Strictly as a heavyweight. Not light heavyweight, Middleweight or other weight classes. I'm new to his era and am trying to find out more How high do you rank him as a heavyweight?
I said top 15 but he can fairly be in the top 10. From 1944-1950 ezzard charked went on a terror through the division and beat a practically endless list of good fighters. To be fair, some of them were guys who went back and forth between heavyweight and light heavyweight but were relevant in both weight classes.
Top 20. I’ve talked to a personal friend of Ezzard Charles and he told me charles peak came after the war (“more mature” were his words) in the mid-late 1940’s and his best weight was in the 170’s (“faster, in his peak physical condition” were his words). Pre title Charles beat top ten rated heavyweight contenders Jimmy Bivins- Hall Of Fame Joey Maxim- Hall Of Fame Elmer Ray- number 2 in the world Joe Baksi- number 3 in the world, title eliminator Archie Moore- future number 1 heavyweight Johnny Haynes- top 10 to rightfully earn his shot for vacant title Charles defeated a prime future heavyweight champion in Jersey Joe Walcott by wide unanimous decision to win the heavyweight crown. Charles beat him again by unanimous decision to retain his title in a fantastic fight. 2 wins over a top 20 heavyweight. charles dominated Joe Louis 12 rounds to 3 despite giving up a 36lb weight disadvantage. Louis was 36 years old but still was one of the most dangerous men around coming off highlight reel knockouts in exhibitions and he would go on to win 8 in a row easily afterward. Charles in his prime did very well vs big men who were rated 6’2 218lb Joe Louis- lineal champion 6’2 195lb Elmer Ray - ranked 2 6’2 211lb Joe Baksi - ranked 3 6’4 214lb Johnny Haynes - ring top 10 Charles was an excellent attrition puncher at heavyweight and scored a lot of knockouts over men who were top contenders of the heavyweight crown at some point like Archie Moore, Jimmy Bivins, Joe Baksi, Elmer Ray, Rex Layne, Bob Satterfield, Pat Valentino, Lee Oma Charles defended his title 8 titles. Some very weak contenders in there but he was very active. It’s a shame Charles missed on Henry and Baker but they weren’t in a rush to get in the ring with him. A Louis Rematch in 1951 and then an early 1952 defense Vs Marciano was next on agenda for Charles but Walcott ruined those plans. nearly became first to regain heavyweight title. Lost razor thin controversial decision to Walcott that most ringside press had Charles winning in 1952. post title run. He still had some dominant victories over Ring top 10 to regain his Ring magazine number 1 status: Rex Layne 2x, Tommy Harrison, Bob Satterfield, Coley Wallace, and Billy Gilliam (coming off wins over Valdes and Baker). Charles also lost narrowly and controversially to hall of Famer Harold Johnson. Charles past his prime fought a heroic 15 round war vs ATG heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano in one of the all time great fights losing a close unanimous decision. According to the ring doctor, Charles was 23 seconds away from winning the rematch had he survived the 8th round, they were not going to let Marciano come out for the 9th round. Charles fell off a cliff after 1954, and despite being far past his prime..still had enough in him to defeat 6’3 202lb top 5 contender John Holman and top 10 Paul Andrew’s in 1955. According to Charles close friend who was ringside, he believes Charles was robbed in the rematch vs top contender Hurricane Jackson who fought for the heavyweight title later on. Despite only 6’ 177lb at his best, Charles was a phenomenal heavyweight because there may have never been a better all around fighter in history. Watching Charles vs Valentino in 1949..he floated on his feet, took incredible angles with his movement, had very fast twitch reflexes, elite handspeed, and Charles was a pint point accurate two fisted puncher who could flurry and combination punch. Charles also had a fantastic body attack . charles biggest kryptonites are he was small and not super strong, didn’t have the best chin, not a very long reach, and didn’t Have body type to out jab heavyweights But in a p4p sense he’s top 5 easily all time and top 20 in history at heavyweight. He would struggle to defeat athletic big men of later years but no one would beat him at 180lb and below
Great post, Suzy. A really good book by William Dettloff (Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life) came out a few years ago and I’d recommend it to anyone. BTW, who was the friend of Ezz? I got to know Richard Christmas, who was Ezzard’s secretary (ran his training camps — not as trainer, but as in making arrangements — and handled the champ’s travel and other affairs), back in the 1990s. He took fighters (opponents really) from that area all over, would rent a van and go pick up guys along the way, and we did business with him a few times for our club shows. Knowing he was from Cincy, one time I asked him ‘Hey did you happen to know Ezzard Charles’ and he told me a lot of stories. We made sure to introduce him at our fights (he worked the corners for the guys he brought) as longtime secretary and good friend of the great heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles and he got an ovation every time … I think that he really appreciated being recognized. Good boxing man. RIP.
Great breakdown. He kind of sounds like Holyfield. Not the weak chin and not so strong part but the accuracy and reflexes. Also being a smaller guy who moved up and had success.
Marciano said Charles was the bravest man he ever fought. They were close friends until Marciano's death.
I remember my dad once comparing him to Holyfield. There were similarities there, I see what he meant. I thought both had a sluggish manner to them. Perhaps Charles was better and faster at light-heavyweight. I wish there was better footage of him at that weight. It's obvious he was a good puncher and beat a lot of top guys. My dad was from that era and thought Charles was a big bore as a heavyweight, but rated him the best of the light-heavyweights. James Toney's trainer Bill Miller told my dad and I that him knocking out Billy Conn in the service really happened.
I said top 20 but I have zero problem if he’s in anyone’s top ten. His list of scalps is impressive. Him and Holyfield had very similar careers if you ask me. I wrote this before reading the thread and apparently everyone else thinks he had a Holyfield esq career as well. Great minds think alike
Top 25 for me, but I'd have no real problem with top 20 H2H I think Evander would beat more champs than Ezzard whose defences were pretty underwhelming.
