The question of who is the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in boxing is a debate without end, with opinions varying widely across different eras. Comparing fighters from the early 20th century to today is challenging, given the sport`s evolution.
However, some fighters stand out due to their extraordinary body of work, near-mythical achievements, incredible resumes, and dominance across opponents and weight classes, all while remaining active and avoiding no legitimate challenges. These athletes are often considered to have the strongest claim to GOAT status.
This article explores the career of one such exceptional fighter, a legend once labeled by ESPN as `The Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows` – the remarkable Sam Langford, known as `The Boston Bone Crusher`, a man who seemed to defy the conventional logic of weight classes.
Sam Langford
Record: 210-43-53 (126 KOs)
Years Active: 1902-1925
Sam Langford`s career paralleled the astonishing nature of Harry Greb`s, though Langford`s unique characteristic was his sheer activity across an absurd range of weights. His statistics against International Boxing Hall of Famers are unparalleled in boxing history.
Known initially as `The Boston Terror`, Langford faced an incredible 60 bouts against 11 different Hall of Fame fighters. While his official record lists over 300 fights with a high winning percentage and a staggering 126 knockouts, many historians believe his actual fight count could be significantly higher, as numerous bouts fought worldwide may not have been recorded.
More than just numbers, Langford`s career story is unique. Standing only five foot seven, his prime fighting weight ranged from 147 to 160 lbs. Despite these size disadvantages against larger opponents, Ring Magazine famously ranked Langford as the second hardest pound-for-pound puncher in history.
Beginning his professional journey at just 16 in 1902, Langford quickly made waves. Within a year, he faced lightweight world champion Joe Gans, then widely considered the greatest fighter ever. At only 17, Langford remarkably defeated the seasoned Gans over 15 rounds. However, the lightweight title was not contested, so despite the monumental victory, he did not claim the championship.
The following year, Langford moved up to challenge welterweight champion Barbados Joe Walcott, also considered a top fighter of his era. Their title bout resulted in a draw, widely seen as an unjust decision against Langford. By age 18, Langford had demonstrated superiority over the era`s top lightweight and welterweight champions. To further solidify his claim in these divisions, he also defeated Walcott’s successor, Young Peter Jackson.
In a feat almost unimaginable in modern boxing, a 19-year-old Langford made a dramatic leap to the heavyweight division, defeating future Hall of Famer Joe Jeanette. The subsequent year, Langford went the full 15 rounds with future heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, demonstrating incredible toughness just three years after fighting the world`s best 135-pounder.
All these remarkable achievements occurred before Langford turned 21. Over the next decade, he compiled a fearsome record, knocking out top fighters across various weight classes above welterweight. His success, particularly at heavyweight against much larger men, cemented his status as a boxing immortal.
The era`s great black heavyweights, including Harry Wills, Sam McVea, and Joe Jeannette, were often denied world title opportunities due to racial segregation, even after Jack Johnson broke the color barrier as champion. Despite this, they were formidable opponents. Langford fought these men extensively, competing in over 40 bouts against them, scoring knockout victories over each.
Against these rivals, Langford secured numerous wins: seven victories against McVea (with eight combined losses/draws), seven victories over Jeanette (with seven combined losses/draws), and two wins against the highly regarded Harry Wills (in a remarkable 17-fight series). Langford claimed the `Coloured Heavyweight World Title` five times during this period.
His impressive record against heavyweights also includes 11 victories over `Battling Jim Johnson`, knockout wins against Fireman Jim Flynn (who had knocked out Jack Dempsey), Gunboat Smith, and a victory over Kid Norfolk.
Amidst his numerous heavyweight clashes, Langford also knocked out the era`s top light-heavyweight, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien, and got the better of middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel. A planned middleweight title shot against Ketchel was tragically canceled after Ketchel`s untimely death.
Adding further depth to potentially the greatest resume in boxing history, Langford also knocked out future all-time great champion Tiger Flowers in two rounds.
To summarize his incredible career: across hundreds of fights, Langford secured over 100 knockouts, outclassed the best lightweight and welterweight of his time, and went the distance with the era`s greatest heavyweight, all before age 21. He then defeated the top middleweight, knocked out a future great middleweight champion, stopped the best light-heavyweight, and defeated every significant black heavyweight challenger of his time in numerous grueling battles – yet he was never a universally recognized world champion!
Langford`s formidable reputation meant he was frequently avoided by other top fighters. This led him to travel globally for bouts, a financially successful period where his fame grew. However, his record during these years becomes less clear, with some experts estimating his total fight count could reach 600, suggesting his knockout total might also be considerably higher than recorded.
Tragically, Langford continued fighting long past his prime, losing both his money and vision in one eye. Towards the end, he needed guidance to the ring, yet astonishingly, even in this vulnerable state, some fighters still refused to face him.
Jack Dempsey himself stated, “Langford was one of the greatest fighters we ever had and if I fought him, I probably would’ve got knocked out and I’m glad I never had the opportunity to”.
Years later, Langford`s whereabouts became unknown. He was eventually found living in a derelict basement, completely blind and impoverished. Despite his circumstances, he reportedly remained in good spirits. He passed away at 69.
Notable Victories
Sam Langford`s significant wins over Hall of Famers, World Champions, Coloured Champions, and top contenders include:
Joe Gans, George McFadden, Young Peter Jackson (4x), Fireman Jim Flynn (5x), Dixie Kid (2x), Stanley Ketchel, Battling Jim Johnson (11x), Bill Tate (5x), Jamaica Kid, Harry Wills (2x), Gunboat Smith, Jack Blackburn, Sam Mcvea (7x), Lee Anderson (2x), Tiger Flowers, George Godfrey (2x), Joe Jeanette (7x), Kid Norfolk, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien.
Oliver Croft 
Neville Whittle