Boxing is full of odd yet impressive stories, but perhaps none are quite as astonishing as a 5’7″ partially blind man fighting from lightweight all the way to heavyweight, and succeeding.
Sam Langford’s career ended in 1926, and, despite his record of 178-30-38, many have never heard of him. Many could point out Muhammad Ali’s fight with Joe Frazier that was watched by 10% of the world’s population, or George Foreman’s brilliant fight with Ron Lyle after his loss to Ali.
Some might even be able to point out Jack Johnson, though Langford often slips under the radar.
Langford began his career as a lightweight but quickly rose in the ranks and defied his genetic shortcomings, being only 5’7″ with a 72-inch reach, to go toe-to-toe with fighters a great deal bigger than him, he even forfeited almost thirty pounds to fight the legendary Johnson.
Though as it turned out, his height and reach were the least of his worries.
The Boston Bonecrusher won a world title whilst partially blind
Langford, nicknamed ‘The Boston Bonecrusher’ began to lose his eyesight in the 1910s, just one year after he claimed the World ‘Colored’ Heavyweight title against Klondike Haynes, after Jack Johnson refused to fight him again.
Johnson defeated Langford in 1906 in a grueling and close encounter, causing the legendary Johnson to steer clear of the Bonecrusher, even after he lost his vision.
Despite beginning to lose his vision in the 1910s, Langford fought all the way until 1928, when he could see hardly anything in both eyes.
He lost the world title in 1911 in Australia but reclaimed it a year later, even with his vision declining.
Despite never winning a true world championship, and never making a fortune, Langford retired with 126 knockouts to his name and, fighting from the lightest divisions to the heaviest, proved himself as a pound-for-pound great, alongside the likes of Joe Louis, who defended his title 25 times over 11 years.
Jack Johnson snubbed Sam Langford to fight the same man twelve times
Langford lost to Johnson in 1906, with many suggesting he was Johnson’s most dangerous competitor, but was denied a rematch by the champion, who claimed, according to British Vintage Boxing, he could earn more money fighting white opposition.
However, just a few years later in 1913, Johnson gave Battling Jim Johnson, another black heavyweight, a shot at the title.
Despite breaking his arm in the third round, Jack Johnson was able to draw with Jim Johnson in their first encounter, though would go on to fight him eleven more times.
They last fought in 1918, and Jim Johnson did not win a single one of their encounters.