Is it a valid viewpoint to have Ezzard Charles as the GOAT?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by DINAMITA, Dec 23, 2008.


  1. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    I think if everyone on this forum had to name who they thought was the GOAT, 99% would say one of four: Robinson, Greb, Langford or Armstrong.

    However, whether you think he is or not, do you think that Ezzard Charles would be a valid/acceptable choice? Should it be one from five instead of one from that four? Does Charles have as legitimate a claim as any of those four?

    Looking at Charles's resume, he holds wins over:

    CHARLEY BURLEY (twice)
    Joey Maxim (five times)
    ARCHIE MOORE (three times)
    LLOYD MARSHALL (twice)
    Oakland Billy Smith (twice)
    JIMMY BIVINS (four times)
    JERSEY JOE WALCOTT (twice)
    JOE LOUIS
    Gus Lesnevich

    23 wins over real top-quality opposition, starting at 160-168lbs, eventually going up to 195-200lbs. The best lhw ever, and a hw champion.


    Thoughts/opinions? :bbb
     
  2. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think it seems reasonble. I like the fact that he took on EVERYONE. He was one of select few who had beat 40+ ranked contenders as well.

    His best victories outstrips SRR:s by some distance I would say.
     
  3. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    You could make an arguement I guess...He certainly is in the top tier of p4p greats and depending on your preference you could have just about any order of those fighters.
     
  4. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    i have only saw one of his fighs against a washed up joe louis and i wasnt that impressed in him but his record sounds good
     
  5. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    That was not Ezzard's prime either nor his best weight to be fair.
     
  6. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    For number 1 he doesn't even enter my serious calculations. Top 10 is a different matter.
     
  7. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    yeh i knew he was a light heavy looking at his record i have saw clips of ezzard at light heavy but not a full fight and he looked good
     
  8. Minotauro

    Minotauro Boxing Addict Full Member

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  9. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    He has a good argument to be 1. Boxing was at its pinnacle in the 40s and 50s when he fought, performed at a higher level with better opponents than Greb and Langford. He's fought far better opposition than Robinson, Pepp and Armstrong. Like other greats he went through multiple divisions, from MW to HW, fighting the best WWs, MWs, LHWs and HWs of all time. He also has 1 of the best runs in history

    A very good case
     
  10. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I really don't think that we can proclaim Ezzard Charles as the #1 greatest of all time, but we can certainly make a case for him a p4p top 10 candidate.
     
  11. Jack Dempsey

    Jack Dempsey Legend Full Member

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    Ezzard Charles is a remembered/forgotten great in my opinion, remembered cos he won the HW title, fought Louis, Walcott and Marciano, yet forgotten in spite of some of the legends he beat.

    I think he is the most undervalued and underrated HW there is
     
  12. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    No. It is not a valid viewpoint. Ezzard is no longer one of the most underrated boxers on this site, he gets his just due more often than not. Let's not start overrating him now.
     
  13. dabox

    dabox Active Member Full Member

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    i love ezzard charles one of my favs of all time, he is one of the greatest ever but you forget to mention that he also has quite a few loses and some of those loses were not when he was past his best
     
  14. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He's up there, but I don't think I could put him over Langford or Greb.
     
  15. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

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    I don't think so.

    Compare him to someone like Robinson, who has a resume practically just as good or close to it, a better run in his prime, longevity over Charles, and doesn't have the bad losses on his record like Charles does to Bivins and Marshall (even if he wasn't prime for them).

    I'd also put Langford and Greb over him, I think they've got him beat on his strongest point (resume).

    I do believe that he could be argued over Armstrong.