Jimmy Ellis of '68 vs. Ezzard Charles of 1950.

Charles was actually 32 when he fought Marciano the first time. Just one month shy of 33.

 

Charles by KO in the late rounds

 

Ellis beifited a lot from having Angelo and Chris Dundee behind him as trainer and promoter, same time they had Ali. He got big fights due to it, and matches that they thought best suited him. Charles fought Walcott 4 times, Moore 4 times, Layne 3 times (although Layne was a bit shot) and many others, plus gave Marcinao tough going in first fight. Charles was also sharp, hard puncher, Ellis lacked punch. Charles could spring on an opppenent fast. He killled a guy in ring, after that often did just enough to win, with a few exceptions (Marciano fight for one)

Only thing I see In Ellis favor is that Charles would lay back too much and get passive in some fights, but I still see him as too smart to let Ellis steal a decision.

 

Charles by UD.
Ezz one of my favorites and an ATG top 10 IMO.
But Jimmy was tough.
The former middleweight had quick hands, often started fast, and had a very stiff right hand which he could lay on you at a moment's notice.
In a little over a year, he defeated Martin-Bonavena-Quarry-Patterson, not a bad superfecta.
I finally saw the Frazier-Ellis first fight a couple of years ago. Great fight (while it lasted) and Jimmy showed great courage in rising at the end.
I do believe he may have lasted longer without his almost year and a half layoff.
By the time the 70's rolled around, he was getting into his thirties and I think he lost a little focus/drive from there on out so I don't think his performance in that decade is truely indicative of his talent.
My small $0.02

 

ali was roughly that age when he beat foreman.

 

I've often wondered about a Benvenutti/Hearns but that's another thread I suppose.

 

Ezzard Charles,for me. Charles too skilled,and he'd stop Ellis late on.

 

In reading back over this thread i find i owe mrbill an explanation...i'm afraid i gave the impression that ezzard was well past his prime when he fought louis....and maybe as far past it as louis was. no way...i just meant that ezz was at his greatest in his early light heavy days. the chalres that fought louis was just about at his HEAVYWEIGHT prime...and joe was well past his . i don't think the ezzard charles of that fight would have beaten a prime joe louis. (and most of those closest to ezzard didn't think so either..or at least would say....well, it was possible, but...

my buddy suzyque overstates my connection with the charles camp a bit....another impression i may have made over the years....yes...i do go back and have a lot of conversations with many involved, including some with charles himself......i hope to be able to write my stories eventually.

 

Bill...Bill...Bill...Bill.

 

Just foolin Bill. Seriously, I dont give Ellis, a puffed up 200 lbs. much chance here. Ellis doesn't possess the strength, speed, Jab, footwork, or boxing ability to hold Charles off for very long. Charles could quite possibly KO Ellis midway through the fight but would definately win a UD with relative ease. Ellis, although a good Man simply wasn't in Charles league. After 5 or 6 Rds., Charles makes it look easy.