Sam Langford vs James J Jeffries. Who wins?

Question

15 rounds at heavyweight in their prime. It was said that Langford would fight anyone but Jeffries but what do you think would have happened?

Answer 1

I agree with Big Bopper, even though Langford had power, speed and attitude a prime Jeffries was a friggin animal! Ran 12 miles a day,hit the bag for a couple of HOURS not rounds and was a complete monster in the ring. It would have been a great fight though and Langford never got his due. Imagine a guy 5'7 fighting from Lightweight to Heavyweight! No wuss nowadays could do that. Both men were great fighters but Jeffries would have took this one.

Answer 2

Good Question & Good Fight---You are correct---  Joe Woodman ( Sam's manager ) placed newspaper ads offering to fight any man in the world EXCEPT Jim Jefferies ( the ads actually named Jefferies).-- In their prime, Jefferies was quick ( 110 yard dash in just over 10 seconds ) & was so powerful & strong that he broke the ribs of Bob Fitzsimmons, Jim Corbett & Tom Sharkey when he fought them. Jefferies really did later offer to fight Fitz, Corbett & Sharkey ALL IN THE SAME NIGHT but they all declined his offer. --- I think that Langford & Sharkey were the 2 greatest fighters who never became Champ but Jefferies was too big & powerful for Sam &  would beat Langford.--Jefferies by KO.

Answer 3

jeffries, probably by late stoppage

Answer 4

I think the only way for someone like Langford to defeat Jeffries, was to outlast him... but from I've read, that was almost impossible to do. Jeffries had insane stamina, and when you combine that with his awesome power, I can't really see how Langford would've won.

Now it could be argued that Langford often fought bigger fighters (he kinda had to) and preferred it, but I think Jeffries would've proven to be too much. Jim had no problems dealing with  highly skilled technical fighters either, as the Corbett fight showed. No, Langford would probably frustrate Jeffries a little at first, but Jeffries would wear him down, rattle him with a few solid shots now and then, and finally land one colossal blow.

Jeffries, definitely. KO victory (somewhere between the 8th and 10th?)

Answer 5

I am going to have to disagree with the majority on this one.  Jeffries reminds me of Vitali Klitschko in many respects, but neither man, in spite of their size or athleticism were invincible, and Sam Langford was most likely the best to never hold the title.  I think Sam would have held his own against Jefferies.  Granted that a guy the size of Jeffries or Klitschko could KO just about anyone if they land on the chin, but Sam wouldn't have traded or made his chin an easy target.  

I go with Langford by decision over the 15 round distance.

Answer 6

I'm nor sure any man ever could whip a prime Jim Jeffries. What an athlete!