Bill Lang
Encyclopedia
Bill Lang was an Australia
n professional boxer
who held the national heavyweight title. He was also an Australian rules football
er who played with Richmond
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Lang began his professional boxing career in 1905, the same year he was fullback in the Richmond VFA
premiership team. He fought future world champion Jack Johnson
at Richmond Race Course in 1907 and lost in a TKO. Later that year he defeated Peter Felix
in Broken Hill to claim the Australian heavyweight title.
After defending his title five successive times, Lang earned a title bout with reigning world champion Tommy Burns
at West Melbourne Stadium in September 1908. He knocked Burns to the floor with a left hook in the second round, however Burns got up before the end of the count. The Canadian
went on to win with a KO
in the sixth round. Earlier in the year, Lang had taken part in Richmond's inaugural VFL season
, playing their first ever game and eight in all. Primarily a follower, he added six more games the following year before retiring to concentrate on his boxing career.
In 1909, Lang had a notable knockout win over Bob Fitzsimmons
at Sydney Stadium
.
The hard punching Lang went overseas in 1910 and fought Al Kaufman in the United States
. Over the course of the year, and in 1911, Lang boxed in the United Kingdom
and took on the renowned Sam Langford
at the Olympia AC
in London
, where he lost after being disqualified.
When he returned to Australia he twice defended his national title before losing it against Jack Lester
in a points decision.
Lang was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame
in 2004. He had been the first Australian to fight for a world heavyweight title.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who held the national heavyweight title. He was also an Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Lang began his professional boxing career in 1905, the same year he was fullback in the Richmond VFA
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
premiership team. He fought future world champion Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson (boxer)
John Arthur Johnson , nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” was an American boxer. At the height of the Jim Crow era, Johnson became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion...
at Richmond Race Course in 1907 and lost in a TKO. Later that year he defeated Peter Felix
Peter Felix (boxer)
Peter Felix was a boxer from Australia.Peter Felix was born on 17 July 1866 on the West Indian Island of St.Croix, the same birthplace as the immortal Peter Jackson, who he claimed to be his first cousin...
in Broken Hill to claim the Australian heavyweight title.
After defending his title five successive times, Lang earned a title bout with reigning world champion Tommy Burns
Tommy Burns (boxer)
Tommy Burns , born Noah Brusso, is the only Canadian born world heavyweight champion boxer. The first to travel the globe in defending his title, Tommy made 11 title defenses despite often being the underdog due to his size. Burns famously challenged all comers as Heavyweight Champion, leading to...
at West Melbourne Stadium in September 1908. He knocked Burns to the floor with a left hook in the second round, however Burns got up before the end of the count. The Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
went on to win with a KO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
in the sixth round. Earlier in the year, Lang had taken part in Richmond's inaugural VFL season
1908 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1908.Both Richmond Football Club and University Football Club were admitted to the VFL competition .-Premiership season:...
, playing their first ever game and eight in all. Primarily a follower, he added six more games the following year before retiring to concentrate on his boxing career.
In 1909, Lang had a notable knockout win over Bob Fitzsimmons
Bob Fitzsimmons
Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons , was a British boxer who made boxing history as the sport's first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett, the man who beat John L. Sullivan, and is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the Lightest heavyweight...
at Sydney Stadium
Sydney Stadium
The Sydney Stadium was a sporting and entertainment venue in Sydney, New South Wales, which formerly stood on the corner of New South Head Road and Neild Avenue, Rushcutters Bay...
.
The hard punching Lang went overseas in 1910 and fought Al Kaufman in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Over the course of the year, and in 1911, Lang boxed in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and took on the renowned Sam Langford
Sam Langford
Sam Langford was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. Called the "Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows," by ESPN. He was rated #2 by The Ring on their list of "100 greatest punchers of all time". Langford was originally from Weymouth Falls, a small community in Nova...
at the Olympia AC
Olympia, London
Olympia is an exhibition centre and conference centre in West Kensington, on the boundary between The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, London, W14 8UX, England. It opened in the 19th century and was originally known as the National Agricultural Hall.Opened in 1886,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he lost after being disqualified.
When he returned to Australia he twice defended his national title before losing it against Jack Lester
Jack Lester (boxer)
Jack Lester was an American heavyweight boxer.-Biography:He was born in Calumet, Michigan as Jack Jubeck on May 2, 1891 to Polish parents. He was raised in Cle Elum, Washington....
in a points decision.
Lang was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame
Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame
Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 and began inducting boxers into the Hall of Fame in 2003. Since then annual induction dinners have been held....
in 2004. He had been the first Australian to fight for a world heavyweight title.