He was denied a shot at many World Championships, due to the colour bar and by the refusal of Jack Johnson, the first African-American World Heavyweight Champion, to fight him in a rematch. Langford was the World Colored Heavyweight Champion, a title vacated by Johnson after he won the World Championship, a record five times.

Sam Langford, boxer (born 4 March 1886 in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia; died 12 January 1956 in Cambridge, Massachusetts). Langford was a professional boxer who competed across multiple weight classes during his 24-year career.

Samuel Edgar Langford died from natural causes at the age of 70 in New York City, a year after he had been enshrined in the boxing hall of fame. His final professional boxing record stands at 314 fights, with 210 wins, 43 losses, and 53 draws.

“Samuel E. Langford,” he said, reading the spidery script. “Cause of death — malnutrition. Residence listed as 69 Howard Street — right around the corner. The funeral charged to Charlotte E. Wade. That, I remember, was his daughter.” Sam’s family is now scattered.