Ezzard Charles Championship Claim

Some sources say Louis held on to recognition until Marciano beat him but sources seem divided on that matter.

 

There there... Too much sun maybe??

 

One thing I find hard to swallow is anything British in my mouth. Thanks to some unfortunate cellmates, this has been discovered about my personality for some years now.

 

15th August 1950:

Ezzard Charles, wasp-waisted Cincinnati sharpshooter who is recognized in 47 states as world heavyweight boxing champion, defends his crown tonight in the one state in which he is unrecognized. Easy Ezz will take on Freddie Beshore, Harrisburg, Pa., challenger, in a scheduled 15-round title contest for the Fairview A. C. in Memorial Auditorium.

Not only is this the nation's No.1 fight of the week, it also is Buffalo's first heavyweight championship bout in history, despite the fact that the New York State Athletic Commission steadfastly refuses to drape the royal purple robe over Charles' shoulders.

Ever since Joe Louis vacated the throne last year, the Empire State boxing solons have seen fit to recognize no successor. Even after Ezz defeated Jersey Joe Walcott June 22, 1949, to earn the championship blessing of the National Boxing Association, the New York solons ranked Charles only as a leading contender.

Charles' two subsequent championship defenses, knockout victories over Gus Lesnevich in New York last August and over Pat Valentino a month later in San Francisco, failed to budge the adamant Gotham fistic fathers. They said that Charles would have to defeat Lee Savold. British version of the heavyweight champion, before winning their favor. Now however, with Louis preparing for a comeback fling against Charles, it is possible that the winner of this bout will gain the nod from the New York commission."

 

6th June 1951:

"Predicting a knockout victory within six rounds, Joe Louis announced today he would claim the British chunk of the world heavyweight crown after beating Lee Savold at New York's Polo Grounds next Wednesday night. Blond Savold of Englewood, N. J., is recognized as world champion by the British Boxing Board of Control; but reports from London indicate the B. B. B. C. may refuse to recognize Louis as titleholder if he wins. "If they won't recognize me, I'll take it up with the U:N." grinned Bomber Joe as he relaxed on a sofa in the living room of his training quarters. Much more talkative at 37 than in his younger days, the big fellow in blue slacks and blue t-shirt spouted plans for the future. After belting out Savold. he said he probably would fight Hein Ten Hoff of Germany at Berlin on Aug. 8, and then challenge Ezzard Charles for the undisputed title at Detroit in September."

"In Great Britain, you know, Lee Savold, the unfrocked Paterson, N. J., bartender, is recognized as heavyweight champion of the world. The authorities in London were asked whether this recognition would be shifted to Joe Louis in the event that the old Brown Bomber beat Savold at the Polo Grounds a week from tonight. "No" answered the spokesman. "Why not? " came the question. "We have decided to ignore the fight," said the British brass. That's lovely, isn't it? If Louis wins, the English boxing bigdomes will pretend it never happened. But you may be sure that they will make capital of a Savold victory should this battle of the ancient dragons turn out that way. This, they maintain, upholds their judgment. If Savold should knock out Louis they'll even be sure of it. Ezzard Charles only won a one-sided decision over Louis last September."