Still dont know the mans name but It was in the opening minute of a hanzagod highlight video if that helps, great video, couldn't figure out how to send it to you because I'm a step above a caveman when it comes to all technology
Getting back to Charles vs lyle I was saying that the 70's era heavyweights tyat lyle faced were significantly better than the 40's or 50's era heavies or light heavies that Charles faced
But Lyle didn't lose only to the best of his era. He lost to Jimmy Young twice, how could he beat Charles?
Terrible matchup for Lyle. Lyle was terrible against clever fighters and Charles is the epitome of a clever fighter.
I'd back Charles to take a decision from Lyle but I wouldn't base that pick on Lyle having lost to Young. Love him or hate him, Young was ranked in the Ring's Top-5, for several years running so, can be viewed as being amongst the best of the 70s, IMO. Moreover, I don't think there is much in the way of similarities between Young and Charles. Young was a negative, out-boxing pot-shotter and spoiler. Charles, despite being a defensive master, was more apt to engage in sophisticated offensive assaults but, at the same time, ran risks in doing so. This could be costly against Lyle. Lyle has a puncher's chance. But the odds favor Charles completing the distance, having outmaneuvered Lyle, over the course. Charles W UD 15
The question is whether Lyle can maul and bite his way to a TKO. I'd say no. Charles plays a different game that Lyle does. He sees opportunities and wrinkles Lyle has no notion of. To be fair though, I'd be willing to believe prime Young was harder to get out of the ring that some past it versions of Ezzard. Jimmy made his living out of spoilery defense.
Charles should have been able to outbox Lyle but if he got overly courageous might have gotten tagged ... I'd favor Ez but comparisons to Jimmy Young leave out that Jimmy was a bigger man than Young w a bigger reach as well ...
I agree with this completely. Jimmy Young isn't the most accurate comparison to Charles. Jimmy Ellis would be a closer comparison because - as you mentioned - of Charles' propensity to engage. The dude was fearless. Even with a weight difference, he would get stuck in there, such as with Elmer Ray, which actually might be a very close comparison to Lyle as well. I would agree with Charles by 15 round decision, with maybe a few landmines to negotiate along the way.
I think Charles could have still taken a decision at that point in his career. He wasn’t as good as a he was a few years earlier and lyles power would be a threat. But he might still pulled it off