Sam Langford
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Langford is considered one of the greatest fighters who ever stepped into the ring;
He began as a lightweight and fought successfully in every class up to and including
heavyweight; He usually fought men much larger and heavier than himself
Physically, he was short with very long arms; He moved well, used both hands and hit
with power; He was a boxer-puncher supreme; Inspite of his rare skills, he never was
offered a chance to fight for a World Championship; In his later years, he went blind
Langford was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
BORN : March 4 1883; Weymouth, Nova Scotia, Canada DIED : January 12 1956; Cambridge, Massachusetts HEIGHT : 5-8 WEIGHT : 139-204 lbs RACE : Black MANAGER : Joe Woodman
Boxing Record
Amateur 1902 Jan 13 Jack McVicker Boston, Ma W 3 Jan 13 William McDonald Boston, Ma W 3 Feb 10 Jack McVicker Boston, Ma W 3 Professional 1902 Apr 11 Jack McVicker Boston, Ma KO 5 1903 Jan 15 Arthur Pratt Boston, Ma KO 2 Jan 22 Billy Chisholm Lawrence, Ma ND 6 -This bout was a "pre-arranged" draw Feb 6 Luther Manual Boston, Ma ND 6 -This bout was a "pre-arranged" draw Feb 27 Luther Manual Boston, Ma W 10 Mar 4 Sadler Jennings Chelsea, Ma KO 2 Mar 5 John Johnson Boston, Ma ND 6 Mar 26 John Butler Boston, Ma W 6 Apr 3 Bob "Stonewall" Allen Boston, Ma W 6 Apr 16 Bob "Stonewall" Allen Boston, Ma W 6 Apr 20 Andy Watson Lawrence, Ma ND 12 -This bout was a "pre-arranged" draw May 8 Andy Watson Boston, Ma ND 10 -This bout was a "pre-arranged" draw May 25 Billy Jordan Cambridge, Ma ND 6 -This bout was a "pre-arranged" draw May 26 Chick Monahan Boston, Ma KO 1 May 29 Andy Watson Boston, Ma ND 12 -This bout was a "pre-arranged" draw Jun 5 Tim Kearns Boston, Ma TK 2 Jun 15 Andy Watson Gloucester, Ma D 12 Jun 19 Walter Burgo Boston, Ma KO 8 Jun 26 Danny Duane Boston, Ma L 12 Jul 16 Belfield Walcott Scituate, RI W 20 Aug 28 Kid Griffo Boston, Ma W 12 Sep 15 Shadow Morris Boston, Ma W 12 Oct 5 Arthur Cote Boston, Ma TK 4 Nov 20 Patsy Sweeney Boston, Ma KO 12 Nov 28 Joe Reed Boston, Ma KO 4 Dec 8 Joe Gans Boston, Ma W 15 Dec 23 Jack Blackburn Boston, Ma ND 12 -Some reports state this bout was an "agreed" draw 1904 Jan 11 Jack Blackburn Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Jan 27 Belfield Walcott Boston, Ma ND 6 Feb 13 Charlie Johnson Boston, Ma TK 5 Feb 22 Willie Lewis New Bedford, Ma KO 2 Apr 11 Dave Holly Cambridge, Ma L 10 Jul 29 George "Elbows" McFadden Manchester, NH TK 2 Sep 5 Joe Walcott Manchester, NH D 15 Sep 30 Dave Holly Baltimore, Md D 15 Nov 4 Dave Holly Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Nov 24 Andy Watson Webster, Ma W 12 Nov 25 Tommy Sullivan Marlboro, Ma TK 3 Dec 9 Jack Blackburn Marlboro, Ma D 15 Dec 22 Joe Reed Berlin, NH TK 9 1905 Jan 16 Joe Reed Webster, Ma KO 5 Jan 20 George Gunther Chelsea, Ma TK 11 Jan 27 Belfield Walcott Boston, Ma ND 6 Feb 13 Dave Holly Salem, Ma D 15 Mar 4 George Cole Boston, Ma NC 9 Mar 13 George Gunther Portland, Me W 12 May 16 Bogardus Hyde Webster, Ma TK 3 May 26 Young Peter Jackson Marlboro, Ma W 15 