Ezzard Charles, The Cincinnati Cobra, The Baddest LHW of All Time... Educate Yourselves

dangerousity · Dec 5, 2019

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Eye test tells me prime RJJ embrasses him and so does Usyk.

George Crowcroft · Dec 5, 2019

dangerousity said: ↑

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Eye test tells me prime RJJ embrasses him and so does Usyk.
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Shut the **** up

George Crowcroft · Dec 6, 2019

JC40 said: ↑

Thanks for the read George. Really well written too mate. I agree that Ezzards jab wasn’t the greatest as shown in the Harold Johnson fight when Ez was past his best. He sure was a great fighter though.

As an aside I just had a google and there have only been 498 people named Ezzard born in the USA since records have been collected and that 1951 was the year in which more babies were named Ezzard than any other. I heave never heard of a anyone else with the name.

Cheers.
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I saw in the Layne fight more than a few others, how hard it was to brawl with Ezzard, and a lot of it did comedown to his jab.

Layne would come in, Ezz would block, counter jab and reset.
Rinse and repeat, throw in a few slips and combos whilst moving and you leave Layne completely ****ed.

George Crowcroft · Dec 8, 2019

Ezzard Charles vs Pat Valentino

Rd. Ezz : Pat (Total)
1. 10 : 9 (10-9)
2. 10 : 9 (20-18)
3. 10 : 9 (30-27)
4. 10 : 9 (40-36)
5. 10 : 9 (50-45)
6. 10 : 9 (60-54)
7. 10 : 9 (
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)

Charles wins by 8th round KO.
I had Ezz winning easily, but all the rounds before the KO were close and competitive.

Ezz was very impatient here, getting tagged with shots he didn't need to. He was also more engaging than he needed to be, giving Pat more of a chance. Not a very good performance imo, despite the result.

George Crowcroft · Dec 28, 2019

Ezzard Charles's fight with Jimmy Bivins is supposed to be a lost classic. A real scrappy 10 rounder between two blossoming ATGs.

Charles, outweighed by 10lbs came out with a purpose against Bivins taking the first two rounds clearly and dropping him to a knees in the 2nd, Bivins (heavier and more experienced) returned fire in the third, and dropped him with a huge left hook. In the 4th, both men went to war, furiously exchanging for most of the round but Bivins consistently landing his straight right hand and hurting Ezzard as well as dropping him again for a count of nine. Bivins followed through, and dropped Charles again in the 5th. The middle rounds slowed down, but it lived up again in the 8th as Charles started throwing combinations to the body was caught hard again by Bivins and went down for count of 2.

The ringside writers had it 6-3-1.

Note - this is all from reports, as there is no footage of Ezzard Charles below heavyweight.

catchwtboxing · Dec 28, 2019

I too am a huge fan. Started as a middleweight and had a very respectable heavyweight reign. A PPP great in the truest sense.

George Crowcroft · Dec 30, 2019

Flo_Raiden said: ↑

I'm curious to know who you would compare Ezzard Charles' style to
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Luis Rodriguez is the closest comparison I can think of in 1 fighter.

George Crowcroft · Jan 20, 2020

Ezzard Charles vs Roy Jones Jr

At 175, it's clear to me who'd win this. Call me biased all you want, it's Ezzard.

Jones never fought anyone like Ezzard, Ezz fought the original Roy Jones, Lloyd Marshall. Marshall beat Charles once in their trilogy, however Charles was very heavily injured.
In the 1st rematch, Charles was dropped by a left hook, although got up immediately, the adaptions he made shut Marshall down. His simple changes of moving to the right and standing upright instead of crouching, shut Marshall's hook down and his glove trapping and parrying had already shut down his right. He slowly started getting more aggressive with his counters until he scored a KO with a cross to the body.
In the third and final fight between them, he wiped Marshall out in 2. He demolished an ATG who is almost identical to Jones stylistically.

Jones's speed is the only thing Charles hasn't seen, but he's seen everything else Jones brings to the table. The "class" of Jones was topped by Moore(who Charles KOed), the arrhythmatic-ness of Jones was topped by Walcott (who Charles schooled and dropped), the power was topped by Marciano ect ect; you get where I'm going with this.

Once Jones lost his otherworldly speed, he was KOed, multiple times. Hopkins showed that Jones could fall for traps in his prime too.

Charles managed to line up killer counters against everyone. I see no reason why he wouldn't here, and given how hard Charles could hit when he sat down on them, I predict Charles via KO.

