The incredible resume of Ezzard Charles

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by catchwtboxing, Jul 7, 2024.


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  1. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Just finished, Ezzard Charles: A Life. Very sad that poor Ezzard, a kind-hearted, mild mannered fellow who never had an enemy in the world came to an end like that. The book really drives home the point that they were never going to love him, because he wasn't Joe Louis, and he beat Joe Louis, and it is such a sad irony that such a great man and great sportsman was so greatly...reviled.

    But the author started out saying that he felt compelled to write it because Charles was one of the greatest, and no one had written a biography on him that he could find. And he was great. The number of champions, contenders, and fringe contenders that he beat in three weight classes was absurd.

    BivinsX2
    BurleyX2
    MarshallX2
    MaximX5
    MooreX3
    Yarosz
    Chrsitoforidis
    Lesnevich
    WalcottX2
    Louis
    RayX2
    LayneX2
    Satterfield
    Baksi
    Barone
    Oma
    Brion
    Wallace
    Norkus
    Valentino
    Beshore

    Marciano credited him as his toughest fight. Also a victim of a couple of bad decisions against Layne, and in Walcott IV.

    And he did most of his heavyweight work still able to get under the LHW limit. He even had to stop training for one of his heavyweight title defenses because he was losing too much weight.
     
    Last edited: May 12, 2026
    catchwtboxing, Jul 7, 2024
    catchwtboxing, Jul 7, 2024
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  2. Levook

    Levook Well-Known Member Full Member

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    What an absolutely amazing record! If I had a top 10 lb per pound list I would probably have him within the top five.
     
    Levook, Jul 7, 2024
    Levook, Jul 7, 2024
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  3. bolo specialist

    bolo specialist Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I have him rated in the 3-5 range (alongside Langford & Armstrong) in the all-time top 10.
     
    bolo specialist, Jul 8, 2024
    bolo specialist, Jul 8, 2024
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  4. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Mauling Mormon’s banned Full Member

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    Probably the best fighter to ever live.
     
    Journeyman92, Jul 8, 2024
    Journeyman92, Jul 8, 2024
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  5. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

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    JJW
    Charles (L-HW cum HW)
    Marshall (MW cum L-HW)...

    a case could be made that they are H2H the Best at their respective weights.
     
    thistle, Jul 8, 2024
    thistle, Jul 8, 2024
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  6. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Certainly top 10. He certainly rates above Louis, pound-for-pound. Quite ironic.
     
    Ney, Jul 8, 2024
    Ney, Jul 8, 2024
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  7. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Absolutely superb, Catch. Thanks for doing this!
     
    Clinton, Jul 8, 2024
    Clinton, Jul 8, 2024
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  8. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    I can see it!
     
    catchwtboxing, Jul 8, 2024
    catchwtboxing, Jul 8, 2024
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  9. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    One of the greatest boxing resumes. You could make a case of him being Top 5 greatest boxer of all time.The lists of opponents that he’s faced and also hold victories over is quite staggering.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jul 8, 2024
    Flo_Raiden, Jul 8, 2024
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  10. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

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    A pity that lots of those fights aren't on film as far as we know. Especially the trilogy with Moore.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Jul 9, 2024
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Jul 9, 2024
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  11. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hi Buddy.
    I still have a vivid memory of a photo in an old Ring mag circa 1965 of the 3rd and last fight, Moore was in a kneeling position, as if he was being knighted, Charles standing just to the left of Moore, hands still cocked, you could just about make out the overhead ring lights raining down on the two pugilist, all in glorious black and white, funny my kids ask " what you do the weekend dad " and I struggle to remember, yet I can recall this picture like it was yesterday, and I was 11, go figure.
    stay safe amigo, chat soon.
     
    Mike Cannon, Jul 9, 2024
    Mike Cannon, Jul 9, 2024
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  12. Jackstraw

    Jackstraw Mercy for me, justice for thee! Full Member

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    Absolutely incredible…bordering on unbelievable. Thanks for posting this.
    Didn’t he die of ALS?
     
    Jackstraw, Jul 9, 2024
    Jackstraw, Jul 9, 2024
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  13. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He did sadly. They even had a commercial showing the effects that ALS had on Charles. Very chilling commercial.

    This content is protected
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jul 9, 2024
    Flo_Raiden, Jul 9, 2024
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  14. Jackstraw

    Jackstraw Mercy for me, justice for thee! Full Member

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    Yeah, I saw that before but wasn’t sure it was him until you just posted that - thanks. It’s very sad and tragic for anyone to suffer and die like that, but when you consider it was one of the greatest athletes ever, and yet still also died broke and nowhere near the national hero he should’ve been, it’s even more so.
     
    Jackstraw, Jul 9, 2024
    Jackstraw, Jul 9, 2024
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  15. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Yes, sadly so. I think he made it to 1976.
     
    catchwtboxing, Jul 9, 2024
    catchwtboxing, Jul 9, 2024
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