Jun 15 Young Peter Jackson Chelsea, Ma W 15 Jul 4 Larry Temple Marlboro, Ma L 10 Aug 18 Jack Blackburn Leiperville, Pa W 15 Sep 20 Jack Blackburn Allentown, Pa D 10 Sep 29 Young Peter Jackson Baltimore, Md D 15 Oct 7 Jack Blackburn Philadelphia, Pa NC 1 Dec 25 Joe Jeannette Lawrence, Ma LT 8 1906 Feb 28 Larry Temple Chelsea, Ma KO 15 Mar 19 Black Fitzsimmons Webster, Ma TK 11 Apr 5 Joe Jeannette Chelsea, Ma W 15 Apr 26 Jack Johnson Chelsea, Ma L 15 -Johnson knocked Langford down twice Jun 13 Young Peter Jackson Southbridge, Ma LT 5 Nov 12 George Gunther Valley Falls, RI W 12 Nov 21 Young Peter Jackson Rochester, NY W 15 Nov 29 George Gunther Haverhill, Ma TK 3 1907 Jan 11 Joe Jeannette Lawrence, Ma D 12 Jan 31 Kid Williams Rochester, NY KO 6 Apr 22 James "Tiger" Smith London, Eng KO 4 Jun 3 Geoff Thorn London, Eng KO 1 Aug 27 Larry Temple Chelsea, Ma W 10 Sep 25 Jim Barry New York, NY ND 6 Oct 15 Jim Barry Chelsea, Ma ND 10 Nov 12 Young Peter Jackson Los Angeles, Ca W 20 Dec 17 Jim Barry Los Angeles, Ca ND 10 1908 Jan 14 Jim Barry Los Angeles, Ca ND 10 Feb 10 Black Fitzsimmons Boston, Ma TK 4 Mar 3 Joe Jeannette Boston, Ma D 12 Mar 11 Larry Temple Boston, Ma ND 8 Apr 7 Jim Barry Boston, Ma KO 2 May 19 John "Sandy" Ferguson Boston, Ma W 12 Jun 19 Jim Barry New York, NY KO 3 Jul 21 John Wille Brooklyn, NY KO 2 Aug 7 Tony Ross New York, NY TK 5 Sep 1 Joe Jeannette New York, NY ND 6 Dec 21 "Fireman" Jim Flynn San Francisco, Ca KO 1 1909 Mar 17 Jim Barry Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Mar 29 Morris Harris Brooklyn, NY TK 7 Apr 3 John Wille Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Apr 14 Jim Barry Albany, NY ND 10 Apr 17 Al Kubiak Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Apr 27 John "Sandy" Ferguson Boston, Ma D 12 May 24 William "Iron" Hague London, Eng KO 4 Jul 13 Klondike (John Haynes) Pittsburgh, Pa ND 6 Sep 28 Dixie Kid (Aaron Brown) Boston, Ma TK 5 Nov 2 Klondike (John Haynes) Boston, Ma KO 2 Nov 23 Mike Schreck Pittsburgh, Pa TK 1 1910 Jan 10 Dixie Kid (Aaron Brown) Memphis, Tn KO 3 Feb 8 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Los Angeles, Ca ND 10 Feb 22 Nat Dewey Cheyenne, Wy KO 1 Mar 17 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Los Angeles, Ca KO 8 Bob Armstrong Los Angeles, Ca EX 3 Mar George Byers Los Angeles, Ca EX 3 Apr 14 Jim Barry Vernon, Ca KO 16 Apr 27 Stanley Ketchel Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 May 14 "Battling" Jim Johnson Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 May 17 Al Kubiak New York, NY TK 2 Sep 6 Joe Jeannette Boston, Ma W 15 Oct 22 Johnny Kilbane Boston, Ma EX 3 Nov 10 Jeff Clark Joplin, Mo KO 2 Dec 6 Morris Harris Boston, Ma KO 2 1911 Jan 10 Joe Jeannette Boston, Ma W 12 Jan 16 Fred Atwater Utica, NY TK 3 Feb 21 Bill Lang London, Eng WF 6 Apr 1 Sam McVey Paris, Fr D 20 May 30 Ralph Calloway Syracuse, NY KO 4 Jun 16 Tony Caponi Winnipeg, Man, Can ND 10 Jun 29 Jack Fitzgerald New York, NY KO 5 Aug 9 Jim Smith New York, NY KO 5 Aug 15 "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien New York, NY KO 5 Aug 24 Tony Ross New York, NY