Here is Ezzard Charles-Pat Valentino courtest of Mcgrain. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a9CYH5EVSY&feature=related[/ame] This is Ezzard in his prime. Take a look at his movement, footwork, sharp punches. Look how smooth, elegant, and graceful it was when he was young. Also here is [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCU7_gUrGos[/ame] Bob Baker vs Willie James [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cORMVijZh1k&feature=related[/ame] Keene Simmons vs Charlie Powell. I must say Simmons looks alot shorter than reports I have read. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lcrJrlUVvc[/ame] Ezzard Charles vs Tommy Harrison 1953 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTmNZZXLMng[/ame] Walcott vs Hoff [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIGXJNxahxY[/ame] Zora Folley vs Henry Cooper Plus many more. just type in search and it's probably there.
Yeah, the Hoff film is really cool. Q, you really think Charles looks perfectly primed against Valentino? I think it's his best HW performance, but he looks a superior athlete versus Marshall.
I wouldn't go as far as "perfectly primed", but certainly prime. His absolute prime was at 175lb around 1948...but in 1949, rock solid 180lb, at the age of 27..charles certainly was very very lethal. If somebody can...I think one should upload the Walcott-Charles I fight. Only rounds 14 and 15 exist. This first fight is very rare, but i love watching it. It is a bit different than the others because both are a couple years younger than when the other 3 fights took place.
I'm not saying Charles ever beats Rocky but he was sure more mobile here than years later when he fought Rocky .. without question his mobility was not the same and trading with Rocky benefited very few.
I wish someone would upload more film from late 1950s HW contenders during Listons era. Like Johnny Summerlin, Mike Dejohn, Young Jack Johnson, Harold Carter, Eddie Machen, C Williams, Zora Folley, Bob Cleroux, etc. I left out many names but it is was a talented pool. HEgrant, no one is disputing that. But on the flipside, even with charles superior speed/movement in 1949...take a look at how many times a very crude swarming Valentino lands on charles? Quite A lot. I can clearly see why Elmer Ray beat Charles in his prime after watching this.
while speedy I think charles looked less mature and seasoned against marshal he bounced around a lot waisting a lot of energy, he wasnt as poised as he was later as a champion. there is a myth he was beter before he was a champion. was walcott beter before he was a champion?
It was great listening to the English announcer of Cooper-Folley. Cooper was bleeding copiously. Yes. Definitely not America.
I have it, and if I knew how I would upload it. Judging by the commentary it seemed a very close and tactical affair that was reasonably hard to score and the last two rounds would attest to that
Agreed. A slow and crude swarming Valentino lands plenty on Charles. I think Charles was more of an attacker than a stick and move guy by trade, and this is why he would not do well vs more skilled punchers. I believe Charles was even on the cards with Valentio until he scored the KO. He had his hands full, when he should have been pitching a near shut out. One thing I love about these fights is the heart of the guy who is losing. Many ***** and moan about boxing today, but the real problem is too many fighters behind on the cards or out matches take the easy way out. Back in the day, we saw far less fighters taking the ease road to go the distance.
Charles was behind on points at the time of the KO according to what I have. But I think Charles was boxing for the stoppage. He knew what he was doing. Impressive given Valentino's record.
I do disagree here Mendoza. Charles could do everything. When he wanted to, he could stick and move with the best of him. Take a look at charles footwork and movement in the valentino fight. He is so graceful. So Elegant. Take a look at 0:26-0:34 in the charles valentino video. This is a classic example of charles sticking and moving...picking valentino apart with his jab at long range and using his dazzling footwork to get out of harms way.
"take a look at how many times a very crude swarming Valentino lands on Charles? Quite a lot. I can clearly see why Elmer Ray beat Charles in his prime" Also Rex Layne, who was bigger than Valentino and the same type, but better. After reading some ringside opinions, such as Jack Hurley voting 6 to 4 for Layne, and Nat Fleischer seeing it 5-5, I now think the 1952 Layne fight might not have been the robbery it is generally viewed as.
