Hi, i was lookin trough Charles resume and it was very good, from his debut to 1943 when his losses agains Bivins and Marshall happened he was a young rising boxing prodigy, in that time he fought mainly in Ohio and sometimes Pennsylvania. By this, he never went to the west coast to fight some of the murderers row fighters, in the end of his career his resume included only 2 fighters from the row, Burley and Marshall whom he beat twice and lost one. So my question is this what would be your take on the following fights?: Ezzard Charles vs Holman Williams Ezzard Charles vs Jack Chase Ezzard Charles vs Bert Lytell Ezzard Charles vs Cocoa Kid Ezzard Charles vs Eddie Booker Ezzard Charles vs Aaron Wade The criteria is how Charles would have fared in his early years (debut till 1943) and his "prime lightheavyweight" days (1946-1948), also the version of the murderers row to be considered is the one arround 1942-1943, agains both versions of Charles So, whats your take on it gentlemans?
My opinion Burley and Williams were the 2 best of the row. I think Charles beats them all based on the info ive looked into
If he fights them as often as Moore did, he picks up just as many losses. Moore was really only mastered by Yarosz, Wade, Booker, Burley, Charles, Marciano and Pattresin. Obviously Charles can't fight himself and he already beat Burley. Yarosz was never part of the row. But Wade and Booker could really fight and Charles definitely loses to both in a series of fights. The Row were a quality bunch of fighters but their ratings are inflated by the war. If everyone of them got a title shot over the war years they wouldn't all win.
Yeah, i think that the middleweight version of Charles in his best night can beat Eddie Booker, Holman Williams and Cocoa Kid, but Jack Chase, Bert Lytell and Aaron Wade will be more difficult mainly because of the style. Altough the lightheavyweight version of Charles wins more often than not against all of them.
Pre military service Charles would win some and lose some, which he actually did. Post service i would back him over all of them to be quite frank, he was a machine! Charles lost one fight in 5 years post service, and this was fighting as a light heavyweight against a bonafide heavyweight who beat Walcott the year before. Ray got the split decision but it was widely accepted that Charles beat him handily. Charles packed more than 40 fights into this 5 year period, many over top notch light heavyweights and then over Walcott and Joe Louis. One of the great streaks in history. IMO he was a level above the Murders row during this period. He was possibly up there with anyone ever during this time, certainly at 175.
Charles was better than all them with Burley and Williams having an argument about them being better, but seriously, Charles was that good.
Top 5 ATG IMO. Plus a class guy and a caring gentleman, so often absent with today's fighters. I remember seeing Ezz in a wheelchair in the early 70's with Lou Gehrig's disease trying to get the public to see the effect of ALS. It broke my heart...
Reading more into the murderer's row and Ezzard Charles resume theres is some situation that i found interesting arround the early april 1946 Bert Lytell was having difficulties finding opponents, he went after Lamotta and then after Charles but he coudn´t make either. In the early april 1946 Charles have just fought 3 times since returning from the army, and he was unproven in his comeback, then 2 fights later he would face his best opponent in his comeback run form the war in Archie Moore, as we know this started imo Ezzard true light heavyweight/heavyweight prime. But what would have happened if Charles met Lytell somewhere in 1946? I think Lytell would give Charles some problems, specially since he was a southpaw but like in the Moore Bouts i see Charles prevail in a close but clear fight.
