Ezzard Charles vs Antonio Tarver, Michael Spinks, Bob Foster, Sergey Kovalev and Dmitry Bivol @175

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MarkusFlorez99, Oct 13, 2025.


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This poll will close on Jul 9, 2028 at 2:15 PM.
  1. Charles clears

    21.7%
  2. He would probably catch a loss, this list is too stacked

    78.3%
  1. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  2. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  3. Melankomas

    Melankomas Corbett beats your favourite fighter Full Member

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    Clears, Charles is just too damn well rounded, fast and hard hitting.
     
  4. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Prime for prime the only one on the list that worries me is Spinks
     
  5. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    He could clear, but it's more likely he goes like 17-4 against them all in multiple fights series.
     
  6. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

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    Tarver is a TALL order, though Charles should out point, hustle and hurt him,
    Foster could be interesting, but Charles was just there riding at the Top in 2 Divisions with little worry - usually,

    Spinks I think Charles Bests, though Spinks is always a L-HW atg, you'd have to compare Era's & opponents to truthfully level that one out...
    I don't know, I only watched Spinks a couple, three times, there were too many other fighters & divisions grabbing more attention then...

    the New Crop, my gut is No.

    But, Hey Ho.
     
  7. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    He'd do good imo
     
  8. GlaukosTheHammer

    GlaukosTheHammer Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Nov 7, 2017
    Uh, both can be true.

    IMO Ezzard probably beats all these guys at least once but if forced to fight two or three times I can not see Spinks losing 3 to Charles.

    2-1, 1-2, either way you cut it he's a GOAT caliber character who'd probably pick up more wins than losses against the best of the best. So even if he dropped two to Spinks or Tarver or Foster or whoever, I doubt he drops more losses than wins through all of them.

    Edit/Additional- I might ***** about how he's presented to reader but that does not mean I do not think Gene Tunney deserves a mention, or even sized appropriate men through history like Burns or Fitzs
     
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  9. Ike

    Ike Active Member Full Member

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    Feb 20, 2025
    Of these, in my opinion, the one who would have posed the most difficulty for Charles would have been Bivol, primarily due to his excellent footwork, which the Russian combines with speed, an excellent jab, and very good defense. Charles was a great champion and, for me, the best light heavyweight of all time. An exceptional counterpuncher, he probably would have defeated Bivol, but I think it would have been a great, hard-fought match.
     
    Smoochie likes this.
  10. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    On a same weigh in rule he'd clear Bivol and Kovalev comfortably. Bivol's plain Jane would be dissected and exploited. Tarver has no chance. Spinks would have the best chance and Foster somewhat of a punchers chance. He'd be a mild fave over Michael for me.
     
    dmt, Tin_Ribs, Smoochie and 2 others like this.
  11. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Charles crucifies Tarver, Bivol and Kovalev, he's out of their league, but Spinks and Foster are all time greats at 175. While I favor Ezzard over both the outcomes are not that certain when you have guys who can get you outta there with one shot like Bob and Spinks
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  12. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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    Sep 21, 2017
    I think Charles CAN go undefeated, i'm not sure he does fighting all of them back to back.
     
  13. slash

    slash Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Apr 15, 2012
  14. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    A great shot at it ...everyone talks Michael Spinks but they forget he had a very competitive fight w a weight drained Mustafa, a safety first fight against Davis ... meanwhile Charles dominated a terrific level of competition ... I'm a big admirer of Michale but he's become a touch overrated when people simply bestow all time great light heavy to him ..
     
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2025
  15. Blaxx

    Blaxx Active Member Full Member

    533
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    Feb 8, 2018
    Fighting a modern schedule with 8-week camps he'd lap them.
     
    Reinhardt likes this.