If Charles is hurt in that picture, Moore is certainly hurt much worse! Great picture! Thanks for posting it! It brought back memories!!!
Charles was never really liked by the press back in his day. A friend of Ezzard told me in the first fight that Moore said to Charles "They might think you're something back in Ohio, but out here you're just another n155er." Great picture.
Same here. Add Eddie Booker, Jack Chase, and Cocoa Kid to that list. The row is unparalled in my book. Truly complete fighters who ducked no one. I am saddened they all didn't come 20 years later myself. Where we could have a better look at their respective carrers.
All those fighters started boxing in the pre-ww2 period, most came up from the depths of the Great Depression or thereabouts. Bivins and Charles started pro in 1940, the others were starting out in the 1930s. Louis "Cocoa Kid" Hardwick was a pro as early as 1929 or 1930, and Archie Moore started in 1930 too (according to Henry Armstrong). Archie Moore was probably past his best when he became champion, but still hungry, and the opposition wasn't as stong in the 1950s as it had been 10 or 20 years earlier. the pre-ww2 era was the best.
Moore was definately past his best as champ but like Hopkins was a physial marvel who managed to keep a large portion of his physical skills and retain the discipline and focus needed to make up the slack .. Moore was an amazing fighter ...
Still no footage or new pictures from any of these fights? I've searched everywhere and found nothing. Ezzard Charles probably had the most fascinating style I've ever seen on film, from 1946-1951 he was probably the greatest fighter who ever lived. Was slick as they come with a mean streak.
Both were indeed physical marvels with the constitutions of a team oxen, but without that supreme discipline they’d have been a couple of old men instead of a couple of reigning champs as old men. They’re testaments to what dedication can do.