George Crowcroft · Oct 21, 2020

Somali Sanil · Oct 21, 2020

George Crowcroft said: ↑

Study up, Mutha****a!

The Cincinnati Cobra was born in... Lawrenceville? Yup. He was from Lawrenceville, Georgia and then moved to Cincinnati as a young kid. He was a respected pupil at Woodward High School and was a fighter by the time of graduation. He was a classy educated man, with a love Jazz music he would follow up with in later life with once he had the platform. His parents are pretty much unknown, but he grew up living with his Gran and had no siblings.

By 1942 he would've graduated from school and had started his amateur career almost years beforehand, and would actually have been fighting professionally for 2 years. He started off weighing similar to a featherweight and would start winning awards at 15 as a welterweight.
He would be fighting competitively against other top Ohio WWs in 1937, and would win the diamond belt 3 times in 37,38&39. He would also win the Golden Gloves at MW in 1939.

So by 1940, he had a reported Amateur Record of 42-0, had won 3 AAU Championships, 3 Diamond Belts and won the Chicago Golden Gloves award before turning professional, at 18.

He kicked off his career as a MW in 1940, with a KO4 over Melody Johnson. He'd go on a 17-0 win streak before losing at the hands of veteran, unheralded middleweight Ken Overlin, who also fought Ezz to a draw (which should be noted that it was in Ohio, so Ken probably deserved the nod). Two fights later he'd take on old ATG Teddy Yarosz, winning via schooling at the age of 20. In a few months, he'd find himself opponent for Charlie Burley, who was a later replacement for a rubber match against Overlin, who pulled out, I imagine we've all heard of the alleged duck by Robinson of Burley, but that's another story. Ezzard would fight Burley to a clear decision, which he would win. He'd take him on in a rematch 5 weeks later... Which Ezz would win even easier. This was in 1942, and was a test of the top 2 MW contenders, which, whilst the titles were froze, meant absolutely nothing as neither were getting a title shot for at least 3 years. Ezzard Charles would also take on underrated LHW champion at 160, Joey Maxim twice.

So Ezz moved on, a trip up to light heavyweight was the path he'd choose. He'd campaign at LHW, taking on back to back ATGs in Marshall and Bivins, losing both. His devastating loss to Marshall (an 8th round TKO, after going down 8 times) is bad. Bad for confidence, but Ezzard had a hip injury and still got up from a big puncher's shots 8 times. Bivins seemed to catch him at the right time. Ezz didn't take these losses particularly well, and took over a year out. He'd have 2 gimme fights in December 44, in fact there were only 3 days between the bouts.

In 1945, Ezzard was drafted to the military. He'd spend 1945 out of the ring as a consequence. In 1946, Ezzard was a Killer. He'd start off with a few gimmes, but would step up to take on Archie Moore (who's a certified top 20 P4P fighter and top 3 LHW), school him and then move on to avenge his loss to Marshall, with a KO6. He'd take on an underrated fighter, who has a claim to be an ATG, Oakland Billy Smith, who he'd beat easily on points then he'd finish the year off with a Clean UD over Bivins, which took his 1946 record to 10(6)-0 with wins over 4 Hall of Famers.

1947 started off just as devastating, taking on Moore, Marshall, Smith, Bivins and Ray. Beating 4 of them, 3 by KO, but the loss to Ray and the win over Moore both being considered controversial (moreso his loss against Elmer Ray). In 1948, he would cold KO Moore in a trilogy fight, Ezzard beat a promising up and comer named Sam Baroudi.

Sam would die in hospital due to the injuries sustained from his bout with Ezzard. Ezz would take a few months away from the sport and questioned himself. He subsequently came back, with his killer instinct hidden away, but still undoubtedly there as he would now win more decisions, but still KO Elmer Ray in a rematch. Ezz would also beat Maxim and Bivins again before his move up in weights again.

By 1949, it was clear that Gus Lesnevich wasn't planning on giving anybody great a title shot, so instead of engaging in endless series with the same fighters which he was better than, he tested the waters at HW. Taking on number 1 contender, Jersey Joe Walcott, in his first fight at HW for the vacant NBA title. From here he'd be a very dominant HW Champion, racking up 8 title defences and beating HOFers, Joe Louis, Gus Lesnevich, Jersey Joe Walcott and Joey Maxim. His fight with Joe Louis is a high action technical brawl that doesn't get the recognition it deserves, IMO.

