Is Ezzard Charles underrated?

Sweet Science · 08-27-2007, 05:59 PM

I tend to think he is and he breaks into my top ten heavyweight list more often than not. He was a very small heavyweight and started of as a welterweight in the amatuers. He has wins over Burley, Maxim, Moore, Bivins, Walcott, Louis (an old Louis), Oma and went 15 rounds with Marciano.

Charles was an immensely skilled fighter with sublime defensive abilities. I think he was underrated because he wasn't really an exciting fighter, his skills were so subtle and could only be appreciated by true boxing purists. He perfected the arts of slipping, countering and feinting, these skills weren't flashy but were understated. Many boxing critics of his time swear he was the very best light heavyweight ever.

Is Charles underrated?

TBooze · 08-27-2007, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Science

Is Charles underrated?

He is an example on the classic forum of an underrated fighter who has had so much written about him and how he is underrated, he is becoming overrated.

Minotauro · 08-27-2007, 06:12 PM

I don't think he is underrated at heavyweight I'm a huge Charles fan and would find it hard to put him in my top ten heavyweights. As you rightly said he is normally regarded as the greatest light heavyweight he might be underrated by the general people like his very low ranking ESPN p4p list. But on this website he is probably ranked fairly, most would have him in the top 10 p4p which is where he belongs I believe I have him at 7.

TBooze · 08-27-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minotauro

But on this website he is probably ranked fairly, most would have him in the top 10 p4p which is where he belongs I believe I have him at 7.

He was a Great, but I would not quite put him in my top 10, I have at #17, although to be fair to him he beat Moore and Burley who I have in my top 10, so he does rather well man on man.

pryorgatti · 08-27-2007, 06:19 PM

Ezzard Charles - A feared contender at middleweight and light heavyweight, 'the Cincinnati Cobra' was never given an opportunity to fight for a world title at 175 pounds, so he jumped to heavyweight where he won the vacant NBA title by out-pointing Jersey Joe Walcott. He won the "world" title from an aging, comebacking Joe Louis and eventually defended the title eight times (counting three defenses of the NBA belt). But despite his heavyweight accomplishments, Charles is recognized by most historians as the greatest light heavyweight ever. This is due to his three wins over Archie Moore (one of which was by TKO), two wins over Charley Burley, five wins over Joey Maxim, four wins over Jimmy Bivins (he was 4-1 out of five meetings) and two wins over Lloyd Marshall (he was 2-1 out of three meetings). Charles also gave Rocky Marciano two of the Rock's toughest fights in epic heavyweight title encounters.

Muchmoore · 08-27-2007, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBooze

He is an example on the classic forum of an underrated fighter who has had so much written about him and how he is underrated, he is becoming overrated.

Larry Holmes takes the cake here.

Sweet Science · 08-27-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muchmoore

Larry Holmes takes the cake here.

I've heard Bill1234 redresses this imbalance.

Bad_Intentions · 08-27-2007, 07:07 PM

no he's not.

TIGEREDGE · 08-27-2007, 07:51 PM

Definetly Underrated Ezzard Charles. Nobody Really Tooks About Him When They Are Doing There P4p But He Was One Of The Best Ever

Asterion · 08-27-2007, 08:13 PM

No, he's not underrated. Except by some people that think that all Old-timers suck.

Charles deserves to be a Top15 Heavyweight of all times. But imo not Top10.

mcvey · 08-27-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Science

I tend to think he is and he breaks into my top ten heavyweight list more often than not. He was a very small heavyweight and started of as a welterweight in the amatuers. He has wins over Burley, Maxim, Moore, Bivins, Walcott, Louis (an old Louis), Oma and went 15 rounds with Marciano.

Charles was an immensely skilled fighter with sublime defensive abilities. I think he was underrated because he wasn't really an exciting fighter, his skills were so subtle and could only be appreciated by true boxing purists. He perfected the arts of slipping, countering and feinting, these skills weren't flashy but were understated. Many boxing critics of his time swear he was the very best light heavyweight ever.

Is Charles underrated?

P4p He might even be getting to the stage where heis a trifle overated,his reputation has undergone a resurgence of late30 years ago Boxing Illustrated had him and Walcott joint no 10 at Heavy ,Charles was a great LH,but doesnt make my top 10 at Heavy ,I think he gets his dues on this forum.

Asterion · 08-27-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

What about pound for pound? Or at LHW?

I also rank Charles as a Top15 P4P ever.

Top2 at 175.

But I'm not a fan of Charles at all.

Street Lethal · 08-27-2007, 10:26 PM

Seeing how he isn't well known, yes. The man was a light heavyweight who moved up to heavyweight and won the title and defended something like 9 times? Is that right? Damned impressive. Definitely an all time great!

