Evening journal., 1911-09-22
WHICH BLACK
MAN IS KING
Many Believe Sam LanGfOrd
Could Beat Jack Johnson
at Ring Game
LANGfORD IS SMALLER
THAN THE CHAMPION

Can Sam Langford, by any possi-
BILE manner wrest the worlds heavy
weight championship title from Jack
Johnsong This is the perplexing
question that is worrying the fight
ing fraternities on both continents.
The plain fact that these black men
so far overshadow their rivala at
present that they are the only glad
iators fit to battle for the title forces
the issue.
Sitting it down finer, can a good
little man beat a good big man2 His
tory answers emphatically, No. New
ertheless IN this particular case,
many close and smart students OF
the sport feel that precedent VIII be
reversed.
All acknowledge that Jack Johnson
is a. great fighter, though skeptics
claim that In beating Jeffries he lick
ed only a shell of a great man.
Everyone who has seen Sam Lang
ford at full speed admits willingly
that he is wonderful fighter,
whether he can upset tradition and
cold calculation is the burning ques-
tion.
Scanning the measurements of both
men. figures favor Johnson greatly.
His height gives him an advantage or
"a inches. When facing smaller
man. Johnson has only 10 throw his
body back and the smaller man suf-
fers great disadvantages. Attacking
smaller. rival. he towers over the
latter and makes useful advantage OF
his length In agility he is no man
understudy. and for cleyerness ne
stands supreme.
III he aud Langford met in the mid
die of a ring in Gotham there VIII
be a startling surprise for the spec
tators. Their first impression VIII
be How long can the little man
stay2" Cold facts make IL appear
suicidal for Longferd to battle john
son But If Jack Johnson VIII face
him Langford will travel across the
world TO get the opportunity That's
how much of a chance the little man
thinks he has.
A comparison of the measurements
shows one part OF the body-a prin-
cipal part-in which Langford holds
the palm. That is the chest. Under
normal conditions he measures "a
inches around the upper trunk, while
Johnson only shows 30, an advantage
of ave inches for Langford. klng
history shows that the majority OF
great fighters possessed abnormal
chests. During a long and strenu-
ous encounter the organs hidden
there perform the real, functions o'
the battle The vast lung powell
stnnds for endurance. That wort
means everything
Around fhe waist Johnson measure
80 inches. while Langford slides I'M
tame 10 33 inches. These figures prov
that except for the length of the tors'
Langford has a sturdier body than hi
rival.
In the length Of reach both men car
stretch 70 inches. and the other por
tions of the arm and leg vary 50
slightly that there is really no diner
ence.
Coming down to the weight, John
son. when down 10 fighting trim, upl
the beam around 200 pounds. Langfor'
now does his best work around l6l
hounds. So in this respect there Is no
such a huge difference, when one hg
ures that in the heavyweight division
weight cuts little figure.
Breaking away from the anatomica
which favors the present champion
one naturally turns to the records O
both men. There is only one fight tina
can really be used as a criterion O
the respective prowess Of both fight
ers When Sam McVey faced Johnso
IL took the latter 20 rounds 10 knoc
him out. Sam met Langford year
later, and all that Langford could d
was to get a draw. McVey was as goo
as johnson Counting experience whe
they metz and when he clashed wit
I.angford the latter was under no pal
ticular handicap On this one hight N
scales sway toward Johnson.
But take Langford's complete recor
and compare II with Johnsons, Lanl
ford figures far and away the bette
This black tornado won most of h
real fights by knocking out his me
Johnson generally gathered his VII
tories by outpointing his man. Johl
son took II rounds TO beat Flynn ini
helplessness. Langford just used OF
punch to accomplish the same tas
This Is claimed by the Langford cam
to amply prove that Langford Is be
ter puncher than his rival.
Here's a pertinent question: Do'
johnson like the gaffg Nobody know
There never has been a fight In whiC
the champion had to take real punisl
ment.