Ezzard Charles compared to Jack Dempsey and Mickey Walker

I doubt Ezzard Charles was suffering from ALS as early as 1949. This a disease that is fatal 90% of the time within the first six years of symptoms. Charles made it a tough 10+ since the mid 60s. You are talking a full 25 years before his death and 17 years before he was diagnosed. :huh

 

M, No one knows today, why Ezzard Charles,as early as 1952 on, lost to the likes of a Rex Layne[who Ezzard kod in 1951],Nino Valdez, Harold Johnson.
Was it old age ,31-32, or was it that his fatal disease was making inroads on his strength and reflexis ? Would Ezzard have mentioned this to the examining Ring doctors, and possibly risk losing his license? Many years ago I read an article in which Ray Arcel,Snook's trainer, claimed that Ezzard was
not the same fighter,years before his sickness was known to the public,and to
the attending physicians...Ray Arcel stated this opinion, and I tend to agree with Ray Arcel,who knew whereof he was speaking..At any rate Ezzard was in his decline at 31-32 years of age..A true gentleman was Charles ,and one of
my all-time favorites..:good

 

-Layne was by all accounts a bad decision, much like the first Elmer Ray fight. No disease necessary.

-According to reports I could find; Charles gassed in the heat while trying for an early KO against Valdez. Valdez was also allowed to man handle him in his own backyard, one article says at one point he literally carried Charles off the ground. Valdez and his people were hesitant to accept a rematch.

-Harold Johnson was a great fighter at the top of his game, close fight.

-I know. Arcel was talking about Charles' humilating years as a gatekeeper in the late 50s, which would make sense giving the timeline's disease for subtle symptoms to appear. He took terrible punishment in these fights which theory could have trigged it.

-Sorry, highly unlikely he was suffering from noticable symptoms 17 years before diagnosis and 25 before his tragic death.

Yes, Charles is a favorite of mine too. And it took a long time before Classic started really recoginizing his talents. I think he became less consistent in his 30s, with his true decline starting after the Marciano fight.