Dempsey1238 · 08-27-2007, 10:48 PM

Charles defended the title more times than Joe Fraizer, Mike Tyson, Rocky Marciano, Floyed Patterson, Holyfiled and others. Most guys hardly get past 6 or 7. But Charles defended the crown 8 times. At the time, Only Joe Louis and Tommy Burns made more title defenses than Charles.

Also His title defenses are nothing to laugh at, Joe Louis(Yes old) Joe Walcott, and Pat Valntino are pretty good comp. Also he is the ONLY man to take the Rock the entire 15 round route. Some times, I am REAL tempted in putting Charles in the bottom half of the top ten. He did beat better fighters, than Holmes did at least lol.

08-27-2007, 06:12 PM	#3
Minotauro Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: May 2007 Location: London Posts: 2,885 vCash: 1000	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? I don't think he is underrated at heavyweight I'm a huge Charles fan and would find it hard to put him in my top ten heavyweights. As you rightly said he is normally regarded as the greatest light heavyweight he might be underrated by the general people like his very low ranking ESPN p4p list. But on this website he is probably ranked fairly, most would have him in the top 10 p4p which is where he belongs I believe I have him at 7.
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08-27-2007, 06:19 PM	#5
pryorgatti Contender ESB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 601 vCash: 1000	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? Ezzard Charles - A feared contender at middleweight and light heavyweight, 'the Cincinnati Cobra' was never given an opportunity to fight for a world title at 175 pounds, so he jumped to heavyweight where he won the vacant NBA title by out-pointing Jersey Joe Walcott. He won the "world" title from an aging, comebacking Joe Louis and eventually defended the title eight times (counting three defenses of the NBA belt). But despite his heavyweight accomplishments, Charles is recognized by most historians as the greatest light heavyweight ever. This is due to his three wins over Archie Moore (one of which was by TKO), two wins over Charley Burley, five wins over Joey Maxim, four wins over Jimmy Bivins (he was 4-1 out of five meetings) and two wins over Lloyd Marshall (he was 2-1 out of three meetings). Charles also gave Rocky Marciano two of the Rock's toughest fights in epic heavyweight title encounters.
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08-27-2007, 07:07 PM	#8
Bad_Intentions Champion East Side Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Miami FL, USA Posts: 9,729 vCash: 153	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? no he's not.
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08-27-2007, 07:51 PM	#9
TIGEREDGE Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 3,315 vCash: 1000	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? Definetly Underrated Ezzard Charles. Nobody Really Tooks About Him When They Are Doing There P4p But He Was One Of The Best Ever
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08-27-2007, 08:13 PM	#10
Asterion Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 7,796 vCash: 75	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? No, he's not underrated. Except by some people that think that all Old-timers suck. Charles deserves to be a Top15 Heavyweight of all times. But imo not Top10.
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08-27-2007, 05:59 PM	#1
Sweet Science Peaceful Muslim Warrior ESB Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Manchester England Posts: 562 vCash: 1000	Is Ezzard Charles underrated? I tend to think he is and he breaks into my top ten heavyweight list more often than not. He was a very small heavyweight and started of as a welterweight in the amatuers. He has wins over Burley, Maxim, Moore, Bivins, Walcott, Louis (an old Louis), Oma and went 15 rounds with Marciano. Charles was an immensely skilled fighter with sublime defensive abilities. I think he was underrated because he wasn't really an exciting fighter, his skills were so subtle and could only be appreciated by true boxing purists. He perfected the arts of slipping, countering and feinting, these skills weren't flashy but were understated. Many boxing critics of his time swear he was the very best light heavyweight ever. Is Charles underrated?
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08-27-2007, 10:26 PM	#13
Street Lethal Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 494 vCash: 1000	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? Seeing how he isn't well known, yes. The man was a light heavyweight who moved up to heavyweight and won the title and defended something like 9 times? Is that right? Damned impressive. Definitely an all time great!
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08-27-2007, 10:48 PM	#14
Dempsey1238 Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,352 vCash: 1000	Re: Is Ezzard Charles underrated? Charles defended the title more times than Joe Fraizer, Mike Tyson, Rocky Marciano, Floyed Patterson, Holyfiled and others. Most guys hardly get past 6 or 7. But Charles defended the crown 8 times. At the time, Only Joe Louis and Tommy Burns made more title defenses than Charles. Also His title defenses are nothing to laugh at, Joe Louis(Yes old) Joe Walcott, and Pat Valntino are pretty good comp. Also he is the ONLY man to take the Rock the entire 15 round route. Some times, I am REAL tempted in putting Charles in the bottom half of the top ten. He did beat better fighters, than Holmes did at least lol.
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