He'd lose the title in what I regard as the most devastating fashion ever seen in the ring. Career rival Jersey Joe Walcott dipped to the side whilst casually walking and landed a HUGE left hookercut which KOed Charles. It was painful. Beautiful set up and counter from one of the most tricky and unique counter-punchers ever.

He'd then beat contender Rex Layne a couple of times, as well as another fight with Joey Maxim, and controversially lose a 4th fight with Jersey Joe Walcott. This is where he should've retired IMO, he didn't do much after this point. 21 writers had it for Charles, 18 had it for Walcott, and 2 had it even. I've always thought a draw would've been the most fair decision myself, but I can definitely see why the judges penalised Charles. He was stunning for seven or eight rounds, before clinging to Walcott at every opportunity in an extremely boring finish.

Anyways, after JJW4 he would go onto fight HW Nino Valdez, and lose in a close fight. In his very next fight he would lose again, controversially to ATG LHW Harold Johnson. He'd go onto score a beautiful HL reel KO over THE Glassy Gunslinger, Bob Satterfield. This would get him his fight with Marciano, which he would do very well in and even have certain ringside writers claiming the decision was unjust, and Ezzard should've won. But I wouldn't put to much stock in that without the full footage. He was granted an immediate rematch, in which he would split Marciano's nose and be on the verge of victory, before The Rock came back with force and stopped Charles. They're both great fights.

After his final two meaningful fights (with Marciano), he would end up having 23 fights where he went 10-13. He would retire in 1959 with a record of 95(52)-25(7)-1.

He'd try and make the best of his life though, playing Jazz with respected practitioners and being known as someone who could hold his own with the best on the bass. In 1968, he was being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and it would progress quickly, paralysing him from the waste down, crippling him for his final few years. He
would be in immense pain before he passed, and there's a heartbreaking commercial from 1973 that shows Charles in a wheelchair, almost a different human from the fighting machine of the late 40s. He'd die from his condition in 1975.

Ezzard Charles was not a very popular champion.

Max Baer was once quoted saying "we've got a middleweight champ who'd lick the best heavyweight in the world... Sugar Ray Robinson". Ezzard Charles suffered from the first Larry Holmes syndrome, the guy after Joe Louis and the guy before Rocky Marciano, but in his passing he was very respected, Marciano called him the "bravest man he'd ever fought". In 1976, Cincinnati dedicated the street he lived on whilst fighting to Ezz by changing the name of Lincoln Park Drive to Ezzard Charles Drive. He's listed as the best LHW of all time by Boxing magazine and is frequently listed in top 10 P4P lists.

It was a shame, the hand he was dealt. And in the end it didn't get better. He lost his money from boxing and worked normally, whilst battling his condition. Once his legs stopped working and his speech was impaired, he couldn't afford treatment, so the boxing community came together and 3 former champs came and paid for the legend's treatment. Archie Moore, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali.

He's somewhat forgotten today, but know: that he is the greatest Light Heavyweight to ever lace them up, belt or not. And a great man, who didn't get the credit he deserved.
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nice piece George, very sad too. I wouldn’t argue with him being the best at 175

Clinton · Oct 21, 2020

George Crowcroft said: ↑

Study up, Mutha****a!

The Cincinnati Cobra was born in... Lawrenceville? Yup. He was from Lawrenceville, Georgia and then moved to Cincinnati as a young kid. He was a respected pupil at Woodward High School and was a fighter by the time of graduation. He was a classy educated man, with a love Jazz music he would follow up with in later life with once he had the platform. His parents are pretty much unknown, but he grew up living with his Gran and had no siblings.

By 1942 he would've graduated from school and had started his amateur career almost years beforehand, and would actually have been fighting professionally for 2 years. He started off weighing similar to a featherweight and would start winning awards at 15 as a welterweight.
He would be fighting competitively against other top Ohio WWs in 1937, and would win the diamond belt 3 times in 37,38&39. He would also win the Golden Gloves at MW in 1939.

So by 1940, he had a reported Amateur Record of 42-0, had won 3 AAU Championships, 3 Diamond Belts and won the Chicago Golden Gloves award before turning professional, at 18.

