'Sam Langford, Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion' by Clay Moyle will be available via http://www.amazon.com sometime later this month, or May at the latest. It is a hardcover with dust jacket, approximately 448 pages, and will include over 95 photographs, many of which will have never been seen by most. The publisher is Bennett & Hastings. Price $29.95.
The book is reviewed in the March Boxing Collectors Newsletter and has also received the following initial reviews:
Langford book reviews:
“As the title of this book indicates, Sam Langford was, indeed, an “uncrowned champion” – one of the greatest pound-for-pound pugilists ever to step through the ropes. The only reason Langford never held a world title was that no champion gave him a chance to fight for the crown, even though Sam was eminently qualified.
Now, the “uncrowned champion” has found a champion in Clay Moyle, an eminent boxing historian. This book gives Langford the recognition he has deserved for such a long time.
Langford was small in stature, but he was larger than life. He was capable of knocking opponents twice his size colder than a mackerel. Had there been any justice in the world of the early 1900s, Langford would have been champion of the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
Moyle’s epic chronicle of Langford’s life in and out of the ring redresses the fighter’s slide into obscurity during the half-century since his death. The author deftly balances the triumphs and tragedies of this extraordinary man’s career.
This book is a must-read, from the opening bell to the last.
Charles R. Saunders, author of Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Ceasars Palace”
“With his richly detailed new biography, Clay Moyle has restored the indomitable Sam Langford to his rightful place in the history of American Sports – and demonstrates along the way that Jack Johnson was right when he called Langford ‘the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived.
Geoffrey Ward, author of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson”
“Sixty-four years ago, a blind and indigent Sam Langford was re-discovered through an award winning article published in the New York Herald Tribune. Now, in 2008, Clay Moyle ‘discovers’ Langford anew – in greater depth and with remarkable clarity. In tenaciously applying the forensic skills of a seasoned sports historian and archivest, Moyle plots a stunning tale which is set against the backdrop of the pervasive racial mores of the times in which Langford lived and fought, and in the process reclaims for posterity the life and career of one of boxing’s truly great figures.”
- Adeyinka Makinde, author of Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal.
New book about Sam Langford
Re: New book about Sam Langford
In the above post I never saw a word about JACK JOHNSON depriving Landford of his rightful chance at Johnson's title.cmoyle wrote:'Sam Langford, Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion' by Clay Moyle will be available via http://www.amazon.com sometime later this month, or May at the latest. It is a hardcover with dust jacket, approximately 448 pages, and will include over 95 photographs, many of which will have never been seen by most. The publisher is Bennett & Hastings. Price $29.95.
The book is reviewed in the March Boxing Collectors Newsletter and has also received the following initial reviews:
Langford book reviews:
“As the title of this book indicates, Sam Langford was, indeed, an “uncrowned champion” – one of the greatest pound-for-pound pugilists ever to step through the ropes. The only reason Langford never held a world title was that no champion gave him a chance to fight for the crown, even though Sam was eminently qualified.
Now, the “uncrowned champion” has found a champion in Clay Moyle, an eminent boxing historian. This book gives Langford the recognition he has deserved for such a long time.
Langford was small in stature, but he was larger than life. He was capable of knocking opponents twice his size colder than a mackerel. Had there been any justice in the world of the early 1900s, Langford would have been champion of the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
Moyle’s epic chronicle of Langford’s life in and out of the ring redresses the fighter’s slide into obscurity during the half-century since his death. The author deftly balances the triumphs and tragedies of this extraordinary man’s career.
This book is a must-read, from the opening bell to the last.
Charles R. Saunders, author of Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Ceasars Palace”
“With his richly detailed new biography, Clay Moyle has restored the indomitable Sam Langford to his rightful place in the history of American Sports – and demonstrates along the way that Jack Johnson was right when he called Langford ‘the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived.
Geoffrey Ward, author of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson”
“Sixty-four years ago, a blind and indigent Sam Langford was re-discovered through an award winning article published in the New York Herald Tribune. Now, in 2008, Clay Moyle ‘discovers’ Langford anew – in greater depth and with remarkable clarity. In tenaciously applying the forensic skills of a seasoned sports historian and archivest, Moyle plots a stunning tale which is set against the backdrop of the pervasive racial mores of the times in which Langford lived and fought, and in the process reclaims for posterity the life and career of one of boxing’s truly great figures.”
- Adeyinka Makinde, author of Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal.
Langford weighed 156 a year after Jeffries retired.
