The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-10-06
Can Langford Beat johnson?

Can Sam Langford by any possible
manner wreSt the worlds heavy
weight title from Jack Johnson7 This
is the perpicXing question that Is wor.
rylng the lighting fraternities on both
continents. The plain fact that these
black men so far overshadow their RI
walls at present that they are the only
gladiators fit to battle for the title
forces the issue.
Sitting 1t down finer, can a good
little man beat good big man? His
tory answers emphatically-no New
ertheleSs in this particular case many
close and smart students Of the sport
feel that precedent will be reversed.
AL acknowledge that Jack Johnson
is great tgSer, though skeptics
claim that In beating Jeffries he lick
ed only a shell of a great man. Every
one who has seen Sam Langford at
full speed admits willingly that he IS
wonderful fighter. Whether he can
upset tradition and cold calculation is
the burning sport question.
Scanning the measurements of both
men, figures favor Johnson greatly.
His height gives him an advantage Of
five and three-quarter inches. When
facing smaller man Johnson has
only to throw his body back and the
smaller man suffers great disadvan-
tage Attacking smaller rival, he
towers over the latter and makes use
full advantage Of his length. In agili.
ty he is no mans understudy, and for
cleveruess he stands supreme.
If he and Langford meet in the mid
die of a ring there will be startling
surprise for the spectators. Their first
impression will be, "How long can the
little man stay?" Cold facts make 1t
appear suicidal for Langford to battle
Johnson.
Should the pair clash Johnson's meth
cd Of fighting would be the same as Of
old-feinting and then countering in
side. Langford, fighting his regular
battle, would keep bearing in, trying to
land on the body. Can Johnson's clev-
erness, Jabbing and chopping keep the
miniature fighting machine away from
ton. Langford, built as he Is, with
all his massive strength stored within
a small space, could assimilate terri
BILE punishment before he would stop
tearing after that vital part Of John
sons frame.
Langford was outpointed by Joe
Jeanette in New York recently. Jean
nette's left hand jab slowed up Sammy
considerably. This battle proved that
| any man with good left jolt can wor-
ry Langford. Now, If Jeanette with a
light stab could slow up Langford
what would n man like Johnson, who
has a terrible jab, do to the Tar Baby ?
Then another thing-Langford is an
easy man to reach with an uppercut.
How could he keep away from John
sons left and right hand head rockers ?
1t was Johnson's left and right upper
cuts that really beat Jeffries. The
Johnson who met and defeated Jeffries
would stow away Sammy Langford
with his terrible left jab and heavy
uppercuts.
Johnson is keenly disappointed be
! cause Carl Morris, the erstwhile white
hope. was drubbed so soundly by the
| Pueblo fireman. Jim Flynn, in New
| York recently. 1t leaves the situation
with regard TO the heavyweight title
| practically unchanged and with no
white man in sight who could hope to
successfully cope with the champion.
Flynn, undoubtedly a good fighter.
| is no match for Johnson. as was prov.
cd by their fight in San Francisco on
Nov. .. 1907. when Johnson knocked
ont Flynn in eleven rounds. Compe-
| tent judges who saw that battle are
on record rs saying that Johnson could
have turned the trick In three rounds
or even less had he 30 desired. Flynn
is n good little man, but Johnson is
a good big man, and that tells the
| story.
There is no man in the ring today
who could hope to defeat Johnson If
the negro is anything like as good as
when he fought Tommy Burns and
Jim Jeffries. There is today no real
white hope.