Charles is #1 on many all-time LHW lists. He is a P4P great, no doubt. How would Ezzard do vs. the best LHW and CW champs of all-time? LHW- M. Spinks B. Foster T. Loughran R. Jones B. Conn D. Qawi V. Hill who else? How about tough match-ups like- M. Moorer G. Tunney Y. Stribling H. Greb CW- E. Holyfield D. Haye J. Toney J. Gomez T. Adamek V. Jirov O. Norris A. Cole C. DeLeon O. Ocasio B. Czyz who else?
At LHW Spinks, Jones, and Tunney would probably be the best fights. At CW Holyfield, Haye, and Toney would be excellent IMO. Thoughts?
He beats them all except maybe Jones and Holyfield. You probably want to add Tunney to your list but I think Charles beats him You could add Dempsey/Marciano to the cruserweights and he might well beat them at his absolute best
I think Jones, Spinks and Foster will cause him the most trouble at Light-Heavy, though Tunney would no doubt be a fascinating matchup as well. Haye has a Punchers chance at Cruiser but I'd expect Charles to get to him first. I'd expect him to edge Holy on points at Cruiser. To be fair Jones has the style to break Charles' rhythm but I'd expect Charles to beat Jones more times than Joness beats him in say, a five fight series. Foster and Spinks are both super hard fights to call, for obvious reasons. EDIT: Hill does not rank up with the top Light-Heavys. Surely Saad or Galindez would've been a better choice. Conteh would be a better choice.
No doubt, Hill isn't as good as those guys... put whoever you want in there. I just wanted to get the ball rolling on the discussion. I actually think on Charles best day he'd have a chance vs. any of these guys! Holyfield would be the toughest! Holyfield is the only one who would beat Charles more times than not IMO.
I doubt very much a Holyfield with 15 fights has the experience to deal with Charles. He wasn't the technician that Charles was, not by a long shot. Would still make for an excellent fight, just saying.
I think he beat them all, Gene Tunney and Holyfield would be the toughest but a prime Ezzard would beat them in a series of say 3-5 fights...I liked Ezz at around 190lbs give or take
Holyfield as a Heavy would beat Charles, who fought bigger men than even Heavyweight Holy. But I'm not cinvinced that Cruiserweight Holy will have enough; though no doubt with his iron chin, unstoppable will and decent power, boxing ability and combinations, Holy will make it extremely competitive. Thing is, good as he was, I feel Foster and Spinks could throw him off his gameplan. Foster has a damn insistent, pounding jab that could set up single shots that would make Charles wish he was being hit by Jersey Joe. Spinks was an awkward fighter, but could crack with either hand. I feel Charles can outmanouever and outbox Spinks to a degree. Foster I'm not so sure. I feel Foster doesn't seem to like gettinghit, but is so accurate and chilling in his putting down of opponents that even a master of timing, ring smarts and bone crunching power as Charles was, would struggle to stay away for the entire duration. Close outcomes in a series I feel, both guys probably trading stoppages. Hard to pick for me. That's going on the basis that Foster is more dangerous than Spinks. Agree/disagree anyone? More dangerous for Charles I mean.
I'd make him the favorite over everyone on those lists except Holyfield. Spinks, Foster, and Tunney would be his closest, toughest to call fights IMO.