He kicked off his career as a MW in 1940, with a KO4 over Melody Johnson. He'd go on a 17-0 win streak before losing at the hands of veteran, unheralded middleweight Ken Overlin, who also fought Ezz to a draw (which should be noted that it was in Ohio, so Ken probably deserved the nod). Two fights later he'd take on old ATG Teddy Yarosz, winning via schooling at the age of 20. In a few months, he'd find himself opponent for Charlie Burley, who was a later replacement for a rubber match against Overlin, who pulled out, I imagine we've all heard of the alleged duck by Robinson of Burley, but that's another story. Ezzard would fight Burley to a clear decision, which he would win. He'd take him on in a rematch 5 weeks later... Which Ezz would win even easier. This was in 1942, and was a test of the top 2 MW contenders, which, whilst the titles were froze, meant absolutely nothing as neither were getting a title shot for at least 3 years. Ezzard Charles would also take on underrated LHW champion at 160, Joey Maxim twice.

So Ezz moved on, a trip up to light heavyweight was the path he'd choose. He'd campaign at LHW, taking on back to back ATGs in Marshall and Bivins, losing both. His devastating loss to Marshall (an 8th round TKO, after going down 8 times) is bad. Bad for confidence, but Ezzard had a hip injury and still got up from a big puncher's shots 8 times. Bivins seemed to catch him at the right time. Ezz didn't take these losses particularly well, and took over a year out. He'd have 2 gimme fights in December 44, in fact there were only 3 days between the bouts.

In 1945, Ezzard was drafted to the military. He'd spend 1945 out of the ring as a consequence. In 1946, Ezzard was a Killer. He'd start off with a few gimmes, but would step up to take on Archie Moore (who's a certified top 20 P4P fighter and top 3 LHW), school him and then move on to avenge his loss to Marshall, with a KO6. He'd take on an underrated fighter, who has a claim to be an ATG, Oakland Billy Smith, who he'd beat easily on points then he'd finish the year off with a Clean UD over Bivins, which took his 1946 record to 10(6)-0 with wins over 4 Hall of Famers.

1947 started off just as devastating, taking on Moore, Marshall, Smith, Bivins and Ray. Beating 4 of them, 3 by KO, but the loss to Ray and the win over Moore both being considered controversial (moreso his loss against Elmer Ray). In 1948, he would cold KO Moore in a trilogy fight, Ezzard beat a promising up and comer named Sam Baroudi.

Sam would die in hospital due to the injuries sustained from his bout with Ezzard. Ezz would take a few months away from the sport and questioned himself. He subsequently came back, with his killer instinct hidden away, but still undoubtedly there as he would now win more decisions, but still KO Elmer Ray in a rematch. Ezz would also beat Maxim and Bivins again before his move up in weights again.

By 1949, it was clear that Gus Lesnevich wasn't planning on giving anybody great a title shot, so instead of engaging in endless series with the same fighters which he was better than, he tested the waters at HW. Taking on number 1 contender, Jersey Joe Walcott, in his first fight at HW for the vacant NBA title. From here he'd be a very dominant HW Champion, racking up 8 title defences and beating HOFers, Joe Louis, Gus Lesnevich, Jersey Joe Walcott and Joey Maxim. His fight with Joe Louis is a high action technical brawl that doesn't get the recognition it deserves, IMO.

He'd lose the title in what I regard as the most devastating fashion ever seen in the ring. Career rival Jersey Joe Walcott dipped to the side whilst casually walking and landed a HUGE left hookercut which KOed Charles. It was painful. Beautiful set up and counter from one of the most tricky and unique counter-punchers ever.

He'd then beat contender Rex Layne a couple of times, as well as another fight with Joey Maxim, and controversially lose a 4th fight with Jersey Joe Walcott. This is where he should've retired IMO, he didn't do much after this point. 21 writers had it for Charles, 18 had it for Walcott, and 2 had it even. I've always thought a draw would've been the most fair decision myself, but I can definitely see why the judges penalised Charles. He was stunning for seven or eight rounds, before clinging to Walcott at every opportunity in an extremely boring finish.

Anyways, after JJW4 he would go onto fight HW Nino Valdez, and lose in a close fight. In his very next fight he would lose again, controversially to ATG LHW Harold Johnson. He'd go onto score a beautiful HL reel KO over THE Glassy Gunslinger, Bob Satterfield. This would get him his fight with Marciano, which he would do very well in and even have certain ringside writers claiming the decision was unjust, and Ezzard should've won. But I wouldn't put to much stock in that without the full footage. He was granted an immediate rematch, in which he would split Marciano's nose and be on the verge of victory, before The Rock came back with force and stopped Charles. They're both great fights.

After his final two meaningful fights (with Marciano), he would end up having 23 fights where he went 10-13. He would retire in 1959 with a record of 95(52)-25(7)-1.

