Should Ezzard Charles be regarded as one of the greatest punchers?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Manassa, Mar 21, 2011.


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  1. Manassa

    Manassa - banned

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    Wasn't talking about the second fight (nose fight) mate, I meant the first and much more memorable battle of the two; in that one, Marciano said Charles hurt him more than any other fighter. From what I remember, he described actual pain. Charles lost the fight but from their faces it looked dead even.

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    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    #16
  2. Manassa

    Manassa - banned

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    But he wasn't 200lbs. He was lighter than that, and sometimes outweighed.
     
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    #17
  3. Manassa

    Manassa - banned

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    Nah, I meant the first fight. Marciano described actual pain and said fighting Charles was hellish, or something along those lines. Charles lost the fight but he left Marciano in a bit of a state.

    This is weird. I just made a post like this but it didn't register :huh
     
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    #18
  4. Boucher

    Boucher Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I've allways understood the nose split was caused by a wayward elbow.










    Ground Hog Day :yep
     
    Boucher, Mar 22, 2011
    Boucher, Mar 22, 2011
    #19
  5. Manassa

    Manassa - banned

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    You do realise I was talking about the first fight then? I'm confused. Mostly by the site today... Posts don't seem to be registering :think
     
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    Manassa, Mar 22, 2011
    #20
  6. Stonehands89

    Stonehands89 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He was a wicked puncher and that was confirmed again and again.

    -However, that was before Baroudi. Looking at the % of KOs and the % of early KOs before that fight and afterwards suggests that something changed, although of course, he was getting older and was fighting bigger men. I find it interesting that he never again fought in his natural division after Baroudi. There could well be more than one reason for this. Liebling watched him in the early 50s and saw an "intuitive aversion to violence that set in like ice on a pond."

    I think that Charles was one of the great punchers in history, and he had the potential to become of the greatest, but the Baroudi tragedy set him on a different course.
     
    Stonehands89, Mar 22, 2011
    Stonehands89, Mar 22, 2011
    #21
  7. Boucher

    Boucher Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Yes I got that. Facial damage is misleading imo.Look at post fight photos of Louis v Charles, they might incline you to make it a draw,when in fact ,Charles won handily.
    I'm not saying Charles was not a very good puncher,but I would not put him among the top echelon myself.
    For example , did he hit harder than Walcott ?
     
    Boucher, Mar 22, 2011
    Boucher, Mar 22, 2011
    #22
  8. The Kurgan

    The Kurgan Boxing Junkie banned

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    Yes, in terms of technique; no, in terms of power. I don't think he was naturally powerful at all, but his brilliant textbook punching methods and punch choice made him a very fearsome opponent.
     
    The Kurgan, Mar 22, 2011
    The Kurgan, Mar 22, 2011
    #23
  9. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    His knockout of Satterfield replays over and over in my mind as I read this thread. Few who saw him prior to Baroudi's death would have questioned his firepower.
     
    Duodenum, Mar 22, 2011
    Duodenum, Mar 22, 2011
    #24
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    An excellent puncher in terms of power, but boxing is full of those.

    In composite terms, you could make a grand old argument but not in terms of pure power, no.
     
    McGrain, Mar 22, 2011
    McGrain, Mar 22, 2011
    #25
  11. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    this looks like a great puncher to me...


    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2PutDflPYo[/ame]
     
    choklab, Mar 22, 2011
    choklab, Mar 22, 2011
    #26
  12. PetethePrince

    PetethePrince Slick & Redheaded Full Member

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    Misquote there Manassa. I believe Marciano said "I really knew what pain was in those fights." Or something like "I learned the most about pain in those fights." Marciano afterwards actually noted that he didn't sting him as hard as Walcott (Punch) but noted that they were grueling, bloody fights. I read that in Sullivan's biography of Rocky Marciano: The Brockton Blockbluster. Charles, also noted that he didn't believe Marciano punched that hard. Said he thought Walcott hit harder... interesting.
     
    PetethePrince, Mar 22, 2011
    PetethePrince, Mar 22, 2011
    #27
  13. doug.ie

    doug.ie 'Classic Boxing Society' Full Member

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    why wasnt he able to get a shot at the light-heavy title ?
     
    doug.ie, Mar 23, 2011
    doug.ie, Mar 23, 2011
    #28
  14. Boucher

    Boucher Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Some might argue that, because Walcott dropped Louis 3 times in 2 fights ,and Marciano, in their 1st fight. Walcott was a heavier puncher than Charles.
    Video, kindly provided by Boxari.
    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E2BEE8Ce70&feature=related[/ame]
     
    Boucher, Mar 23, 2011
    Boucher, Mar 23, 2011
    #29
  15. Manassa

    Manassa - banned

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    Yeah, it's along those lines. Didn't mean to imply Marciano thought Charles hit the hardest, but by his accounts (got them in a book, will have to re-read) Charles was just, like you said, gruelling to fight.
     
    Manassa, Mar 23, 2011
    Manassa, Mar 23, 2011
    #30
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