Sam Langford

For the baseball player, see Sam Langford (baseball).

Sam Langford
Statistics
Real name	Sam Langford
Nickname(s)	Boston Tar Baby Boston Terror Boston Bonecrusher
Rated at	Lightweight Welterweight Middleweight Light Heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 6 1⁄2 in (1.69 m)
Reach	72 in (183 cm)
Nationality	Canadian
Born	March 4, 1883(1883-03-04) Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia
Died	January 12, 1956(1956-01-12) (aged 72) Cambridge, Massachusetts
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	256
Wins	178
Wins by KO	129
Losses	32
Draws	40

Sam Langford (March 4, 1883 - January 12, 1956) was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. Called the "Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows," by ESPN. He was rated #2 by The Ring on their list of "100 greatest punchers of all time." Langford was originally from Weymouth Falls, a small community in Nova Scotia, Canada. He was known as the "Boston Bonecrusher," "Boston Terror" and, his most infamous nickname, the "Boston Tar Baby." Langford stood only 5 ft 6 ¹⁄₂ in (1.69 m) and weighed 185 lb (84 kg) in his prime.

Professional career

Langford was a boxer who fought greats from the lightweight division right up to the heavyweights, beating many champions in the process. However, he was never able to secure a world title for himself. Langford was simply too good and, as a result, was ducked by many champions. Despite the fact Langford never received his rightful chance at the heavyweight title because of Jack Johnson's refusal to risk his crown against Langford, Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer rated Langford as one of the ten best heavyweights of all time.

Langford's most memorable fights were his numerous encounters against fellow black boxers Sam McVey, Battling Jim Johnson, Joe Jeanette and Harry Wills, who all experienced similar barriers in their fighting careers.

Langford defeated Lightweight Champion Joe Gans on December 8, 1903 via 15 round decision. Gans' title was not on the line, however. The two would later become good friends. Langford considered Gans the pound for pound greatest fighter of all time.

He fought Jack Blackburn, trainer of the legendary Joe Louis, six times. The first three fights were draws, the fourth a decision win for Langford, the fifth another draw and the sixth a no contest.

Even though Langford is often called the greatest fighter to never challenge for a world title, he had fought Welterweight Champion Barbados Joe Walcott on September 5, 1904 for his championship. The fight resulted in a draw by decision, thus Walcott retained his title. However, reports of the fight say Langford clearly outpointed the champion. Langford kept Walcott at a distance with his longer reach and used his footwork to evade all of Walcott's attacks. Langford landed lefts and rights to the jaw so effectively, Walcott was bleeding by round two and continued bleeding more after every round. Walcott was brought on one knee in the third round and the fight ended with hardly a scratch on Langford.

Langford fought various contenders throughout his career. He fought welterweight Young Peter Jackson six times, winning the first two by decision, third was a draw via points, losing the fourth by technical knockout and winning the fifth and sixth bouts again by decision.

Langford fought heavyweight Joe Jeannette fourteen times, losing the first by eighth round retirement, winning second by decision, third and fourth were a draw via points, winning the fifth through eighth by decision, ninth was a draw via points, winning the tenth on decision, eleventh was a draw via points, lost the twelfth by decision and winning the thirteenth by seventh round knock out and fourteenth by decision (Total: 8 wins (1 KO), 2 losses (1 RT and 1 PTS) and 4 draws).

He lost to future world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson on April 26, 1906 by fifthteen round decision. Johnson was 29 pound heavier than Langford. Langford had been knocked down in the sixth round. Many spectators felt Langford had won the bout. After winning their first match, Johnson repeatedly refused rematches against Langford, who was considered by some to be the most dangerous challenger for Johnson's crown, although Johnson cited Langford's inability to meet his $30,000 appearance fee.

Langford fought heavyweight Fireman Jim Flynn six times, winning the first by first round knockout, losing the second by decision, winning the third by eighth round knockout, winning the fourth by decision, winning the fifth by third round knockout and winning the sixth by decision.

