Standing no more than five-feet, seven-inches; tall, Sam Langford was one of the 20th century's greatest fighters. In this biography, his life story is told in great and entertaining detail. Over 100 photographs are included. Sam was a great black prizefighter in an era when the color line was easily cited by white opponents wanting to avoid meeting him in the ring. Ring magazine editor Nat Fleischer ranked Langford among his favorites, stating, 'Sam was endowed with everything. He possessed strength, agility, cleverness, hitting power, a good thinking cap and an abundance of courage. He feared no one. But he had the fatal gift of being too good, and that's why he often had to give away weight in early days and make agreements with opponents. Many of those who agreed to fight him, especially of his own race, wanted an assurance that he would be merciful or insisted on a bout of not more than six rounds.' This biography brings to light Sam Langford's remarkable talents and life.
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Sixty-four years ago, a blind and indigent Sam Langford was rediscovered through an award winning article published in the New York Herald Tribune. Now, in 2008, Clay Moyle 'discovers' Langford anew-in greater depth and with remarkable clarity. In tenaciously applying the forensic skills of a seasoned sports historian and archivist, Moyle plots a stunning tale which is set against the backdrop of the pervasive racial mores of the times in which Langford lived and fought, and in the process reclaims for posterity the life and career of one of boxing's truly great figures. ---Adeyinka Makinde, author of Dick Tiger:The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal
As the title of this book indicates, Sam Langford was, indeed, an 'uncrowned champion'-one of the greatest pound-for-pound pugilists ever to step through the ropes. The only reason Langford never held a world title was that no champion gave him a chance to fight for the crown, even though Sam was eminently qualified. Now, the uncrowned champion has found a champion in Clay Moyle, an eminent boxing historian. This book gives Langford the recognition he has deserved for such a long time. Langford was small in stature, but he was larger than life. He was capable of knocking opponents twice his size colder than a mackerel. Had there been any justice in the world of the early 1900s, Langford would have been champion of the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Moyle s epic chronicle of Langford s life in and out of the ring redresses the fighter s slide into obscurity during the half-century since his death. The author deftly balances the triumphs and tragedies of this extraordinary man s career. This book is a must-read, from the opening bell to the last. --Charles R. Saunders, author of Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Ceasars Palace
With his richly detailed new biography, Clay Moyle has restored the indomitable Sam Langford to his rightful place in the history of American sports -- and demonstrates along the way that Jack Johnson was right when he called Langford 'the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived. --Geoffrey C. Ward, author of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
As the title of this book indicates, Sam Langford was, indeed, an 'uncrowned champion'-one of the greatest pound-for-pound pugilists ever to step through the ropes. The only reason Langford never held a world title was that no champion gave him a chance to fight for the crown, even though Sam was eminently qualified. Now, the uncrowned champion has found a champion in Clay Moyle, an eminent boxing historian. This book gives Langford the recognition he has deserved for such a long time. Langford was small in stature, but he was larger than life. He was capable of knocking opponents twice his size colder than a mackerel. Had there been any justice in the world of the early 1900s, Langford would have been champion of the middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Moyle s epic chronicle of Langford s life in and out of the ring redresses the fighter s slide into obscurity during the half-century since his death. The author deftly balances the triumphs and tragedies of this extraordinary man s career. This book is a must-read, from the opening bell to the last. --Charles R. Saunders, author of Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers from the Halifax Forum to Ceasars Palace
With his richly detailed new biography, Clay Moyle has restored the indomitable Sam Langford to his rightful place in the history of American sports -- and demonstrates along the way that Jack Johnson was right when he called Langford 'the toughest little son of a bitch that ever lived. --Geoffrey C. Ward, author of Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
About the Author
Clay Moyle is a member of the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO), created in 1982 for the purpose of establishing an accurate history of boxing and compiling complete and accurate boxing records. He is also a passionate collector of boxing books with over 3,000 titles in his personal collection, many dating back to the 1800's. He lives in Edgewood, Washington.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Good As It Gets,
By feedthecat (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sam Langford: Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion (Hardcover)
Clay Moyle's book is a superb example as to how to write a boxer's biography. Providing many hitherto unpublished - if not unknown - facts about the life and career of the "Boston Tar Baby" (b. 1883, d. 1956, fought professionally from 1902 to 1926, in prime around 1908 to 1912, started losing sight in 1917) and many of his opponents (for example, Moyle explains what became of the long-forgotten boxer Danny Duane, who easily defeated both the young Langford and the highly-skilled Jack Blackburn, yet gave up what would seem to have been a very promising boxing career), the author sprinkles his book with many interesting, oftentimes funny, anecdotes about his subject. Of course, the best aspects of this book for boxing fans are Moyle's descriptions of Langford's boxing style and abilities (including accounts of when and against whom he started to utilize certain tactics and techniques); his accounts of Langford's major bouts - sometimes seemingly providing a 'blow-by-blow' description of the action; the many cited opinions of Langford's opponents and other boxing experts as to his strengths and weaknesses, as well as where he stands among boxing's greats; and, of course, the many fine photographs of the great man and his peers, many of which have never been published before.
