Did Lesnevich fear Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore?

Not as much as Ezzard Charles feared @Austinboxing and that nurse that beat him at the home Rosco? Or something…

 

No, the Money Men and Boxing Corruption did...

Gus may have had thoughts & concerns about him, as do most fighters about fighters with fearful or big reps, but I'm sure Gus, like 'most' fighters would have been willing to face him.

here's a Ezz piece from 1947 Ring Mag 3 page bit, Titled - "the Forgotten Men", Ducked & Avoided Top Contenders,


https://www.facebook.com/stories/2856378261045131/UzpfSVNDOjgyMjE3NzkxMzY3MjM5Nw==/?view_single=1

 

It's not as simple as Charles deserving a title shot but being denied one. Charles was offered a shot in June 1947 but refused to sign until after his planned bout with heavyweight contender Elmer Ray. It's likely that he was hoping an impressive win against Ray would earn him a far more lucrative shot at Joe Louis's heavyweight title.

Charles's loss to Ray temporarily set back his heavyweight aspirations and there was a second attempt to arrange a shot at Lesnevich for 1948, but it fell apart because of disagreements over the venue. Again, it seems to have been Charles's own camp who were the problem.

https://ibb.co/MDCDRDQP
https://ibb.co/5hNgpZ3w

 

Interesting stuff, sometimes things just don’t line up… Harry Wills deserved his chance but he did have his own management blunders securing the Dempsey bout.