He fought former world Middleweight Champion Stanley Ketchel on April 27, 1910. Ketchel had vacated his championship only eight months earlier. It was a hard pressed fight by both men, each displaying terrific hitting power for all six rounds of the short bout. No knock downs were scored and both had plenty of energy in the end. Langford won by decision. A longer rematch bout was rumored, but never fell through.

Langford fought heavyweight Battling Jim Johnson twelve times, winning the first three by decision, fourth and fifth were a draw via points, winning the sixth and seventh on points, eighth by twelfth round knockout, ninth through eleventh by points and drawing in the twelfth via points (Total: 9 wins (1 KO), 0 losses and 3 draws). Johnson was always heavier than Langford by 26-40 pounds.

Langford fought heavyweight Sam McVea fifthteen times, drawing in the first via points, losing the second by decision, winning the third and fourth by decision, winning the fifth by technical knockout (McVey claimed a foul. This was not allowed and he refused to continue.), winning the sixth by thirteenth round knockout, seventh was a draw via points, losing the eighth by decision, ninth through eleventh were draws via points, winning the twelfth by decision, thirteenth and fourteenth were draws via decision and winning the fifthteenth by decision (Total: 6 wins (2 KO), 2 losses (0 KO) and 7 draws). Langford was 37 years old in the final bout.

He defeated former light-heavyweight champion Philadelphia Jack O'Brien on August 15, 1911 by fifth round technical knockout. Langford outweighted O'Brien by ten pounds. The fight was stopped after a hard left hook put O'Brien on the canvas. O'Brien had to be helped to his corner.

Langford fought heavyweight Gunboat Smith twice, losing the first by decision (many ringsiders were surprised) and winning the second by third round knockout.

Langford fought heavyweight Harry Wills seventeen times. Langford was 31 in the first bout and continued to suffer from old age and failing eyesight more and more each fight. The first was a draw via points, the second a win via fourteenth round knockout, the third and fourth losses via decision, the fifth a win via nineteenth round knockout, the sixth through ninth losses via decision, the tenth a draw via points, the eleventh a loss via sixth round knockout and the twelfth by seventh round technical knockout, the thirteenth through seventeenth by decision (Total: 2 wins (2 KO), 14 losses (2 KO) and 2 draws). Tommy Burns was referee in the third fight. At the end, he caught Langford's hand and said to him, "Sam, this is the hardest I ever had to do in my life. I always admired you and never thought to see you beaten, but I have to give the decision against you."

Langford fought heavyweight Fred Fulton twice, losing the first by seventh round technical knockout and the second by a four round decision. Langford was 34 and 35 in each respective fight. Langford was much heavier, yet much shorter than Fulton.

On June 5, 1922 Langford knocked out Tiger Flowers in only the second round. Langford was mostly blind and Flowers would soon afterwards win the world Middleweight Championship.

In 1923, Sam Langford fought and won Boxing's last "fight to the finish" for the Mexican Heavyweight title.

His last fight was in 1926, when his failing eyesight finally forced him to retire. Langford was 43 years old and completely blind.

Films exist of Langford fighting Fireman Jim Flynn and Bill Lang. One story characterizing his career involved Langford walking out for the 8th round and touching gloves with his opponent. "What's the matter, Sam, it ain't the last round!" said his mystified opponent. "Tis for you son," said Langford, who promptly knocked his opponent out.

Life after boxing

Langford eventually went completely blind and ended up penniless, living in Harlem, New York City. In 1944, a famous article was published about his plight and money was donated by fans to help Langford. Eventually funding was obtained to pay for successful eye surgery. Langford was enshrined in the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1955. He died a year later in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he had been living in a private nursing home.

In 1999, Langford was voted Nova Scotia's top male athlete of the 20th century.

External links

• Sam Langford - The 300 Bout Man
• Sam's Family Tree
• Cyber Boxing Zone
• Sam Langford at Find a Grave
• Professional boxing record for Sam Langford from BoxRec
• Profile on Langford by Monte Cox

Titles in pretence
Vacant Title last held by Tom Sharkey	World Heavyweight Champion NSC recognition May 24, 1909	Vacant Title next held by George Godfrey