KO 6 Sep 5 Joe Jeannette New York, NY ND 10 Oct 6 Tony Caponi New York, NY KO 3 Dec 26 Sam McVey Sydney, NSW, Aus L 20 1912 Feb 12 Jim Berry Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20 Apr 8 Sam McVey Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20 May 13 Jim Berry Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 11 May 27 Dan "Porky" Flynn Melbourne, Vic, Aus KO 14 Aug 3 Sam McVey Sydney, NSW, Aus W 20 Oct 9 Sam McVey Perth, WA, Aus TK 11 -McVey claimed Langford fouled him; The foul claim was not allowed; McVey refused to continue fighting Dec 26 Sam McVey Sydney, NSW, Aus KO 13 1913 Mar 15 Jim Berry Brisbane, Que, Aus KO 1 Mar 24 Sam McVey Brisbane, Que, Aus D 20 Apr 2 Jerry Jerome Brisbane, Que, Aus ND 10 Jun 19 Colin Bell Rockhampton, Que, Aus D 15 Aug 26 Dan "Porky" Flynn Boston, Ma KO 4 Sep 9 John Lester Johnson New York, NY KO 1 Oct 3 Joe Jeannette New York, NY ND 10 Oct 27 Jack Lester Taft, Ca TK 5 Nov 12 Edward "Gunboat" Smith Boston, Ma L 12 Dec 20 Joe Jeannette Paris, Fr W 20 1914 Jan 24 Matthew "P.O." Curran Paris, Fr (0:17) KO 1 Jan 26 Bob Armstrong London, Eng EX 3 Mar 23 Bill Watkins New York, NY TK 1 Mar 27 "Battling" Jim Johnson New York, NY ND 10 Apr 15 George "Kid" Cotton Chattanooga, Tn ND 8 Apr 20 Rough House Ware Memphis, Tn W 8 May 1 Harry Wills New Orleans, La ND 10 May 25 Bill Watkins Rochester, NY KO 4 Aug 12 "Battling" Jim Johnson New York, NY ND 10 Aug 25 George "Kid" Cotton Boston, Ma KO 4 Sep 15 "Battling" Jim Johnson Boston, Ma D 12 Oct 1 Joe Jeannette New York, NY ND 10 Oct 6 Colin Bell Boston, Ma KO 4 Oct 20 Edward "Gunboat" Smith Boston, Ma KO 3 Oct 26 Jeff Clark Joplin, Mo ND 10 Nov 10 Tom "Bearcat" McMahon Vernon. Ca TK 6 Nov 16 Jim Cameron San Diego, Ca TK 6 Nov 26 Harry Wills Vernon, Ca KO 14 Charley Short Bakersfield, Ca EX 6 1915 Apr 6 "Battling" Jim Johnson New York, NY ND 10 Apr 13 Joe Jeannette Boston, Ma L 12 Apr 19 Dan "Porky" Flynn Montreal, Que, Can NC 6 Jun 8 "Battling" Jim Johnson Brooklyn, NY ND 10 Jun 29 Sam McVey Boston, Ma L 12 Jul 16 Jack Thompson Denver, Co KO 1 Sep 30 Sam McVey Denver, Co D 20 Oct 18 John Lester Johnson Denver, Co W 15 Nov 23 Sam McVey New York, NY ND 10 Dec 3 Harry Wills New York, NY ND 10 1916 Jan 3 Harry Wills New Orleans, La L 20 Feb 11 Harry Wills New Orleans, La KO 19 Feb 17 Sam McVey New York, NY ND 10 Feb 28 Cleve Hawkins New York, NY ND 10 Mar 7 Harry Wills Brooklyn, NY ND 10 Mar 23 Dave Mills Syracuse, NY TK 2 Mar 31 Jeff Clark St. Louis, Mo KO 5 Apr 7 Sam McVey Syracuse, NY ND 10 Apr 25 Harry Wills St. Louis, Mo ND 8 May 2 Sam McVey Akron, Oh ND 12 May 12 Joe Jeannette Rochester, NY KO 7 Aug 12 Sam McVey Buenos Aires, Arg D 20 Nov 30 "Big" Bill Tate Syracuse, NY ND 10 Dec 12 "Battling" Jim Johnson St. Louis, Mo KO 12 Dec 29 Bob Devere Montreal, Que, Can ND 10 Hugh Walker EX 3 1917 Jan "Battling" Jim Johnson Kansas City, Mo W 12 Jan 25 "Big" Bill Tate Kansas City, Mo L 12 Apr 10 Jack Thompson Brooklyn, NY ND 10 Apr 19 Bob Devere New York, NY ND 10 May 2 "Big" Bill Tate St. Louis, Mo KO 6 May 11 Harry Wills Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Jun 