It was during Johnson's time holding the title that Langford was a heavweight and by far the most dangerous challenger.
Langford was through as a serious contender by 1917 when he was stopped by Fred Fulton, so Johnson was the only heavyweight champion who denied him his rightful chance at the title.
Re: New book about Sam Langford
do u ever have a good word about anything?granberry wrote:In the above post I never saw a word about JACK JOHNSON depriving Landford of his rightful chance at Johnson's title.cmoyle wrote:'Sam Langford, Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion' by Clay Moyle will be available via http://www.amazon.com sometime later this month, or May at the latest. It is a hardcover with dust jacket, approximately 448 pages, and will include over 95 photographs, many of which will have never been seen by most. The publisher is Bennett & Hastings. Price $29.95.
The book is reviewed in the March Boxing Collectors Newsletter and has also received the following initial reviews:
Langford book reviews:
“As the title of this book indicates, Sam Langford was, indeed, an “uncrowned champion” – one of the greatest pound-for-pound pugilists ever to step through the ropes. The only reason Langford never held a world title was that no champion gave him a chance to fight for the crown, even though Sam was eminently qualified.
Now, the “uncrowned champion” has found a champion in Clay Moyle, an eminent boxing historian. This book gives Langford the recognition he has deserved for such a long time.
Langford was small in stature, but he was larger than life. He was capable of knocking opponents twice his size colder than a mackerel. Had there been any justice in the world of the early 1900s, Langford would have been champion of the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
Moyle’s epic chronicle of Langford’s life in and out of the ring redresses the fighter’s slide into obscurity during the half-century since his death. The author deftly balances the triumphs and tragedies of this extraordinary man’s career.
This book is a must-read, from the opening bell to the last.
Charles R. Saunders, author of Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Ceasars Palace”
“With his richly detailed new biography, Clay Moyle has restored the indomitable Sam Langford to his rightful place in the history of American Sports – and demonstrates along the way that Jack Johnson was right when he called Langford ‘the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived.
Geoffrey Ward, author of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson”
“Sixty-four years ago, a blind and indigent Sam Langford was re-discovered through an award winning article published in the New York Herald Tribune. Now, in 2008, Clay Moyle ‘discovers’ Langford anew – in greater depth and with remarkable clarity. In tenaciously applying the forensic skills of a seasoned sports historian and archivest, Moyle plots a stunning tale which is set against the backdrop of the pervasive racial mores of the times in which Langford lived and fought, and in the process reclaims for posterity the life and career of one of boxing’s truly great figures.”
- Adeyinka Makinde, author of Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal.
Langford weighed 156 a year after Jeffries retired.
It was during Johnson's time holding the title that Langford was a heavweight and by far the most dangerous challenger.
Langford was through as a serious contender by 1917 when he was stopped by Fred Fulton, so Johnson was the only heavyweight champion who denied him his rightful chance at the title.
With all due respect, the Langford that Johnson fought and defeated was far from his prime. Regardless of how many fights Langford had by that stage of his career, he was still only 20 years old, and had not finished maturing physically. In fact, he was still a good 25-35 pounds away from what would became perhaps his best fighting weight. After becoming champion, Johnson wisely avoided Langford, finally admitting to Australian promoter, Hugh McIntosh, that he had no desire to fight Langford again, whom he felt had a chance to defeat anyone in the world, and later in life called the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived.
True, but the Langford that Johnson fought was probably a better fighter than the Langford of Dempseys time when he was already half-blind. I dont believe Johnson was afraid of Langford, he just knew that he could make more money and have easier fights fighting the whitehopes...cmoyle wrote:With all due respect, the Langford that Johnson fought and defeated was far from his prime. Regardless of how many fights Langford had by that stage of his career, he was still only 20 years old, and had not finished maturing physically. In fact, he was still a good 25-35 pounds away from what would became perhaps his best fighting weight. After becoming champion, Johnson wisely avoided Langford, finally admitting to Australian promoter, Hugh McIntosh, that he had no desire to fight Langford again, whom he felt had a chance to defeat anyone in the world, and later in life called the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived.
Totally FALSE.silkov wrote:Least Johnson actually fought and beat Langford during Langfords prime,:
The Ken Burns politically correct contingent feel free to offer outright lies.
Langford weighed 156 pounds when he fought Johnson.
Later Johnson disgraced himself and his heavyweight title by refusing to fight Langford, who was by far his most dangerous challenger.
