ow much prime/near prime film do we have of Ezzard Charles?

Only Marshall, really.

There is some footage of him vs Bivins as a fresh Heavyweight, though.

IMO his best performance on film is the fourth Joey Maxim fight, thats how I think a prime Charles flowed.

 

Also check out Ezzard Charles versus Lee Oma at heavyweight - that was virtuoso - smooth like caramel - scintillating like lightning - superlative really

 

i really loved the marshall performance. short but you could really see the quality in his performance which is truly timeless

 

Charles's peak ran from 1946-1953.

I hear a lot about charles being a lightheavyweight. Charles only ever featured in the lightheavyweight rankings for two years 1946-1947, before that he was absent during the war and always less than 169lb. so he was a LH for a very short time.

Even 1947 is stretching it, of the 12 times he fought in 1947 only 4 of the opponents Ezzard faced scaled within the lightheavyweight limit when he fought them - the rest all being heavyweights. By 1953 charles had fought and beat more heavyweight contenders than most ATG's. so in my book this is where his form is.


to begin with initialy ezzard boxed for only three years then took two years out in the war. since he was out for almost as long as hed been active when he returned it was basicly a new career.

In a new four year career against albeit excelent oposition charles notched up a new 40-2 record by which time he had lost the title to wallcot a guy hed previously beat twice, the other loss was also avenged.

between losing the title and fighting marciano charles was just as good but very active. some performances suffered with his workload but he was still within his prime when Harold johnson and valdes edged him but was suposedly ripped off against layne a guy ezz knocked out. some of his best KO wins on film came during this period v satterfeild, wallace, renolds and tommy harison.

Charles was still putting out championship class performances, knocking out rated contenders throughout the entire 48-54 period.

 

Well of course there are the Marciano bouts ... LOL

 

He was talked about as a future Light-Heavyweight champ in 1942, where most of his opponents were Light-Heavyweights.

 

wat about Valentino .
he did look damn gud there m8 .
helluva preformance against 1 game opponent .

 

I used to be big on the Valentino performance and admired the way he wore him down and got him out of there, but I don;t think he was that good in reviewing it. He couldn't get his normal boxing flowing IMO, I think Valentino's strength may have played a part in it.

 

then how is that his fault m8
bc valentino was strong
he still did knock him out and take punches ,
in the process

 

I'll watch it again and get back to you. Generally, Charles seemed to off-set his foes with great movement, but here he seemed a bit more gung-ho and aggressive and took a lot of punishment before getting Pat out of there.

 

Agreed. Charles had to out brawl a more limited Valentino. Not one of his better efforts,

 

I respectfully disagree with some of this post.

Charles was dangerous almost out of the gate in 1940, seemed to hit a vicious stride by the end of the next year (while still in high school) and in all likelihood hit his peak as a fighter on February 20th 1948.

After that he remained a force, though less so. He changed, and also began fighting bigger men, though he was a natural LHW.

 

ezzard featured in the middleweight ring ratings for one year only in 1941 when zale was champion. By the next year two wins over joey maxim put him in the lightheavyweight rankings even though he was only 168lb.

But Charles had a disasterous year in 1943 and was knocked down 16 times in the only 2 fights he had, he was then absent from the LH ratings until 1946 and was always rated behind billy fox that year who got a shot ahead of him. I would imagine by this time fans would consider him a future heavyweight.

1947 was the only year Charles was number one contender to lesnevich- he could have got a shot there but the champion selected his number 4 chalenger instead. I dont think it scandelous that a part time lightheavy didnt face the champion the one year he was #1 contender -and a part time heavyweight.

Back then a lightheavy was regarded as a small heavyweight. If a small heavyweight was good enough he was big enough and the real heavyweight title was the goal.

 

Why has no one mentioned the extensive footage we have with him against Marcino? Rocky nuthuggers love to build Rocky's achievements up and his victories over Charles, his 100 punches in the 15th round, ect are all essential parts of qualifying Marciano's victory as a testiment to his all time greatness and that Charles wa a still great and dangerous fighter when they fought, that the over 100 fights did little to weaken his legs, stamina and ability to absord punishment .. so, why no claims and raves over his Marciano footage ?