straight. You're claiming...that 5'6 Langford would knock out 6'8 Vitali Klitschko?

Just so I'm clear on this, I wish to know if you're serious.

Langford was a heavyweight who knocked out over 100 opponents (128 to be exact) most of who are better than the heavyweights around now so yes he would knock Klitschko out. Marciano and Tyson were also small for heavyweights but they were unbelievably strong and powerful and nobody would doubt they would knock out Klitschko. Size is not the main thing in boxing it is ability.

I'm bored so will take the bait:

Langford was a heavyweight who knocked out over 100 opponents (128 to be exact) most of who are better than the heavyweights around now

Which of his heavyweight opponents that he knocked out were better than Wlad or Vitali?

Marciano and Tyson were also small for heavyweights but they were unbelievably strong and powerful and nobody would doubt they would knock out Klitschko.

I have my doubts that Marciano would knock out either Wlad or Vitali. More likely with Wlad but would still be a hell of a challenge for Rocky and I'd be backing Wlad in that fight. .

superflyweight wrote:I'm bored so will take the bait:

Langford was a heavyweight who knocked out over 100 opponents (128 to be exact) most of who are better than the heavyweights around now

Which of his heavyweight opponents that he knocked out were better than Wlad or Vitali?

Marciano and Tyson were also small for heavyweights but they were unbelievably strong and powerful and nobody would doubt they would knock out Klitschko.

I have my doubts that Marciano would knock out either Wlad or Vitali. More likely with Wlad but would still be a hell of a challenge for Rocky and I'd be backing Wlad in that fight. .

Are you joking?? Marciano against Klitschko? Easy knock for Marciano who was one of the most powerful heavyweights of all time and never lost a fight.

Who wins then Gordy, Marciano or Lewis?

Union Cane wrote:Who wins then Gordy, Marciano or Lewis?

Draw. In Gordy's mind the universe explodes if they were in the same ring together. They are that awesome.

Union Cane wrote:Who wins then Gordy, Marciano or Lewis?

Lewis would beat Marciano but not many others would. Ali would of course and probably Tyson but thats about it. Marciano could knock Tyson out if he wasnt careful and it could come down to who lands first and who has a better chin. Both were so powerful. Klitschko would have literally no chance of winning. Champion in the worst ever era against one of the best heavyweights of all time?? Silly to even compare!

Gordy wrote:Champion in the worst ever era against one of the best heavyweights of all time??

You're now saying that Klitschko is one of the best heavyweights of all time?

This has been a great series. Please lets not let it decend into farce by prodding our special friend!!Can't we just treat him like a small child? That is smile and nod, not cuff him round the ear.

Haha the only farce is how little some people understand boxing. Did anyone read the article?? The whole point of it was to show what a good boxer Langford was and now we have people saying Klitschko would beat him and Marciano. Boxing experts rate Langford as one of the best boxers in history and he was unlucky that he was around in hard era. Compare that to Klitschko who is awful and only champion becuase its the worst ever era of heavyweights. People need to do their research and stop overrating Klitschko. There are far better heavyweights in boxing than him if you look back in history but most people probably have not heard of them!

Am nowhere near self important enough to post a bibliography for something like this as even I am not such a tool but for anyone who has enjoyed the series they could do a lot worse than by the book Uncrowned Champions by DS Cogswell and JJ Johnston which features biographies on a lot of the guys in the series as well as others who did not make the cut and is generally a cracking read.

Should forewarn you though that the book is a pain in the backside to get hold of in the UK but more than justifies the effort.

Gordy wrote:Haha the only farce is how little some people understand boxing. Did anyone read the article?? The whole point of it was to show what a good boxer Langford was and now we have people saying Klitschko would beat him and Marciano. Boxing experts rate Langford as one of the best boxers in history and he was unlucky that he was around in hard era. Compare that to Klitschko who is awful and only champion becuase its the worst ever era of heavyweights. People need to do their research and stop overrating Klitschko. There are far better heavyweights in boxing than him if you look back in history but most people probably have not heard of them!

You should write an article explaining what everyone is struggling to grasp. For me, as an example, I would expect the much bigger guys to beat the smaller guy. Especially on the basis that the much bigger guys are very technical boxers.

In order to illustrate your point though how about pointing us to some examples of smaller guys beating the bigger ones (none where the big guy was just a big guy with no actual ability would count though).

The difference between Langford and Vitali would be:

Langford Vitali
Height 5'6" 6'7"
Weight 84kg 114kg
Reach 72" 80"

To add to Huw's point I yield to no man in my admiration of Sam but there comes a point size has to play a part. To put into context how much bigger the brothers are to those Sam fought perhaps the best two heavies Sam can claim to have beaten with anything approaching regularity were McVea and Jeanette, both of whom were around 5ft 10 and around the 195 to 200 pound mark. Is debatable either of these are better than Wlad or Vitali but add 9 inch in height and around 50 extra pound and the task starts to become asking too much.

