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Sam Langford and the champion who was never allowed

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Image: Sam Langford and the Champion He Was Never Allowed to Be

When Langford died in January 1956 in a Massachusetts nursing home, the sport had difficulty describing him using ordinary vocabulary. The master didn’t fit. The competitor didn’t match. I even felt great incomplete. His career spanned from 1902 to the mid-1920s, when one division was arduous enough to defeat and opportunities were rationed by race and merit as much.

Langford started out at welterweight. He was miniature, compact and had bulky hands. In 1904 he drew with Joe Walcott. This was the closest he came to a sanctioned world title fight. This was also the end of this road. He was perilous. He was talented. He was Black. Then the door closed quietly.

Instead, Langford climbed up. He fought in featherlight, middle and heavyweight divisions. He fought larger opponents because smaller ones avoided him. He often fought because fighting was the only way to make money. He and manager Joe Woodman accepted terms that others rejected. Shorter attacks. Bad conditions. Distant cities. Everything that put him in the ring.

When he faced Jack Johnson in a non-title fight, the reports were clear. Johnson controlled it. The result should settle the matter. Instead, Woodman transformed printed history. Over time, the story became a legend. Johnson, once the champion, refused to give Langford a rematch. Color line maintained.

Langford’s reputation grew anyway. In Paris, where boxing briefly flirted with romance and art, he was welcomed and insulted in equal measure. Applauded. Ridiculed. Drawn as something other than human. He has not responded to any of them publicly. He smiled. He fought. He quickly knocked people out whenever he could.

There are dozens of such stories. Trains to catch. Corners ridiculed. The opponents were dispatched politely and finally. They survive because they ring true.

Langford eventually won the Black heavyweight title in 1910. It didn’t change anything. When Willard closed the door behind Johnson, Langford was locked outside again. By the time Jack Dempsey arrived, Langford was older, heavier, and blind.

Years later, Dempsey wrote that Langford was the only person he was afraid of. Maybe it was kindness. Maybe it was true. Either way, the critical thing is that he said it.

Life has been tough on Sam Langford. The story was gentler. Blind for several decades and living on a pension provided by sports, he never complained. When he talked to Nate Fleischer at the end of the interview, he said he had no regrets.

This may be the most amazing thing of all.

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Canelo Alvarez responds to Jake Paul’s $200 million fight offer

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Canelo Alvarez responds to Jake Paul’s $200m fight offer

Jake Paul’s claim that he found $200 million specifically for a potential fight with Canelo Alvarez sparked a direct response from the Mexican champion.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer was scheduled to collide with Canelo in May 2025, but Turki Alalshikh stepped in and signed the then super middleweight king to a multi-fight contract.

It made Alvarez a two-time undisputed champion against William Scull before losing his four major titles in a unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford last September.

However, since Crawford announced his retirement and vacated the belts, Canelo is scheduled to fight for the world title in September this year in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

The most likely opponent seems to be WBC champion Christian Mbilli, who is coming off a fascinating draw with Lester Martinez on the Canelo-Crawford card.

However, despite this plan, Paul appears to be trying to get back into his game with the 35-year-old, insisting that a $200 million purse remains up for grabs.

The 29-year-old revealed the news on a live broadcast earlier this week, suggesting it is the “biggest fight” in boxing.

“Canelo, I have $200 million for you. Uncomplicated money. Jake Paul vs. Canelo – let’s finish it. This is what the fans have been waiting for; this is the biggest fight you can have in boxing. I think this will be the next fight.

In response, Canelo simply posted three laughing emojis on his Instagram story, signaling that Paul’s offer was not to be taken seriously.

After all, there is A a chance the American may never box again, given the injuries he sustained to his jaw after being knocked out by Anthony Joshua in December.

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Jake Paul claims he would have made Canelo $300 million

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Image: Jake Paul Claims Canelo Fight Would Pay Him $300 Million

Jake Paul responded to Canelo Alvarez after the undisputed super middleweight champion previously reacted to talk of a potential fight between the two with laughing emojis on social media.

While greeting fans and media during a public appearance this week, Jake was asked what financial terms he believed would be needed to make the fight happen.


“Yes, 200 [million] for him 300[millionformeWe’llfinalizethedealEasywork”-PaulsaidintheinterviewwithFightHubTVwhenaskedaboutapossibledealCanelo[millionformeWe’llgetthedealdoneEasywork”saidPaultoFightHubTVwhenaskedaboutapossibledealwithCanelo[milionówdlamnieSfinalizujemytransakcjęŁatwapraca”–powiedziałPaulwrozmowiezFightHubTVzapytanyomożliwąumowęzCanelo[millionformeWe’llgetthedealdoneEasywork”saidPaultoFightHubTVwhenaskedaboutapossibledealwithCanelo

The comment immediately drew attention due to the huge figure associated with the fight. Jake has continued to call for a fight with Canelo over the past year, despite criticism from many boxing fans and fighters who viewed the fight as unrealistic.

Jake was then asked about Canelo and responded with laughing emojis when the topic of a fight between the two came up online.

“I don’t know what that means, but he won’t laugh when I kick his ass,” Paul said.

The rivalry between the two continues to escalate publicly through interviews and exchanges on social media, even though no official negotiations have been announced.

Jake has mentioned Canelo multiple times in interviews over the past year, keeping the possibility of a future fight circulating despite widespread skepticism in boxing circles.

Canelo is currently scheduled to face Christian Mbilli later this year in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, while Jake continues to rehabilitate from injuries suffered in his December 2025 fight against Anthony Joshua.

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Last updated: 16/05/2026 at 7:21

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Audley Harrison candid verdict on Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua: ‘He only has one way to win’

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Audley Harrison delivers honest verdict on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “He only has one way to win”

Audley Harrison wondered how fellow Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua would fare against Tyson Fury later this year.

Both agreed to clash in the long-awaited heavyweight showdown, but only if “AJ” successfully completes his next fight against Kristian Prenga.

He hasn’t fought since knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round in DecemberJoshua is now preparing for his clash with Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

This is his first assignment since he lost two of his closest friends in a car accident in Nigeria, where he was also involved in the tragic incident.

Naturally, he spent the next few months recovering from his injuries, although Joshua now appears to be getting closer to a showdown with Fury.

Meanwhile, “The Gypsy King” has already finished his pre-fight, ending a 16-month break with Arslanbek Makhmudov, whom he outpointed by unanimous decision last month.

Shortly after the triumphant victory, Fury called out Joshua, who was sitting at ringside, refusing to take part in the fight.

But at the same time, Harrison did he told Sky Sports that he saw a fire in the 36-year-old’s eyes, dazzling enough to suggest he was ready for the task ahead.

“From a boxing point of view, it’s a sexy fight because style makes fight.

“[Joshua] he can’t win the fight by trying to box Fury – he has to go in there, break him down and try to eliminate him. This is the only way he can win this fight.

“You’re fighting a champion boxer who knows how to slip [and] slide. after [Makhmudov] fight…he [Joshua] he looked at Fury [with intent].

“When they get into that fight, he’s going to take the fire – everything he went through after his friends died.”

Despite getting back into the win column after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, Fury clearly wants to enter his second warm-up fight.

Whether that happens remains to be seen, but he certainly wouldn’t be willing to risk a potential clash with Joshua.

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