[Cap]

Even as news of Sam Langford's victory over Jack Johnson spreads around the globe, controversy erupts amogst boxing fans and commentators. Was it a single explosive left hook or a head butt, both in the opening minute, that eventually led to the world heavyweight championship changing hands the other day? Debate rages in the international sporting press and in pool rooms and on street corners everywhere.

Johnson claims it was Langford's head that started the swelling of his right eye and led to the stopping of the fight. He is demanding a rematch and is adamant that referee George Siler, whom he selected, is partly to blame, pointing to six or seven interventions by him to examine the swelling optic and consulting, at one point, with a doctor seated ringside under the watchful eye of a police sergeant. Johnson says now he was perfectly all right and just warming up when the police ordered the fight stopped despite his protests.

Langford's camp says the clash of heads was minor and a hard left delivered over Johnson's right glove caused the damage to his opponent's eye. As the fight wore on, Langford continued to land blows to Johnson's face, resulting in a hideous bulge around Johnson's right eye, closing it shut and forcing the referee to call the contest in Langford's favour.

One ringside reporter wrote, "...Langford's inside work was devastatingly effective...his speed of foot enabling him to avoid Johnson's grasp and clumsy offence...Sam was landing three punches to every one by Johnson and his were harder, delivered with his full weight behind them, and deadly accurate..." An examination of Referee Siler's scorecards shows he scored two of the first five rounds for Johnson and three for Langford, and the sixth was definitely going to Langford when the police stepped in.