AFTER kicking off with Roberto Duran yesterday, DAN MORLEY continues his GOATs of boxing series with a quality operator who never got a fair shake.
The mythical claim of Greatest of All Time is an argument that will take place forever. Many opinions differ on who rightfully deserves their place amongst the pinnacle of boxing greatness and it’s difficult to compare eras, considering the natural evolution of the sport since the turn of the 20th Century.
However, I believe there are nine fighters throughout history whose body of work gives them the strongest claim to GOAT status. Men whose achievements border on mythical, compiling resumes beyond belief and dominating in a manner that has never been surpassed at the peak of their powers whilst avoiding no challengers and remaining active.
In this series, I will be covering each of these nine men’s careers and stating why I think their claim to the ‘Greatest Ever’ is so impactful. This is not to discredit any of the other legendary fighters who aren’t on this list. I simply believe what these men achieved and the manner in which they did so is just in a bracket of its own.
Today, I’ll be covering the legend ESPN labelled ‘The Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows’, the man who defied the logic of weight classes – The Boston Bone Crusher, Sam Langford.
Sam Langford
Record: 210-43-53 (126 KOs)
Years Active: 1902-1925
Sam Langford is the only man who can match the unbelievable nature of Harry Greb’s career. Whilst Langford wasn’t as dominant as Greb, it’s made up by the sheer freakish activity he maintained, competing across an absurd weight span. Langford’s numbers against International Boxing Hall of Famers, much like Greb’s – blow any other fighter in histories out of the water.
‘The Boston Terror’ competed in a staggering 60 fights against 11 different Hall of Famers. Sam’s records vary. Many suggest he had just over 300 career fights, winning around two-thirds and scoring a jaw dropping 126 KOs. Yet there are many who believe those numbers could be substantially higher, with Sam fighting all around the world, where dozens or potentially hundreds of bouts may not have been recorded.
Whilst the numbers alone are extremely impressive, they don’t come close to telling the story of Langford’s unique career. Standing at just five foot seven, in his prime Langford weighed anywhere between 147-160lbs. A size disadvantage wouldn’t prevent the illustrious Ring Magazine ranking Langford as the second hardest pound for pound puncher in history.
Before hitting his peak, he made his professional debut as a 16-year-old in 1902. After a year in the pro ranks, he faced off against lightweight world champion Joe Gans. Gans was widely considered the greatest fighter of all time, and experts still rank him in the top 20 greatest fighters ever over 120 years later.
He was a true pioneer, who many at that time deemed unbeatable, having reigned as champion for six years, retaining the titles 15 times, including a 42nd-round victory against fellow great Battling Nelson. Amazingly, a 17-year-old Langford defeated the veteran Gans over 15 rounds. Despite scoring such an unthinkable victory for a man so young, he never won the title, as the lightweight crown wasn’t on the line.
The following year, Langford moved up to challenge welterweight world champion Barbados Joe Walcott, who, although not on the level of Gans, was still considered to be the greatest welterweight the world had ever seen. Ultimately, the title fight was scored a draw in what many deemed a blatant robbery against Langford.
At 18, Langford had already outclassed the great lightweight and welterweight champions of his era. Despite never winning the titles, to stamp his claim further as the best in those classes, he simultaneously defeated Walcott’s successor as champion, Young Peter Jackson.
In a feat that’s simply unthinkable and impossible in modern boxing, a 19-year-old Langford made the colossal jump to heavyweight, defeating future Hall of Famer Joe Jeanette. The following year, Langford took the future heavyweight champion and icon of the sport, Jack Johnson, the full 15 rounds in a losing, spirited effort just three years after fighting the greatest 135-pounder in the world.
All of this had already been achieved before his 21st birthday. Across the following decade, Sam embarked on a terrifying, fighter of the decade run, knocking out great fighters across every weight class the sport could offer beyond welterweight. But it was predominantly his form at heavyweight, against the much larger men that cement him as a boxing immortal.
Many of the great heavyweights of the era were black men, who were never given a shot at the world heavyweight title due to the racism of the time. Whilst Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion in history, had already beaten many of these men before claiming the title, the likes of brilliant Harry Wills, Sam McVea and Joe Jeannette would never be able to challenge for his title, whilst that remained the same through Jess Willard’s and the ferocious Jack Dempsey’s run as heavyweight king. Despite never getting the shot, these men were amongst the most formidable heavyweights of the early 20th Century.
Langford competed in over 40 fights against them, scoring knockout victories over everyone. He scored seven victories against McVea to a combined eight defeats and draws, seven victories over Jeannette to seven defeats and draws in response, and two victories against the incredible Harry Wills, who’s considered the best heavyweight to never be crowned champion, in a 17 fight-saga.
Across these fights, Sam claimed the ‘Coloured Heavyweight World Title’ five times. There were an additional 11 victories over heavyweight world title challenger ‘Battling Jim Johnson’, KO victories over Fireman Jim Flynn – the man who KO’d Jack Dempsey in the first round, Gunboat Smith and finally a victory over the brilliant Kid Norfolk.
Around his relentless heavyweight battles, Langford knocked out the greatest light-heavyweight of the era, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien and got the best of the greatest middleweight of his era, Stanley Ketchel. Having boxed Ketchel over six rounds, the middleweight champion had promised Langford a title shot.
Those plans were scuppered when Ketchel was infamously murdered via a gunshot wound months later, prematurely ending the 24-year life of one of history’s most ferocious middleweights. To add further depth to potentially boxing’s greatest resume, Langford knocked out future all-time great champion Tiger Flowers in two rounds.
To put into context, over hundreds of fights, Langford had scored over 100 knockouts, outclassing the greatest lightweight and welterweight of his time and going the distance with the greatest heavyweight of his era by the age of 20.
He followed up by defeating the greatest middleweight champion of his era, knocking out the future great middleweight champion, knocking out the best light-heavyweight champion of the time and knocking out every great heavyweight that would fight him in a gruelling 50-plus fight saga. Yet he was never a world champion!
Langford’s legend spread, with his formidable fighting abilities leading him to become extremely avoided by many of the greats. He became so avoided in America; he opted to travel the world for fights and competed continuously in a financially successful chapter of his career, becoming a celebrity for his fighting endeavours.
Through these years, his record becomes hazy. There are experts who state that he may have had anywhere up to 600 fights. Whilst always on the move, many of his fights may not have been recorded, meaning those 126 KOs may have been considerably higher.
Unfortunately, Langford boxed on far too long and lost both his money and his vision in one eye. Towards the end of his career, tragically, he required guidance to the ring, but even in his vulnerable state, many still swerved a fight with him.
Jack Dempsey stated in his book and years later in interviews, “Langford was one of the greatest fighters we ever had and if I fought him, I probably would’ve got knocked out and I’m glad I never had the opportunity to”.
For years after his career, Langford had seemingly vanished, with his whereabouts unknown. He was located in a derelict basement, completely blind and broke, but despite his state, he remained in good spirits. He passed away at the age of 69.
Langford’s notable Victories over Hall of Famers, World Champions and World Coloured Champions and Top Contenders included:
Joe Gans, George McFadden, Young Peter Jackson 4x, Fireman Jim Flynn 5x, Dixie Kid 2x, Stanley Ketchel, Battling Jim Johnson 11x, Bill Tate 5x, Jamaica Kid, Harry Wills 2x, Gunboat Smith, Jack Blackburn, Sam Mcvea 7x, Lee Anderson 2x, Tiger Flowers, George Godfrey 2x, Joe Jeanette 7x, Kid Norfolk, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien.
