[8.9] EZZARD CHARLES 119-93(52)-25-1 [Heavyweight & Light Heavyweight]: Ring magazine online - Ringside: Top Ten Heavyweights TV - Bert Randolph Sugar -
Arguably the best light heavyweight of all-time. Was born in Georgia but raised in Cincinnati. Took up boxing as a teenager and went undefeated in 42 amateur bouts. Won Chicago Golden Gloves and the national AAU middleweight championship before turning pro as a middleweight in March 1940, tallying a third-round KO of Melody Johnson in Middletown, Ohio. A terrific boxer with outstanding footwork and a hard punch, he moved up to light heavyweight because he was unable to secure a title shot at 160 pounds. Despite impressive victories over Archie Moore, Charley Burley and Joey Maxim at 175 pounds, he was also unable to get a crack at the light heavyweight title. Although slightly undersized, he began fighting heavyweights in 1946 and continued to score solid victories. In February 1949, he knocked out San Baroudi in Chicago. When Baroudi died of a head injury afterward, Charles was deeply affected and almost gave up boxing …
When Joe Louis retired, Charles, riding a 15-bout winning streak, was matched with Jersey Joe Walcott for the vacant National Boxing Association (NBA) heavyweight title on June 22, 1949 in Chicago. Charles won a 15-round decision and made three successful defense before outpointing comebacking Louis to win universal recognition as world heavyweight champion. Made four additional title defenses, including a rematch with Walcott. Although he fought in Louis’ shadow, astute observers knew how good he was: ‘Someday, maybe, the public is going to abandon comparisons with Joe Louis and accept Ezzard Charles for what he was – the best fist-fighter of his particular time’, wrote Pulitzer-prize winning sportswriter Red Smith. Lost heavyweight title to Walcott by a seventh-round knockout in their third meeting. Also lost a fourth fight with Walcott, in March 1951. Continued to campaign with mixed results and garnered a shot at reigning heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano in June 1954. Marciano prevailed by a close decision in a bitterly contested fight that earned the challenger a rematch three months later. Split Marciano’s nose in half in their second war but was stopped in the eighth round. Fought on until September 1959, when he lost a 10-round decision to Alvin Green in his final bout. After quitting the ring, he worked as a safety inspector, nightclub bouncer and a wrestler before falling victim to Lou Gehrig’s Disease and becoming wheelchair bound in the last years of his life, finally dying of the disease in 1975. In 1976, Cincinnati recognized Charles by changing Lincoln Park Drive to Ezzard Charles Drive. The Ring’s Fighter of the Year in 1949 and 1950. The Ring magazine online article, ‘Hall of Fame Friday: Ezzard Charles’
Ezzard Charles is Number Seven on Bert’s list. Ringside: Top 10 Heavyweights
Ezzard Charles was an extremely, extremely, gifted fighter. Bert Randolph Sugar
He was a great fighter. And totally underestimated as a great fighter. Bert Randoph Sugar
He was just great. Bert Randolph Sugar
Ezzard Charles could beat anybody. And he was a slickster. Bert Randolph Sugar
36) Joey Maxim Points 10:
37) Joe Maxim Points 10:
45) Archie Moore Points 10:
53) Archie Moore Points 10:
62) Archie Moore KO8:
70) Joey Maxim Points 15:
71) Jersey Joe Walcott Points 15: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Jersey Joe Walcott I 7th March 1951 Detroit: [r9] ... Walcott seems to go right into that left hook. Notice the glazed expression in the eyes of Jersey Joe ... [r15] ... Two magnificent fighters giving it all they have. Ezzard Charles won a unanimous decision. US fight commentary
75) Joe Louis Points 15: US Fight Commentary TV
v Joe Louis 27th September 1950 New York: Thirty-three pounds difference in favour of Louis ... An excellent bout ... An era ends as the bell sounds. US fight commentary
78) Jersey Joe Walcott Points 15:
79) Joey Maxim Points 15:
80) Jersey Joe Walcott Lost KO7: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Jersey Joe Walcott II 18th July 1951 Pennsylvania: [r7] ... The fight is dead even here in round seven. A crushing right sends Charles sprawling. US fight commentary
82) Joey Maxim Points 15:
84) Jersey Joe Walcott Lost Points 15:
99) Rocky Marciano Lost Points 15:
100) Rocky Marciano Lost KO8: US Fight Commentary TV -
187 lbs v Rocky Marciano 192.5 lbs 17th September 1954 New York: [r1] ... The fight starts briskly ... Charles beating Marciano to the punch [r7] ... And that nose is a target for Ezzard Charles. A legitimate target ... Marciano’s aggressiveness is not making it easy ... Good combination punches by Marciano. Charles may be in trouble again [r8] ... Down he goes! ... Six devastating punches. Nine. And out. It’s all over. US fight commentary
[8.8] ARCHIE MOORE 219-185(131)-23-10-1 [Heavyweight & Light-Heavyweight]: Cassius Clay: The Early Years TV - Mills Lane - Daily Telegraph -
Moore recorded more career knockouts than anyone else in the history of boxing with 141. Cassius Clay: The Early Years
Archie Moore was a great fighter ... He never got a shot ... But he could fight ... He was one the great great Light Heavyweights. Mills Lane
Archie Moore: The man who fought both Rocky Marciano and Cassius Clay: Archie Moore, who has died aged 84, in an immensely long pugilistic career, held the light-heavyweight title for a decade, was the only man to fight Rocky Marciano and Cassius Clay, and knocked out 141 opponents, more than any other boxer in the history of the sport.
Moore might have been champion far longer, but he was not given a shot at the title until he was 39. For though he had been the leading contender for many years, he was the sort of fighter champions feared, a cagey, ringwise boxer with a fearsome punch …
He successfully defended the title eight times, with his most difficult fight being against the Canadian Yvon Durelle in 1958. Moore was dumped on the canvas four times, three of them in the first round. ‘The first time he put me down I thought, Wow, this can can hit,’ Moore recalled. But he got back up to batter Durelle into submission and eventually knocked him out in the 11th round. It was his 127th knockout, anew record, and brought him the award of Fighter of the Year. Daily Telegraph article 9 December 1998
94) Ezzard Charles Lost Points 10:
100) Ezzard Charles Lost Points 10:
105) Jimmy Bivins TKO8:
107) Ezzard Charles KO8:
137) Jimmy Bivins TKO9: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Jimmy Bivins 21 February 1951 New York [r1] … This is the fifth time these two boys have fought … Bivins is also a powerful right-handed puncher … [r2] … Most of the boys try to duck this boy [Moore] who is call the uncrowned light heavyweight champion … [r3] … He’s considered about the best around by the experts … It’s a good mix and Jimmy Bivins is trying to shift a bit … [r4] … He’s fought the greatest in names and performance … [r5] … He [Moore] looks like he wants to fight … [r6] … Slightly low but not damaging … Bivins continues to annoy Archie Moore … [r9] … Bivins on the deck … Seemed to hit his head very heavily … US fight commentary
158) Joey Maxim Points 15:
165) Joey Maxim Points 15:
168) Joey Maxim Points 15: