Prime Ezzard Charles in the 1970s

Absolutely.

 

Ali L Dec
Frazier LDec
Foreman L Ko
Bonavena W Dec
Quarry W Tko
Foster W Dec
Garcia W Ko
Chuvalo W Dec
Spinks W Dec
Coetzee W Dec
Knoetzee W Tko
Bugner W Dec
Lyle W Dec
Shavers L Ko
Patterson W Dec
Norton L Dec
Young W Dec
Bobick W Tko
Very respectable losing only to Ali,Frazier,Foreman ,Shavers,and Norton.

 

Shavers could connect early he managed to find Ellis' chin and while Jimmy was not at his best. he was still only 33.

 

Shavers was dangerous but not somebody to count on. If Quarry beats him why not Ezzard?

 

Ellis beat Quarry but was ko'd by Shavers.This demonstrates how facile that line of reasoning is.

 

I think it depends if Ezzard beats both Ellis and Quarry. I think Charles can.

People get carried away with Shavers. He hit hard enough but it was not just Quarry that beat him. Bob Stallings and Ron Stander beat him too. That's why I say you can't count on Ernie. You can't count him out but you can't count on him either. It was always an upset when he beat somebody good.

 

I could list all the nobodies that beat Charles but I've already shown that line of reasoning is shallow and flawed.

 

I'm sure that's a point of sorts but Charles really did not lose much in his actual prime. right from his restarting his career after the War all the way to Marciano nobody really convincingly beat Charles apart from Walcott. A man some say he beat three of four times. Lots of close fights though- and a very busy schedule. No wonder.

 

I can see this as been a reasonable scenario. Charles could be to brave for his own good at times. If he tagged shavers and went in for him, then shavers could easily come back and drop him.

 

If Charles fought Shavers like he did Satterfield he could wake up with the referee's fingers in his face.

 

Ezz at Heavy? You're placing him as a Heavy? I appreciate the comments...but...he was prime at LH. Let's put Ezz in the 70's-80's prime against the same LH's. I agree, some tough contests, but a prime Ezz at that time would have been a wrecking machine. Top 10 ATG at any weight! Any detractors?

 

If the question is in the 70's that is the 70's .. I think thru Manila both guys could beat Charles who was a terrific fighter but not an all time top fifteen or twenty at heavyweight in my book ..