Should Clarence Henry Rex Layne Bob Baker received title shots vs Charles

Louis was the best out there when he fought Charles?? Louis was showing cracks in his armor when he retired. His fight with Charles was his first fight back in over 2 years without a tuneup.

 

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but who at the time was going to pick anybody except Charles over Louis?

 

I dont think its hindsight to suggest an older fighter who hadnt look good since before the war coming off a two+ year layoff may not have been the best in the division and his rating as #1 is certainly beyond suspect.

 

Of course it is revisionism, did people make that sort of cold ****ysis with a past prime Mike Tyson?

A reputation such as Joe Louis had carries weight, and it is unrealistic to expect that it would not be reflected in who was the top contender.

 

I dont think its revisionism to suggest that people think with their heads and not their hearts.

Louis at least had a better claim than Tyson who was falling apart at that point. Louis had more in his last fight against Marciano than Tyson had against Lewis.

 

Who was in the top ten at HW and LHW at the time he fought Charles?

 

This is as close as I can come, date-wise, with the ratings I have. I don't have any LightHeavy ratings from this time. And yes, they're Ring ratings & thus not official. Merely one mag's opinion at the time.

The Ring - September, 1950
(as of July 15, 1950)

Heavyweights:
Champion:
Vacant
1. Ezzard Charles
1. Lee Savold (tie)

3. Jersey Joe Walcott
4. Joey Maxim
5. Joe Baksi
6. Bob Baker
7. Rocky Marciano
8. Roland LaStarza
9. Bruce Woodc0ck
10. Clarence Henry

 

I pretty much agree with all of your picks based on that list with the possible exception of LaStarza who was a good fighter in 1950 with a style that could have presented an old Louis problems. Louis would probably catch him with something but hed have to use more than his jab which was pretty much all he relied on in his comeback. His blazing combos were a thing of the past.

 

.....back to ezzard charles.....jake mintz didn't really have much influence over who ezzard fought. he was just a colorful character good for newspaper quotes.

clarence henry vs. charles would have been a terrific match....henry's peculiar lost to bivins ws...well, let's say suspect.

bob baker was considered an opponent of charles, but baker's management said they wanted baker to have more experience.