What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

What if Charles had gotten what I think isa well deserved shot at lightheavyweight crown than later stepped up and got the heavyweight title. Would Charles be less underrated and given a slight build on his already extensive resume with two titles from two divisions on it? Probably would still be rated where he's at among the best but would he have gotten more of it among boxing fans? What's your thoughts

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

It's not a huge deal since everybody knows he was better than Lesnevich or Mills or Maxim or Moore anyway.

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

The lightheavyweight belt was just a springboard into the heavyweight ranks back then. Anything over 169lb was a heavyweight you just had to be 180 plus to be a good one. There just happened to be a belt for the 175lb and under heavyweights. It was all heavyweight - there was light ones and heavy ones. They all fought each other. lightheavy did not exist as an exclusive class until about 1970. Before then Heavyweight was the goal to all who could not make Middleweight.

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

he would have jumped to Heavyweight$

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

C, a middleweight was up to 160 pounds in the 1940s...A light heavyweight
could weigh up to 175 pounds, and anything over 175 pounds was technically a heavyweight...In those days there were but 8 weight classes and most champions and their contenders would spot their opponents many pounds, rather than stuff themselves to close a weight gap...Heavier doesn't mean better, and fighters weighed in the same day as their bouts....Those days you seldom seen fat heavyweights contending, aside from an anomaly Tony Galento...
An excellent example of weight was Billy Conn in his first bout with Joe Louis in 1941, weighed in at 169-70 pounds against the powerful 200 pound Joe Louis,spotting Louis about 30 pounds...At 6ft, Conn could easily have fattened himself, but Johnny Ray his trainer knew that speed was Conn's best attribute to defeat Joe Louis and he was right...

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

At this point I wouldnt call him underrated.

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

Charles has always been one of my all-time favorties to watch and discuss (I'm 72 BTW) but in recent times he has gotten the respect he deserves. Sure, some still underrate but even a few overrate as is the case with any fighter.

Charles was the best at LHW IMO and a damn good HW as well. P4P he's up there with Robinson, Armstrong, and a few others.

A pre-prime Charles lost a few times at MW vs. very tough competition.

He lost a hard fought decision to Kevin Overlin (MW Champ), he later drew with Overlin. He also lost a SD to Kid Tunero.

He beat 3 of the best fighters who never won World Titles... Hall of Famers Charley Burley x2, Jimmy Bivins 4 out of 5 (1 KO), and Lloyd Marshall 2 out of 3 (2 KOs).

He beat Hall of Famer and MW Champ Teddy Yarosz. He beat Hall of Famers and LHW Champs Archie Moore x3 (1 KO) and Joey Maxim x5. He also beat LHW Champs Anton Christoforidis and Gus Lesnevich, both by KO. While past prime he lost a questionable SD to Hall of Famer and LHW Champ Harold Johnson.

Charles' resume can not be ignored. I haven't even mentioned his HW run yet... yes the Johnson fight and a couple of the Maxim fights were actually considered HW fights but basically they were LHWs going at it.

So, there isn't really anything Charles could have done to make me think any higher of him.

Re: What if Ezzard Charles had gotten a title shot at Lightheavy
 

He might have been the first guy to hold both titles at the same time, either way his leagacy is based on his ability and resume which regardless of not getting a chance at the light heavy crown are amongst the best.