19 Fred Fulton Boston, Ma LT 7 Aug 17 "Agile" Andre Anderson Buffalo, NY TK 2 Sep 14 Joe Jeannette Toledo, Oh ND 12 Sep 17 Andrew "Thunderbolt" Johnson Ardmore, Md KO 2 Sep 20 Harry Wills Brooklyn, NY ND 10 Nov 12 Harry Wills Toledo, Oh ND 12 Dec 17 Kid Norfolk Denver, Co KO 2 1918 Apr 14 Harry Wills Panama City, Pan LK 6 May 19 Harry Wills Panama City, Pan LT 7 Aug 5 "Battling" Jim Johnson Atlantic City, NJ ND 8 Aug 6 Jack Thompson Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Aug Jeff Clark W 10 Aug 19 Rough House Ware Tulsa, Ok KO 9 Aug 22 "Battling" Jim Johnson St. Louis, Mo W 8 Nov 1 Jeff Clark Lowell, Ma D 12 Nov 16 Jeff Clark Atlanta, Ga D 10 Nov 28 Jeff Clark Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Nov 29 Jeff Clark Milwaukee, Wi EX 10 Dec 12 Jack "Big Boy" Butler Rock Island, Il KO 5 Dec 16 Jeff Clark Memphis, Tn W 8 Dec 28 Fred Fulton San Francisco, Ca L 4 1919 Mar 4 Willie Meehan San Francisco, Ca L 4 Apr 30 Billy Hooper Columbus, Oh KO 4 Jun 19 "Big" Bill Tate Minneapolis, Mn WF 5 Jul 4 Harry Wills St. Louis, Mo ND 8 Aug 4 Jack Thompson Tulsa, Ok D 15 Aug 23 "Big" Bill Tate Grand Rapids, Mi KO 7 Sep 18 Rough House Wilson Battle Creek, Mi KO 4 Sep 30 Harry Wills Syracuse, NY ND 10 Oct 20 Jack Thompson Tulsa, Ok D 15 Nov 5 Harry Wills Tulsa, Ok L 15 Nov 17 "Mexican" Jim Johnson Sioux City, Ia KO 9 Nov 24 Jack Thompson Duluth, Mn TK 6 Dec 3 Dave McBride Rockford, Il KO 1 1920 Jan 16 Jeff Clark Kalamazoo, Mi ND 10 Feb 23 Battling Gahee Memphis, Tn KO 2 Feb 28 Jeff Clark Terre Haute, In ND 10 Mar 29 Jamaica Kid Columbus, Oh KO 7 Apr 5 Jack Thompson Muskogee, Ok L 15 Apr 9 Silas Green Denver, Co KO 3 Apr 19 Harry Wills Denver, Co L 15 May George Godfrey D 10 May 31 Jeff Clark Columbus, Oh W 15 Jun 7 Rough House Ware New Orleans, La KO 9 Jul 26 Pinky Lewis Tulsa, Ok KO 9 Aug 14 Sam McVey East Chicago, In ND 10 Aug 30 Ed "Bearcat" Wright Walthill, Ne W 10 Sep 6 "Big" Bill Tate Benton Harbor, Mi ND 6 Oct 6 "Tiny" Jim Herman Portland, Or KO 7 Oct 14 Frank Farmer Seattle, Wa W 4 Oct 20 Lee Anderson Portland, Or L 10 Nov 15 Jack Thompson Memphis, Tn L 8 Nov 17 George Godfrey Hot Springs, Ar KO 2 Dec 2 "Tiny" Jim Herman Portland, Or KO 7 Dec 9 Terry Kellar Aberdeen, Wa W 6 Dec 23 Clem Johnson Marshfield, Or W 6 Dec 29 Jim Barry Portland, Or W 10 1921 Jan 7 Lee Anderson Omaha, Ne D 12 Jan 14 Bob Devere Portland, Or KO 7 Jan 27 Harry Wills Portland, Or ND 10 Brad Simmons Cincinnati, Oh D 12 Jeff Clark Tulsa, Ok W 10 Jack Thompson D 10 "Big" Bill Tate W 12 "Tiny" Jim Herman KO 2 Alfred Johnson KO Bill Watkins KO Jul 20 Ed "Bearcat" Wright Omaha, Ne KO 9 Aug 12 Lee Anderson Omaha, Ne W 10 Aug 17 George Godfrey Covington, Ky KO 1 Aug 19 Topeka Jack Johnson Topeka, Ks D 10 Sep 5 Lee Anderson Fort Worth, Tx L 10 Oct 18 Young Peter Jackson Toronto, Ont, Can KO 2 Nov 24 Lee Anderson Phoenix, Az L 10 Dec 10 "Big" Bill Tate Covington, Ky L 12 1922 Jan 17 Harry Wills Portland, Or L 10 Mar 17 Cyclone Smith Huntington, WV KO 2 Mar 27 "Big" Bill Tate Memphis, Tn ND 8 Apr 6 James "Tut" Jackson Dayton, Oh LK 5 Apr 19 Kid Roscoe Memphis, Tn KO 2 May 16 Kid