The Washington times., 1922-08-27
SAYS LANGFORD
ISUNCROWNED
RING MONARCH
corbett Writes Of Tar, Baby's
Twenty-one Years In Game.
Averaging IS Fights a Year.
Nv LANES ]. CORBETT.

BY JAMES J. CORBETT.
WHENEVER "marvels of the
w prize ring" are discussed il
w Is well not to overlook Sam
Langford. For there is fighter
greatar than many Of the herald
ed greatest; a ringman who might
have been a world champion in
several different divisions If the
chance to fight the title holder
only had come to him. But il
always was denied.
Langford Ia thirty-six now-and
still fighting. That's remarkable
record In itself. But the fact that
he has been battling since 1902
more than twenty-one fighting
years-and has fought at least
fifteen fights q year through more
than two decades makes his career
even more amazing.
don't know who holds the rec
ord for longest ring activity-but
am sure that before Eangford hangs
up his glove for the last time the
championship win be his beyond
dispute. For Langford today IL
fighting oftener than he did in his
cSthub kooo ocNCAo
more seasons Of fistic warfare.
Ignores Training Rules.
II Langford had trained or lived
according to the real rules of ar
athlete there might be an explana
ton for that in his long ring life
But the strange thing about the
Boston Tar Baby" Is that he per
haps hasn't done an hour Of train
ing in five years.
He eats what he wants. drinks
what he wants, and in some ways
violates the most vital rules of Q
box. On one occasion Langford
ate six huge pieces Of watermelon
and five minutes later jumped into
the ring for a fight. Another time
he ate q huge meal which was
sent to his dressing room. He was
Just finishing dessert when he was
called into action-and then knock
ed out his man In the second
round.
Langford always win appeal &c
me as one of the most terrific hit
ters that ever lived. He could put
more power into his body drives
than any man ever saw in q
prize ring. And when Langford hit
the other mans chin with an over
hand right, which carried serious
intent back of II, that man fell, to
rise no more until the echo Of the
counut of "ten" had long died
| away. -... .,
Langford's record for some years
hasn't included many knockouts
and 1t has listed some defeats. But
always will there be a suspicion
that Sam never really let loose In
those fights-that he purposely
suffered defeat so as to insure q
return match which meant added
revenue. Once a friend of Lang
ford's, attempting to explain the
situation, said: -
How To Save Foes.
"The white fighters duck Sam
they simply won't fight him. That
leaves only men Of his own race TO,
Sam to fight. There are only q
comparative few negroes among The
heavxweights. II Sam fought his
best against them he could whir
| each and every one in two or thret
rounds. And what would be the re
suit? Absolutely nothing else, OK
cept that Sam would be a fightless
fighter. So to continue in harness
ho sHhpiJ BoI " saw eP A'S "NoaS
foemen."
Langford started his career as a
bantam. He was feet inches
tall then. He is no taller now. But
through the years he has added
about 75 pounds to his frame--and
40 of II is fat. Yet Langford
packing all that excess bulk, has
made human punching bags out oi
every foeman that he willed &c
punish.
He Knocked out the giant Harr,
Wills twice. He put away Joe
Jeanette. Bill Tate, Jim Flynn
Jim Johnson and a hundred others
He beat Jack johnson so badly ir
their fight years ago that wher
/, johnson was champion and Lang
ford offered TO fight him without {
dollar for his end Of the purse
johnson refused. SCI
II Langford had been q whit,
man and been accorded the great
white fighters various chances a
championships / feel sure that San
would have won championships al
the way along the line. For Lang
ford, in every division he hal
fought, has been at one time OF
another its outstanding fighter.
Langford will win no titles. Hi
real fighting days are done. But
surely he can claim the title ol
''Uncrowned King Of Pugilism."