Champion Tommy Burns why did he quit? 1910 Did Burns screw Langford out of a title shot?
Posted: 18 Feb 2024, 07:00
I'm not sure alot of people know this...But post the Bill Lang fight (his 1st fight after the Johnson lost).
Burns signed an agreement to fight Sam Langford Sep 6th 1910. The purse's were secured & the contract was signed.
it was reported immediately after the Lang fight the next day, reported again on June 1st 1910 & contract signed on Aug 1st 1910.
Hugh McIntosh The australian prize promoter says 20 Round bout wil take place in seattle & allude's the winner will fight Johnson.
The Al Kaufman vs Bill Lang bout was the undercard on this day.... 9-5-1910. Main event was Burns vs Langford.
Sam Langford instead fights Joe Jeanette on this card (destroys him) and for whatever reason Burns post poned this date.
Aug 25 the it states match was moved to dec (no reason mentioned) to take place in London Langford vs Burns. Again it states Johnson will meet the winner of the bout.
I'll look for reason this never happed but this really seemed to be a missed opportunity for Langford had he beat Burns the demand for the Championship would of been at it's height and taken place in spring 1911 I would guess.
AT this point there is a fight pic of Burns & langford squaring off in papers (aug 1910)
It's difficult to find this news via search I need to comb through the months day by day & it's a long process.
In case you weren't aware Burns just quit...he didn't fight another fight post Lang until years later.
His name was huge at this point in 1910 had Langford beat him it would of been likely viewed as Sam's biggest win of his career (even if it wasn't) beating the former champion would of been HUGE and absolutely had the demand for a title shot.
I would have never guessed Burns cost Langford a chance at the title by flaking out on this bout.
"Many experts say that should the Burns-langford fight materalize. and Langford should defeat burns the champion may be forced to recognize the claims of the dusky bostonion"
Burns signed an agreement to fight Sam Langford Sep 6th 1910. The purse's were secured & the contract was signed.
it was reported immediately after the Lang fight the next day, reported again on June 1st 1910 & contract signed on Aug 1st 1910.
Hugh McIntosh The australian prize promoter says 20 Round bout wil take place in seattle & allude's the winner will fight Johnson.
The Al Kaufman vs Bill Lang bout was the undercard on this day.... 9-5-1910. Main event was Burns vs Langford.
Sam Langford instead fights Joe Jeanette on this card (destroys him) and for whatever reason Burns post poned this date.
Aug 25 the it states match was moved to dec (no reason mentioned) to take place in London Langford vs Burns. Again it states Johnson will meet the winner of the bout.
I'll look for reason this never happed but this really seemed to be a missed opportunity for Langford had he beat Burns the demand for the Championship would of been at it's height and taken place in spring 1911 I would guess.
AT this point there is a fight pic of Burns & langford squaring off in papers (aug 1910)
It's difficult to find this news via search I need to comb through the months day by day & it's a long process.
In case you weren't aware Burns just quit...he didn't fight another fight post Lang until years later.
His name was huge at this point in 1910 had Langford beat him it would of been likely viewed as Sam's biggest win of his career (even if it wasn't) beating the former champion would of been HUGE and absolutely had the demand for a title shot.
I would have never guessed Burns cost Langford a chance at the title by flaking out on this bout.
"Many experts say that should the Burns-langford fight materalize. and Langford should defeat burns the champion may be forced to recognize the claims of the dusky bostonion"