Roscoe Nashville, Tn TK 4 Jun 5 Theodore "Tiger" Flowers Atlanta, Ga KO 2 Jun 19 Ed "Bearcat" Wright Galveston, Tx D 12 Jul 17 Ed "Bearcat" Wright Tulsa, Ok KO 5 Aug 4 "Big" Bill Tate Tulsa, Ok W 12 Aug 11 Brad Simmons Wichita, Ks W 10 Aug 20 Jack Taylor Sioux City, Ia ND 10 Sep 22 Battling Owens El Paso, Tx KO 7 Oct 6 Cyclone Smith El Paso, Tx KO 2 Oct Ted Jamieson Chicago, Il ND 10 Oct 20 Jack Taylor Juarez, Mx W 15 Nov 5 Jack Taylor Juarez, Mx D 15 Nov 10 Jim Barry Douglas, Az D 10 Dec 27 Sonny Goodrich San Antonio, Tx KO 5 1923 Feb 15 Tom McCarty Albuquerque, NM KO 2 Mar 2 Jim Tracey Mexico City, Mx KO 6 Mar 17 "Chihuahua" Kid Brown Mexico City, Mx KO 1 Mar 31 Jim Savage Mexico City, Mx KO 1 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico Apr 8 Andres Balsas Mexico City, Mx KO 6 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico Apr 13 "Chihuahua" Kid Brown Torrean, Mx KO 3 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico May 6 Andres Balsas Mexico City, Mx KO 3 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico May 16 Art Surans Mexico City, Mx KO 3 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico May 19 Jack Voigt Mexico City, Mx KO 11 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico Jun 15 Jim Tracey Mexico City, Mx KO 4 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico Jul 27 Clem Johnson Juarez, Mx LK 13 -Heavyweight Championship of Mexico Aug Ed "Bearcat" Wright Mexico City, Mx LK 9 Aug "Fireman" Jim Flynn Mexico City, Mx W 10 Oct 19 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Mexico City, Mx KO 3 Dec 21 Sonny Goodrich San Antonio, Tx L 10 1924 Jan 6 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Juarez, Mx W 8 Jan 20 Tom Riley Juarez, Mx KO 2 Apr 18 Sam Olson Bakersfield, Ca W 4 Apr 23 Eddie Trembley Venice, Ca L 4 1925 Tim Sullivan D 6 Battling Gahee L 8 Dec 7 Tim Sullivan Fort Bliss, Tx D 6 1926 Jul 1 Young Jack Johnson Shawnee, Ok KO 2 Aug 2 Brad Simmons Drumright, Ok LK 1 ***** The following bouts have been reported by various sources but not confirmed ***** 1922 Nov 21 James "Tut" Jackson in Mexico KO 1 Dec 1 "Big" Bill Tate in Mexico W 8 Dec 12 Jack Taylor in Mexico KO 8 Dec 24 Kid Roscoe in Mexico KO 3 1923 Nov 14 Andres Balsas Mexico City, Mx KO 15 Dec 11 Kid Roscoe Mexico City, Mx KO 1 1924 Feb 6 James "Tut" Jackson in Mexico KO 9 Mar 6 Kid Nolan Venice, Ca KO 5 May 4 Eddie Trembley Venice, Ca KO 3 Jul 7 Sydney Grant Mexico City, Mx KO 4 Aug 17 Jim Briggs Mexico City, Mx W 6 Sep 10 Kid Nolan Mexico City, Mx KO 2 Oct 7 Jim Briggs Mexico City, Mx KO 8 1925 Jan 14 Wolf Larsen in Mexico KO 7 Feb 10 Jack Taylor in Mexico KO 8 Apr 5 Frolin Gonzales in Mexico W 10 May 11 Jim Briggs in Mexico KO 4 May 22 Wolf Larsen in Mexico KO 13 Undated Harry Wills Buffalo, NY ND 10 Harry Wills New York, NY ND 10 Harry Wills Philadelphia, Pa ND 6 Harry Wills St. Louis, Mo ND 8 Harry Wills Columbus, Oh ND 8
Master Index
The CyberboxingZone Journal Article on Langford (July 1999)
The CyberboxingZone Journal Article on Pound-for-Pound (August 1998)
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