He'd try and make the best of his life though, playing Jazz with respected practitioners and being known as someone who could hold his own with the best on the bass. In 1968, he was being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and it would progress quickly, paralysing him from the waste down, crippling him for his final few years. He
would be in immense pain before he passed, and there's a heartbreaking commercial from 1973 that shows Charles in a wheelchair, almost a different human from the fighting machine of the late 40s. He'd die from his condition in 1975.

Ezzard Charles was not a very popular champion.

Max Baer was once quoted saying "we've got a middleweight champ who'd lick the best heavyweight in the world... Sugar Ray Robinson". Ezzard Charles suffered from the first Larry Holmes syndrome, the guy after Joe Louis and the guy before Rocky Marciano, but in his passing he was very respected, Marciano called him the "bravest man he'd ever fought". In 1976, Cincinnati dedicated the street he lived on whilst fighting to Ezz by changing the name of Lincoln Park Drive to Ezzard Charles Drive. He's listed as the best LHW of all time by Boxing magazine and is frequently listed in top 10 P4P lists.

It was a shame, the hand he was dealt. And in the end it didn't get better. He lost his money from boxing and worked normally, whilst battling his condition. Once his legs stopped working and his speech was impaired, he couldn't afford treatment, so the boxing community came together and 3 former champs came and paid for the legend's treatment. Archie Moore, Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali.

He's somewhat forgotten today, but know: that he is the greatest Light Heavyweight to ever lace them up, belt or not. And a great man, who didn't get the credit he deserved.
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Great one George

Clinton · Oct 21, 2020

George Crowcroft said: ↑

He seemed quite a humble bloke, although if he wasn't it's understandable.

Out of interest, who do you think troubles him stylistically? For me I think Qawi, Spinks and Jones cause his biggest issues based on styles, but with Greb and Foster being his biggest threats.
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I think he beats Foster up over the course of the fight

George Crowcroft · Oct 21, 2020

Clinton said: ↑

I think he beats Foster up over the course of the fight
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Yeah, so do I. Foster's strengths were pretty much his awkward aggression and all-round versatility in his left hand. Prime Charles figured and comprehensively beat a prime Jersey Joe Walcott, one of the most awkward fighters ever, and timed him repeatedly. Bob threw a lot of jabs, which Ezz mastered countering, his movement to the left-hand side would also stimey Foster's hook. He'd start landing straight rights over the top and then flurrying after he hurt Foster. Ezzard was faster and smarter than Bob too, he'd be able to exploit the opportunities and openings he created quicker than Foster could cover them up. Not to mention, Charles also had wicked power at 175, Foster's durability wouldn't be able to withstand it imo.

Charles KO in the mid-rounds. In a fight reminiscent to a longer, more drawn out bloodcurdling version of the Satterfield fight, in that Foster would probably hurt Charles early on, but Charles would figure him out and spark him with a beautiful 1-2-3.

Reinhardt · Oct 21, 2020

George Crowcroft said: ↑

He seemed quite a humble bloke, although if he wasn't it's understandable.

Out of interest, who do you think troubles him stylistically? For me I think Qawi, Spinks and Jones cause his biggest issues based on styles, but with Greb and Foster being his biggest threats.
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The Cobra was fantastic, but I am of the opinion not matter what weight class there's always somebody who'll get you. Especially when matching up the greatest that ever fought. I like your list of fighters who'd cause him trouble . I think Ezz out points Qawi like Spinks did, I can see Jones looking great before he gets iced , Spinks would be a great fight as would Greb and Foster, hard to say definitely what would happen but it'd be great.

Somali Sanil · Oct 21, 2020

George Crowcroft said: ↑

Yeah, so do I. Foster's strengths were pretty much his awkward aggression and all-round versatility in his left hand. Prime Charles figured and comprehensively beat a prime Jersey Joe Walcott, one of the most awkward fighters ever, and timed him repeatedly. Bob threw a lot of jabs, which Ezz mastered countering, his movement to the left-hand side would also stimey Foster's hook. He'd start landing straight rights over the top and then flurrying after he hurt Foster. Ezzard was faster and smarter than Bob too, he'd be able to exploit the opportunities and openings he created quicker than Foster could cover them up. Not to mention, Charles also had wicked power at 175, Foster's durability wouldn't be able to withstand it imo.

Charles KO in the mid-rounds. In a fight reminiscent to a longer, more drawn out bloodcurdling version of the Satterfield fight, in that Foster would probably hurt Charles early on, but Charles would figure him out and spark him with a beautiful 1-2-3.
Click to expand...

Foster is an extremely dangerous fight for anyone weighing 175 George

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