Have a smile this morning

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dalcumly
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Have a smile this morning

Post by dalcumly »

Heard a story at the weekend - which is probably not true , but I wish it was . The old American heavyweight , Sam Langford , was getting near the end of his illustrious career ,and was reduced to travelling by train with his manager from one town to another fghting the local boy for a pittance . They had come to rely on getting the fight early in the night so they could catch the last train to the next town . On one occasion Sam was sitting in the dressing room waiting to go on when his manager came in looking anxious and told him his fight wasn't going to start till later and they would likely miss their train that night . When Sam eventually got in the ring it was getting late . At the start of the second round , Langford moved to the centre of the ring and touched gloves . The opponent was surprised and mentioned that it wasn't the last round . Sam then made an unforgettable reply - " It is for you ,son !!" Shortly after the opponent was flat on his back for the full count . That man was apparently the future World middleweight champion - Tiger Flowers . ( 5 June 1922) .
T.M.K
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by T.M.K »

Cannot recall if it was Flowers or not - but the story of touching gloves and predicting the next round was the last..... as far as I know, is completely true.

"T.M.K" :TU:
dondada
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by dondada »

Great story - thanks :TU:
Adamj1987
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by Adamj1987 »

I do like that story :TU:
Old bones Ian
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by Old bones Ian »

Langford is often called the greatest boxer never to win a world title. When you look at his record its amazing, i didn't know he started weighing around 140lbs, beating the hall of famer Joe Gans in his 25th fight. Sam did fight for the world welter title and was apparently robbed after dominating the champion Joe Walcott, that was in Sam's 34th fight. It now seems incredible that in another 222 fights he didn't get another shot at a world title, but the world was a different place then.
curtis wood
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by curtis wood »

love it :box:
Captain Hook
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by Captain Hook »

Fabulous little tale...
Old bones Ian
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by Old bones Ian »

Another Langford story is before the first Flynn fight, Flynn's manager was rambling on about how "My great fighter could never be beaten by a n*****" During the fight Langford manoeuvred Flynn towards the ropes in front of his manager, knocked out Flynn who fell on his managers lap to which Langford quipped "Here's your great fighter."
rhino222
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by rhino222 »

Old bones Ian wrote:Langford is often called the greatest boxer never to win a world title. When you look at his record its amazing, i didn't know he started weighing around 140lbs, beating the hall of famer Joe Gans in his 25th fight. Sam did fight for the world welter title and was apparently robbed after dominating the champion Joe Walcott, that was in Sam's 34th fight. It now seems incredible that in another 222 fights he didn't get another shot at a world title, but the world was a different place then.
it wasnt, it was the same planet, the world has been round for millions of years my friend.
Old bones Ian
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Re: Have a smile this morning

Post by Old bones Ian »

rhino222 wrote:
Old bones Ian wrote:Langford is often called the greatest boxer never to win a world title. When you look at his record its amazing, i didn't know he started weighing around 140lbs, beating the hall of famer Joe Gans in his 25th fight. Sam did fight for the world welter title and was apparently robbed after dominating the champion Joe Walcott, that was in Sam's 34th fight. It now seems incredible that in another 222 fights he didn't get another shot at a world title, but the world was a different place then.
it wasnt, it was the same planet, the world has been round for millions of years my friend.
Thats a bit deep rhino :P
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