Ezzard Charles has one of the best HW records

Three main reasons.

He fought in the smallest HW era. Certainly the least threatening one. A lot of his LHW resume that he is credited with was actually at HW but people are really trying to export his feats to LHW.

He declined earlier then any other HW champ. Past his best by 30 and done at 35. Marciano isn't rated highly by many H2H and Charles lost twice to him in his early 30s. The presence of Archie Moore getting better with age makes it hard to pull the "he was old" card.

Charles was small, not a big puncher and didn't have a great chin. This combination makes it hard to elevate Charles above other ATG HWs. If you look at all the greats who weren't big punchers at HW big and small but especially the smaller ones they have one common attribute they all were super durable. If Charles chin could be cracked by Bivins, Marshall, Moore and Marciano its hard to pick Charles against big punchers. Its hard to pick Charles over his peers. Joe Louis had lost his power when Charles fought him and I don't think anyone believes Charles or Marciano could have survived early 40s Joe Louis.

Another note.

Walcott and Marciano get more blame for it but Clarence Henry and Bob Baker are significant omissions from Charles resume. As in they were better than anyone who got a HW title shot for 10 years except Archie Moore. Rex Layne didn't get a title shot officially but he still got to fight all the champs. Clarence Henry and Baker were frozen out and neither got to fight Charles, Walcott or Marciano. Before the IBHOF boxing had another HOF the Ring HOF which shut down. Clarence Henry got elected to that HOF without ever fightng for a title. Because Moore beat them and Marciano and Charles beat Moore people let it go but for me its a problem.

 

I love Ezzard but h2h, its hard to see him beating many ATG heavyweights as he wasn't a huge hw puncher. Still the GOAT at 175 lbs.