The question is who would you would have rated as the best fighter in the world from the years 1946 - 1950. Three names obviously stand out for me, Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep and Ezzard Charles. Ray is usually rated above the other two when their careers are taken as a whole but alot of his greatest wins came before or after this time period. Ray from the start of 46 to the end of 50 went 62 - 0 - 1 a truly incredible record. Finally picking up the welterweight crown from Tommy Bell and fighting such notables as Kid Gavilan, Jose Basora and Sammy Angott. Charles was also incredibly consistent over this time period, going 35 - 1 although not as active as Robinson, Charles had some massive wins over hall of famers Lloyd Marshall, Jimmy Bivins, Arhcie Moore, Joey Maxim, Jersey Joe Walcott and Joe Louis. Did this record make him the best fighter in the world at that particular time? Whilst Pep went 62 - 2 claiming the featherweight crown from Sal Bartolo, being involved in a horrendous plane crash and coming back to make defences over Saddler, Famechon, Jock Leslie and many other contenders. So who would you rate as the best if constructing a p4p list over the course of 46 - 50??
Probably Charles if we only take that particular period in time into account. I imagine Pep and Robinson would have been always rated above Charles in his own time though.
Purely through the coverage of the day and the popularity, I think Robinson and Pep would be number one and two respectively. Charles in hindsight should perhaps be number one.
Very interesting take. I'd probably go with Ray, though. His amazing 63-0-1 and his wins over the ones you mentioned + LaMotta probably slips the scales in his favour. It is very close, though. Charles has a very good shout for the nr. 1 spot as well.
