Where does Ezzard Charles rank in history in terms of handspeed?

Charles in his prime has very good hand speed, but it was not world class by any means.

 

As a heavyweight maybe a touch faster than prime time Holyfield - speediness like anyone has in the 180's guys in the 180's (who can fight) make your average heavyweights look very ponderous - Charles was quick in that respect but wouldn't put him at the very top tier - that would be guys like Patterson, maybe Jones of Ruiz has to be figured in somewhere and obviously Ali - I happen to think that Jack Johnson of Tommy Burns had very very fast handspeed too for a biggish guy

 

edit

 

There's nothing really special about his speed. Faster than the average guys in his division, but it's his timing and precision that stand out. He obviously seemed to be faster at 175 than Heavy though.

 

Probably over Duran and Hearns, under a Patterson or Dokes.

 

Patterson

Tyson

Ali

Louis

Charles

 

Not an easy question,

Charles had many gears. He wasn't quick with the jab or lead right, but that left hook could be a blur.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2PutDflPYo&feature=related[/ame]