Ezzard Charles vs. George Foreman (1974)

On paper Charles has many of the attributes one would need to defeat Big George. The one glaring problem is that Charles was a blown-up lightheavyweight who only weighed 185lbs. Although the superior boxer and technician there is just no way Charles will be able to avoid Foreman's power.

Foreman KO 6

 

If Peralta could hang tough twice with a young Foreman, then the great Charles at peak could defeat the 1974 version. Ezz had the combination of movement, skill and heavy guns necessary to pull this off over the slow, endurance challenged and lumbering giant.

 

Very true. Ezzard would tot up his share in points,but once George cuts the ring off and gets his hardest shots in,the fight will be over.

Foreman by early/mid round ko.

 

The prime 1974 Foreman of Caracas and Kinshasa was a lot more dangerous proposition than the neophyte of 1970 & 71 who went with Peralta.

 

I tend to agree, Ezz certainly is in with a chance here. Foreman is bigger, stronger and much more poverwful but Charles is faster, more skilled and very good defensivly. And, he can take a punch as he proved numerous time. I can see Charles surviving Foreman´s onslought and then winning the mid and late rounds to win the fight. Foreman stopping him is as likely though.

 

Indeed, but Charles was also a lot more dangerous until Baroudi, and George's entire defense by 1974 was his offense. Yes, Foreman would cut off the ring on Ezz, then find himself confronted by counter-fire Ali and Young could only dream of. No, Charles wouldn't likely hurt George early, but if Foreman can't take him out inside of, say, seven or eight rounds...(and I don't think he would.)

As a result of this, I just cast my vote for Charles by KO/TKO. George fails to weather the championship rounds through to the final bell. By 1974, his stamina had been hideously compromised by lack of extended competition. (Also infrequent activity in what brief squash matches he had been participating in.) The Foreman of Peralta II might actually be a better version of young George to take on Charles.

 

I'm always going to pick brains over brawn. I just struggle to put Foreman over exceptionally smart fighters like this when he had so many exploitable flaws that he never corrected until his second career.

It would be nice to have footage of Charles vs. Ray to see how this match could possibly go down.

 

Foreman KO. Dont know when, but no way can Charles avoid it.

 

True,

The great boxers who beat Foreman such as Ali and Young still had to take a lot of huge shots before prevailing. Charles could certainly put on a boxing clinic for Foreman, but he's not just going to run circles around him and never get tagged. I think Ezzard could very conceivably win a decision, but if he gets cought up against the ropes or stunned long enough for George to follow up with that brutal two fisted attack, he's finished.

 

I think Charles gets KO'd if he tries to fight Foreman in the pocket. If he tries to stick and move he could win a UD but I just don't think Charles would do this

 

And for whatever it's worth, Ezz knocked out the Foreman sized Johnny Haynes (who at 6'4" had previous wins while weighing as much as 228) in eight during February 1949, while weighing 179 pounds. Size alone is not a logistical issue for Charles here (as it might be for General Forum lepers).

Charles never tangled with Sheppard, but Hatchetman did say Moore was the hardest puncher he ever competed against, and Ezz took the measure of Foreman's future mentor thrice. Louis was able to hit Charles often enough to swell up his face considerably. I think Ezz could survive whatever the much slower and less sharp punching Foreman did manage to connect with. The man went the championship distance with Marciano when past prime. 1974 Foreman wouldn't be able to remain standing over a distance like that against an opponent like this. (Imagine George trying to get through seven more rounds in Kinshasa.)

 

Why do people come out with such idiotic comparisons. How about, Michael Sprott ko'd the 6'5 245lb Audley Harrison, obviously the size and strength of a prime George Foreman would be of no issue to him atsch

 

I think Ezzard Charles did have trouble with bigger man's left jabs. Joe Louis at 6'2 218lb really busted up Ezzard with his jab, and Charles could not get away from the 6'3 215lb Nino Valdes's jab.

 

Shame "Brains over Brawn" didn't work for Ken Norton.