He became heavyweight champion with 9 title defenses. However, couldn't he have captured the middleweight and light heavyweight title as well? It seems he was good enough at the lower weights as well and beat several excellent fighters at both weights. Why didn't he get a title shot at those weights?
Yes of course Beat Burley twice and Moore 3-times. Maxim I think 5 times. 2-1 with Bivins. 1-1 with Lloyd Marshal. You bethca!
The era was too good and Ezzards window was too short. He's got to complete the triple by 30. Is Charles capable of doing it more generally of course. But situation is key here not capability. SRR had more time and started at WW and he did not become a 3 division champ.
The champs @ both mw & lhw (Zale & Lesnevich respectively) both entered military service in the early 40s & either shut the door on, or @least significantly reduced Charles' window of opportunity for shots @ either 1. When Lesnevich did return, he passed up on fighting Charles (or Moore) in favor of a pair of 2-fight rivalries/paydays vs. Billy Fox & Freddie Mills, + a campaign @ hw for a shot @ Joe Louis' title. I don't think any1 would doubt that Charles would've beaten Lesnevich (especially given that he did beat him when the fight ended up happening @ hw, albeit when Gus was past his prime), but a Zale matchup is tougher to call IMO - Charles had already shown obvious potential, but he was still relatively early into his career & fighting below his best weight.
I think he could have beaten Tony Zale, but Zale was a battle hardened veteran and dangerous punĚchet at 160
Good post and I completely agree, though the Burley that Charles beat was better than Zale, imo. I'd favour even that green, still physically developing Ezzard over Zale, purely on the basis of him beating Burley twice.
Charles likely out grew middleweight young but he easily could have won 168 and 175 in addition to heavyweight .. if he had the management breaks today he could fight and win 160, 168, 175 and cruiserweight .. an amazing fighter.