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Sam Langford and the champion who was never allowed

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5 months ago

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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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Boxing

Katie Taylor says the September 5 fight will be her last

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22 minutes ago

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June 5, 2026

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Image: Katie Taylor Says September 5 Fight Will Be Her Last

Katie Taylor’s farewell fight is now official.

On Thursday, Matchroom Boxing announced that Taylor will return to Dublin’s Croke Park on September 5 to defend her WBO, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles against undefeated French challenger Flora Pili. The vacant WBC title is also at stake, giving Taylor a chance to become a three-time undisputed champion.


The event will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN and is expected to attract over 80,000 fans to Ireland’s national stadium.

“It seems like the perfect way to end – to become Undisputed Champion once again on our national stadium that holds such a special place in Irish hearts. I’m grateful that this is happening and I can’t thank the people of this country enough for the support I’ve received over the years.

“People have traveled all over the world following my career and I hope I can return the favor with a confident performance on September 5. I have no illusions that Flora will pose a very arduous challenge; she is undefeated as a professional and has a good amateur pedigree, so I have the utmost respect for her.

“I have been blessed to have achieved more in this sport than I could have ever dreamed of, but fighting in Croke Park is truly the icing on the cake. I hope this event inspires a whole recent generation to take up sport and follow their passions.”

Taylor enters the fight with a 25-1 record. The event, which will take place on September 5, will be the first professional boxing event held in Croke Park since Muhammad Ali fought Alvin Lewis there in 1972.

Pili brings an undefeated record of 12-0 to the fight and will be looking for the biggest victory of his career. Tickets go on sale June 12 via Ticketmaster, with pre-sales starting earlier this week.

If successful, Taylor will retire as a three-time undisputed champion.

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Last update: 2026/06/05 at 11:27

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Boxing

‘Rico’s eighth place in the rankings is crazy’ – three leapfrogged WBC heavyweights want Verhoeven next

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1 hour ago

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June 5, 2026

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Rico Verhoeven appears behind heavyweight contenders Andrii Novytskyi, Labinot Xhoxhaj and Guido Vianello after the WBC elevated the Dutch kickboxing champion to number eight in its heavyweight rankings.

World Boxing News spoke to three heavyweights who sacrificed themselves in the WBC rankings to give Rico Verhoeven his due for pushing Oleksandr Usyk to the eleventh round.

The Dutch kickboxing superstar debuted at number eight in the latest WBC heavyweight rankings, despite having only boxed twice as a professional.

The decision pushed several established contenders down the list, including undefeated Ukrainian Andrii Novytskyi, European champion Labinot Xhoxhaj and Italian challenger Guido Vianello.

“It’s My Time”

After Verhoeven’s arrival, Novytskyi dropped to twelfth place.

The 30-year-old Ukrainian is undefeated with a record of 16-0 and 12 knockouts, and gained momentum thanks to victories over Alexander Flores and David Zegarra.

When asked about Verhoeven’s ranking, Nowycki told WBN: “I think it’s my time to fight Rico.”

“Number Eight Is Crazy”

Vianello was even more candid.

The Italian heavyweight, who has wins over Arslanbek Makhmudov and Alexis Barriere, questions Verhoeven’s position while praising his performance against Usyk.

“Rico eighth in the WBC rankings is crazy!” Vianello told World Boxing News.

“I can fight him wherever and whenever he wants.

“In the match against Usyk, he deserved to continue the fight for another round and not be stopped.

“Now he can fight me.”

Vianello became the first ranked heavyweight to openly question Verhoeven’s stance while also volunteering to fight him.

Many observers felt the Dutchman had exceeded expectations in Egypt. Others are not convinced that a single professional defeat should give him an advantage over established rivals.

Mark Robinson

Ready for anything

In the latest rankings, Xhoxhaj ranks lower than Verhoeven, even though he holds the European heavyweight title.

The Kosovo-born contender, who boasts a record of 22-0-1 and 17 knockouts, has made it clear that he is open to any opportunity that comes his way.

“I’m prepared for anything, whether it’s Rico Verhoeven or not,” Xhoxhaj told WBN.

Next move

It’s clear from the comments that all three men currently ranked below Verhoeven would welcome the opportunity to test the former GLORY champion.

The WBC has already praised Verhoeven’s performance in the fight against Usyk, while BoxRec assessed his place among heavyweight contenders in a much less favorable manner.

All three will face Verhoeven in the blink of an eye.

It remains debatable whether Rico will risk losing to another challenger ahead of his proposed rematch with Usyk.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Boxing

Who is Flora Pili? Everything you need to know about Katie Taylor’s latest opponent

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2 hours ago

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June 5, 2026

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Who is Flora Pili? Everything you need to know about Katie Taylor’s final opponent

Katie Taylor’s swan song opponent in Croke Park has left many scratching their heads wondering who exactly is Flora Pili?

The 82,300-capacity stadium has been confirmed as the host venue as Taylor looks to reclaim her undisputed super lightweight crown on September 5 in Croke Park, Dublin.

The Irish phenom currently holds the IBF, WBO and WBA world titles, but as a “retired” WBC champion, she will also face Pili for the full green and gold belts.

This is because Sandy Ryan, currently the WBC champion on hiatus, will take a break from the sport during her pregnancy, giving Taylor a chance to become a three-time undisputed champion.

Meanwhile, the 39-year-old’s way to a successful farewell fight is Pili, who represents a somewhat unexpected opponent of one of the all-time greats.

Was Flora Pili a successful amateur?

Most importantly, Pili became a French youth champion and won the senior national title in 2015 and 2019 respectively, and also competed in several international tournaments during her amateur career.

Interestingly, she fought in the international round-robin tournament in Dublin, only to lose in 2017 to extremely talented amateurs Kellie Harrington and Irma Testa.

Pili also lost to Lucy Wildheart during her free campaign, only it was in 2016 and could not be used as ammunition against her professional credibility.

What are Flora Pili’s professional accolades?

Pili boasts a professional record of 12-0 (2 KOs), but most of her appearances have come against constrained opposition, at least compared to the level at which Taylor competed.

However, she overcame a split decision against Silvia Bortot to win the 2023 European title, and her last outing resulted in a majority points win over Jelena Janicijevic in December for the IBO belt.

Where does Flora Pili rank among the sanctioning bodies?

Pili is a top contender in both the WBC and IBF, while the WBA ranks her No. 4 in the super lightweight rankings.

The 28-year-old has clearly earned her high places in the rankings, overtaking Janicijevic, who showed a great performance in the 10-round fight.

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