My only real complaint about this book is that the author did not provide Langford's official weigh-in weight (and that of his opponent) for more of his bouts (for most fighters, this wouldn't be that big a deal, but, with someone like Langford, who gradually grew from a lightweight into a heavyweight and was competitive in each of the weight divisions between those two classes, it's quite important to know, especially since he often took on fighters who substantially outweighed him). But that's a small quibble given how great this bio is (I hope that the upcoming biographies of Joe Gans and Harry Greb are even 80% as good as this one). Moyle provides Langford's ring record at the end of the book, as well as an index (which is always handy). As for the chapter titles, they are as follows: 1) Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia (in Canada - it's Langford's birthplace); 2) Champion of Cambridge Street (in Boston); 3) Joe Gans, "The Old Master"; 4) Joe Walcott, "The Barbados Demon"; 5) Tackling the Big Fellows; 6) England; 7) A Black Heavyweight Champion; 8) The Iron Man (William Hague); 9) Chasing the Michigan Assassin (Stanley Ketchel); 10) Encounter With a Razor; 11) Ketchel; 12) The Fight of the Century (Jack Johnson vs Jim Jeffries); 13) The Joplin Ghost (Jeff Clarke); 14) The Rabbit Punch; 15) Australia; 16) Mastering (Sam) McVea; 17) Troubles Down Under; 18) "Gunboat" (Ed Smith); 19) An End to Heavyweight Title Hopes; 20) Passing of the Torch; 21) Heavyweight Champion of Mexico; 22) Retirement; 23) The Forgotten Man.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forgotten Greatness,
By
This review is from: Sam Langford: Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion (Hardcover)
Sam Langford is typically not on the list of modern boxing historians top ten, or even top twenty-five, but this is their oversight. Sam Langford was a pioneering trailblazer in a young sport.
Clay Moyle is one of many authors revisiting great warriors of the early days of boxing. Recent biographies have been written about Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Gans and John L Sullivan to name a few. This tome reads quickly, is highly entertaining and highly informative. Sam Langford is portrayed as not only a fierce competitor, but also an intelligent, quick-witted and generous man. He had a huge following, but because of the times he fought in, was avoided by the serious contenders and Champions of his day. Although smaller of stature, and lighter than most of the men he fought, he had so much talent that he found ways to break these men down. Although he lived his advancing years blind and penniless, he refused to give in to bitterness. While he could have fought fighters like Jack Dempsey, Jess Willard and Luis Firpo in big money fights, he had to content himself with fighting the great colored fighters like Sam McVey and Joe Jeannette again and again. Interestingly, he often carried these fighters through many rounds, because he knew he would have to fight them again, and he wanted to keep interest up for a potential larger gate. Reading about Langford's life and times opens up new vistas about what it meant to be a black athlete in the early 20th century, and how important a strong mental outlook is in life.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book about a Great Fighter,
By
This review is from: Sam Langford: Boxing's Greatest Uncrowned Champion (Hardcover)
Not only was a biography on Sam Langford A/K/A " The Boston Tar Baby " long overdue but I seriously doubt that anyone could have written a better Biography on Sam than Clay Moyle has. Clay is a reknowned Boxing Writer & Boxing Historian and this Book reflects his passion for Boxing & knowledge of the Sport. This Book is a must-read for any Boxing Fan & is a treasure trove chock full of rare never before published photos + carefully researched facts & anecdotes. Anyone who likes Boxing should read this Book
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