Sam Langford versus Archie Moore
Sam Langford versus Archie Moore
15 rounds-175 pounds.
Re: Sam Langford versus Archie Moore
From what it's possible to watch featuring Langford, it's pretty clear, that he was levels under Moore in class. Moore was more advanced, polished and crafty. I see it as a stoppage win for Archie.
Re: Sam Langford versus Archie Moore
Not enough footage of Langford. What there is is 8mm and it moves comically fast.
Like Greb vs Jones. There's nothing to go on here.
Like Greb vs Jones. There's nothing to go on here.
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HomicideHenry
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43
Re: Sam Langford versus Archie Moore
I think it is safe to say that Sam Langford would have given Archie Moore all he could handle considering when Langford was in that 160-180 range he gave Jack Johnson enough reason to never have a rematch with him. Sam Langford certainly had more success as a heavyweight than Archie Moore did even though Archie is quite underrated as a heavyweight.
The only guy that seemed to present any real problems to Sam Langford at heavyweight was Harry Wills, and I think a lot of that was because Wills was not only much bigger but because he was truly a gifted fighter with a big punch. The Nova Scotian Gnome defeated men who were taller and heavier than Wills but they were more limited.
It would have been a very competitive fight. Like I said before Archie was very underrated as a heavyweight. Unfortunately he's remembered for only two fights as a heavyweight and that was against Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson. With Marciano I think the Brockton Blockbuster was simply too much, while I think Archie simply did not take Patterson too seriously.
If one looks at the preparation prior to Rocky Marciano it's clear that Archie took him seriously, but prior to the Patterson fight he was so extremely hyperactive that it gives the impression that he just jumped straight in against Floyd thinking it was going to be a cakewalk. But if you look at Archie's heavyweight matches he made it look easy against Nino Valdes and Bob Baker and others.
In a one-off contest I might say that Archie Moore edges a decision but I think in a series of matches that Sam Langford would win. After all Langford fought Bearcat Wright, Fireman Jim Flynn, George Godfrey, Sam McVea, Joe Jennette, Jack Blackburn, and others multiple times and came out on the winning end in those series. A lot of those guys were every bit as great as the guys that Archie fought multiple matches with.
The only guy that seemed to present any real problems to Sam Langford at heavyweight was Harry Wills, and I think a lot of that was because Wills was not only much bigger but because he was truly a gifted fighter with a big punch. The Nova Scotian Gnome defeated men who were taller and heavier than Wills but they were more limited.
It would have been a very competitive fight. Like I said before Archie was very underrated as a heavyweight. Unfortunately he's remembered for only two fights as a heavyweight and that was against Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson. With Marciano I think the Brockton Blockbuster was simply too much, while I think Archie simply did not take Patterson too seriously.
If one looks at the preparation prior to Rocky Marciano it's clear that Archie took him seriously, but prior to the Patterson fight he was so extremely hyperactive that it gives the impression that he just jumped straight in against Floyd thinking it was going to be a cakewalk. But if you look at Archie's heavyweight matches he made it look easy against Nino Valdes and Bob Baker and others.
In a one-off contest I might say that Archie Moore edges a decision but I think in a series of matches that Sam Langford would win. After all Langford fought Bearcat Wright, Fireman Jim Flynn, George Godfrey, Sam McVea, Joe Jennette, Jack Blackburn, and others multiple times and came out on the winning end in those series. A lot of those guys were every bit as great as the guys that Archie fought multiple matches with.
Re: Sam Langford versus Archie Moore
It would a classic and a war as the Old Mongoose would take a decision over the Boston Bonecrusher behind his great jabs and combinations from long range in their first fight. In the second, Langford would turn the tables against Moore by outcountering him with jabs and flurries to either take a decision or late round stoppage. In the third, Moore would outbox and land more punches than Langford to take a decision as Moore would take a 2-1 series matchup.