- Hardcover: 430 pages
- Publisher: Bennett & Hasting (May 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1934733024
- ISBN-13: 978-1934733028
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 4.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 515,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
the title boxings greatest uncrowned champion says it all. if langford was around today he would be champion at any weight. the author has done a cracking job bringing the great man back to life
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The epic career of the greatest boxer who never won a world title. Required reading for anyone interested in boxing and the rise of Afro-Americans to dominate the heavyweight division in the later C20th. The fact that Langford's name does not appear on the list of World Heavyweight champions is due to the racial politics of the time.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
18 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
As Good As It Gets
2 Aug 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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 Providing many hitherto unpublished - if not unknown - facts about the life and career of the "Boston Tar Baby" (b. 1883, d. 1956, fought professionally from 1902 to 1926, in prime around 1908 to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.
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
Forgotten Greatness
11 Oct 2008
Format: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.
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
Great Book about a Great Fighter
6 Jun 2008
Format: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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