Ezzard Charles has one of the best HW records

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Gazelle Punch, Sep 3, 2025.


Page 3 of 3
  1. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,899
    11,917
    Dec 17, 2018
    Charles wins over Moore contribute to his LHW resume, where I rank him as the GOAT, they're irrelevant to his HW resume.

    I won't go through all the 12 x HWs I cited as having better win resumes than Charles, but Foreman's and Frazier's best wins were significantly better than Ezzard's. For most people that counts more than whose 15th best win was superior.

    Depth of win resume is only one factor of many that contributes towards where people typically rank fighters from an historical context, but if it's purely depth that you're interested in, consider that of Harry Wills:

    Sam Langford x 13
    Sam McVea x 3
    Joe Jeanette
    Fred Fulton
    Jeff Clark x 7
    Luis Firpo
    Willie Meehan
    Gunboat Smith
    Kid Norfolk
    Charley Weinert
    Denver Ed Martin
    Battling Jim Johnson

    What was Ezzard Charles's 32nd best win in a bout contested at HW?
     
    Greg Price99, Sep 4, 2025
    Greg Price99, Sep 4, 2025
    #31
    Rubber Glove Sandwich likes this.
  2. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,749
    9,889
    Feb 27, 2024
    Damn! Definition of the old head delusions.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Sep 5, 2025
    MaccaveliMacc, Sep 5, 2025
    #32
  3. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,572
    9,385
    Aug 15, 2018
    I personally don’t think to much of pre 30s fighters. I appreciate what they did for the sport and their toughness but the lack of clear footage makes gauging them difficult and the film which does exist almost shows an entirely different sport with different tactics (longer rounds different gloves different knockdown rules etc). I don’t consider what they did special for the times. As compared to Charles who fought more ranked men at HW then everyone not named Louis and Ali. That means something to have the record he did.

    also we can all pretend Charles didn’t beat Moore but he did. Like Holyfield beating Qawi it adds to his greatness especially considering how great Moore was in both divisions.
     
    Gazelle Punch, Sep 5, 2025
    Gazelle Punch, Sep 5, 2025
    #33
  4. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,899
    11,917
    Dec 17, 2018
    Who is pretending Charles didn't beat Moore? Why do you think I rank Charles #1 all time at LHW and #5 all time p4p out of all fighters in the entire history of boxing?

    Of course the Moore wins add to Charles greatness, in the LHW division and in a p4p sense, just as Holyfield beating Qawi contributes to his ranking at CW and p4p.

    I just don't pretend Charles victories over Moore contribute to his HW resume, because they don't.
     
    Greg Price99, Sep 5, 2025
    Greg Price99, Sep 5, 2025
    #34
    thistle likes this.
  5. Cojimar 1946

    Cojimar 1946 Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,565
    2,227
    Nov 23, 2014
    They do because Moore was capable of beating top heavyweights as a light heavyweight. It was an era where light heavyweights could beat top heavyweights.
     
    Cojimar 1946, Sep 5, 2025
    Cojimar 1946, Sep 5, 2025
    #35
    Gazelle Punch likes this.
  6. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,899
    11,917
    Dec 17, 2018
    Depends on your criteria, I suppose.

    If you rank based on your own perception of H2H outcomes, it may be relevant.

    If you rank based on fights that actually happened in the weight divison you're assessing, as I do, Charles beating Moore x 3 at LHW, clearly contributes to his LHW, not HW, resume.
     
    Greg Price99, Sep 5, 2025
    Greg Price99, Sep 5, 2025
    #36
    Rubber Glove Sandwich likes this.
  7. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    52,208
    27,699
    Jan 3, 2007
    In terms of wins yes
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 5, 2025
    mr. magoo, Sep 5, 2025
    #37
Page 3 of 3