Jeanette could arguably even have been a light heavweight. Hard to say with the weights back then. But with no real light heavyweight division, if you werent a middleweight, you were a heavyweight and there was no incentive to cut weight. In fact probably more incentive to leave pounds on. When you consider that someone like Hopkins weighs over 180lb on fight night during his light heavyweght career then fighters like Jeanette probably were not massively bigger. Id say alot of heavyweights back then with modern style day before weigh in and re-hydration could have fought as light heavyweights.

Would have to do the research to say so definitively but think it may well be the case that the best guy Sam beat with regularity who was regularly and naturally above 200 was Big Bill Tate. Don't give a flying one how little you rate the brothers I am not having it for a split second that they are both not a country mile better than Tate.

You are trying to explain this to a man who thinks Calzaghe would beat the Klitschkos - by one punch knockout. I think you need a series of diagrams printed on novelty toilet roll so they can be transmitted from his arse to his brain.


Fitting end to a fine series by the way Jazzy Jeff with the right man on top.

Perhaps a collection of great stories? I found one earlier on ESB that cracked me up


Since the thread's about the Duran-Palomino bout -- for those that haven't read it-- thought you might enjoy this incident:

When Roberto Duran was training to fight Carlos Palomino at Madison Square Garden, he worked out at Howard Albert's gym, an old factory loft in the Garment Center.

It was summertime, and sweltering. Every Latino worker in the area-- and their families -- watched their hero train at lunchtime.

The gym was a steam room -- jammed cheek-to-jowl with the adoring. They pressed so close Duran barely had room for floor exercises. When he was done, he jumped in the ring to shadow box.

Spanning what looked like a crowded subway car, you could see chests swell – faces beaming with pride. Plump mothers holding babies in their arms stood at the ring apron, while their little ones looked up saucer-eyed at this God.

In the midst of this outpouring of love, somebody in the back -- unbelievably! -- kept shouting at Duran in Spanish: "PIPINO CUEVAS WILL KILL YOU!

Duran paid him no mind and continued to shadow box. But the heckler was relentless: "PIPINO CUEVAS WILL KILL YOU! "PIPINO CUEVAS WILL KILL YOU!”

Finally, Duran fixed him with a glare, stretched as far over the ropes as he could -- just above the glowing faces of mothers and toddlers -- and yanked down his trunks, grabbed his nuts and roared in Spanish: "PIPINO CUEVAS CAN SUCK MY CO CK!”

I said Calzaghe would beat Klitschko on points not knock him out. His size might make him hard to knock out but Calzaghe would outbox him using superior skills and ability which is the main thing. Calzaghe himself said he beat Klitschko and I posted his comments on another thread so tht one thing I am basing it on. Size is not the main thing in boxing its skills and ability otherwise if it was not then that guy Haye fought would be the best of all time, so are we saying he would beat Ali or Lewis? Langford was a heavyweight who fought in a far harder time than Klitschko so dont just base things on size or because he was not heavyweight champion. If he was around now he would beat Klitschko or if Klitschko was back then he would not be champion.

Gordy wrote:I said Calzaghe would beat Klitschko on points not knock him out. His size might make him hard to knock out but Calzaghe would outbox him using superior skills and ability which is the main thing. Calzaghe himself said he beat Klitschko and I posted his comments on another thread so tht one thing I am basing it on. Size is not the main thing in boxing its skills and ability otherwise if it was not then that guy Haye fought would be the best of all time, so are we saying he would beat Ali or Lewis? Langford was a heavyweight who fought in a far harder time than Klitschko so dont just base things on size or because he was not heavyweight champion. If he was around now he would beat Klitschko or if Klitschko was back then he would not be champion.

I'm sorry - Can't for the life of me figure out why I thought you could ever be capable of such nonsense.

It's like drawing a pair of comedy breasts on the Mona Lisa.

Gordy wrote:I said Calzaghe would beat Klitschko on points not knock him out. His size might make him hard to knock out but Calzaghe would outbox him using superior skills and ability which is the main thing. Calzaghe himself said he beat Klitschko and I posted his comments on another thread so tht one thing I am basing it on. Size is not the main thing in boxing its skills and ability otherwise if it was not then that guy Haye fought would be the best of all time, so are we saying he would beat Ali or Lewis? Langford was a heavyweight who fought in a far harder time than Klitschko so dont just base things on size or because he was not heavyweight champion. If he was around now he would beat Klitschko or if Klitschko was back then he would not be champion.

Fair enough to just take his word for it I guess and there is no way he could possibly be wrong. The same way Hatton said he would beat Mayweather, Pacquiao and Senchenko. The same way Haye said he would beat Wlad. This list could go on forever as 99% of fighters say they will win every fight they go into.

Great series by the way Rowley, haven't commented much on them but each was a great read.

Calzaghe was a great fighter with bags of ability. All Klitschko has is size. Did you hear Calzaghe saying he would beat Lewis or Tyson? No, they were great heavyweights that Calzage knew he would not beat but Klitschko is another story. People need to stop overrating him so much and thinking he is good just because he is big. If that was the case then he would beat Ali! Calzaghe understood this which is why he knew he would beat Klitschko but not great heavyweights like Tyson or Lewis.