It is a crime against Sam Langford that he was never given his rightful chance for the heavyweight title because of Johnson's refusal to fight him.
Johnson refused to fight Langford and Jeannette and McVea while champion because he knew one of them might beat him and take away the title he worked so hard to acquire. He was no risk taker, as proven by the guys he defended his title against. Sam Langford was British Empire champion when the prestigious National Sporting Club offered Johnson 6,000 pounds sterling (about $30,000) to meet the Nova Scotia Gnome. This was the same amount that Tommy Burns had accepted to meet Johnson.
Cap
Cap
-
dempseyfire
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5534
- Joined: 29 Oct 2003, 22:56
I totally agree, and stands to reason, that Langford in 1906 was not yet in his prime and was a good 20 lbs below what would become his prime fighting weight.cmoyle wrote:With all due respect, the Langford that Johnson fought and defeated was far from his prime. Regardless of how many fights Langford had by that stage of his career, he was still only 20 years old, and had not finished maturing physically. In fact, he was still a good 25-35 pounds away from what would became perhaps his best fighting weight. After becoming champion, Johnson wisely avoided Langford, finally admitting to Australian promoter, Hugh McIntosh, that he had no desire to fight Langford again, whom he felt had a chance to defeat anyone in the world, and later in life called the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived.
However, to be fair, it should be pointed out that Johnson himself was 15-20 lbs below what would be his prime fighting weight (200-210). If they had fought in 1910, with Langford weighing 180ish, he still would've been giving away 25-30 lbs to Johnson, who was weighing a strong but trim 209. But of course 180-210 is a more even playing field than 156-185.
I don't think Langford would've beaten Johnson anytime prior to 1913, but he still did more than enough to get his title shot, and I think he would have beaten the declining and heavily drinking Johnson of Europe who fought Johnson and Moran.
An interesting question, is let's say Langford fights and beats Johnson in 1915-16.
In a 45 round bout, can Langford overcome Willard in a 45 rounder in 1916-17?
"An interesting question, is let's say Langford fights and beats Johnson in 1915-16. In a 45 round bout, can Langford overcome Willard in a 45 rounder in 1916-17?"
Hard to say. By 1916-17 Langford was on the decline. Of course, he says that it was near the end of 1915 that he became convinced he'd never get a shot at the title. In his words: "It was along about then (December 1915) that I became convinced that no matter how good I became I'd never be a world's heavyweight champion because the doors were closed. Up to that time I had trained rather seriously for practically all my fights. But I got disgusted and said 'what's the use of training. I ain't going anywhere in particular,' and I wasn't.
I wanted to go alright, but those white boys wouldn't let me. I had reached thirty (years of age), and when a fellow is thirty, he isn't willing to train as when he is younger. So I just didn't take care of my figure any longer and I began to get nice and fat, and I never did get my figure back."
I'm inclined to think that if Langford had thought he had a good chance at getting a crack at Willard's title, and chosen to stay in shape, he would have been able to whip him as late as 1916-17.
Hard to say. By 1916-17 Langford was on the decline. Of course, he says that it was near the end of 1915 that he became convinced he'd never get a shot at the title. In his words: "It was along about then (December 1915) that I became convinced that no matter how good I became I'd never be a world's heavyweight champion because the doors were closed. Up to that time I had trained rather seriously for practically all my fights. But I got disgusted and said 'what's the use of training. I ain't going anywhere in particular,' and I wasn't.
I wanted to go alright, but those white boys wouldn't let me. I had reached thirty (years of age), and when a fellow is thirty, he isn't willing to train as when he is younger. So I just didn't take care of my figure any longer and I began to get nice and fat, and I never did get my figure back."
I'm inclined to think that if Langford had thought he had a good chance at getting a crack at Willard's title, and chosen to stay in shape, he would have been able to whip him as late as 1916-17.
Really sad.cmoyle wrote:It was along about then (December 1915) that I became convinced that no matter how good I became I'd never be a world's heavyweight champion because the doors were closed. Up to that time I had trained rather seriously for practically all my fights. But I got disgusted and said 'what's the use of training. I ain't going anywhere in particular,' and I wasn't.
it is awesome that there's footage of langford and we can see how incredible he was. an aggressive fighter who was usually the smaller man and still would ko most of his opposition. i've read part of unforgivable blackness and langford and johnson recall how they had a fight on a stage that was supposed to be an exhibition but turned into a brawl where they destroyed to entire stage. i will pick up a copy of this book.
