BoxRec

Charles actually pursued this fight against champion Zale a little after beating Charley Burley twice. He was the number one middleweight contender for a short while, but Zale went off to serve the USA in World War II rather than fight Charles first. Charles soon moved to the light heavyweight division since the title was locked up.

Charles said he was slightly drained at middleweight, but he was superb at the division at 18-2-1 (after beating Burley the second time). His only losses were to Ken Overlin (115-20-6), who he drew with in a rematch and a split decision to Kid Tunero (80-23-10).

Charles slaughters Zale at this time. He easily outboxes him early then stops him around the eighth. Charles would have been the next middleweight champ to win the heavyweight championship, well before Roy Jones Jr.

I agree with you that Charles beats Zale by a commanding decision, but I don't think Zale went to the military "rather than face Charles, " if that was what you were implying, can't tell for sure. Many boxers left to join the military. Zale took on many more fearful fighters than Charles, and was afraid of no one.

Sherlock wrote:I agree with you that Charles beats Zale by a commanding decision, but I don't think Zale went to the military "rather than face Charles, " if that was what you were implying, can't tell for sure. Many boxers left to join the military. Zale took on many more fearful fighters than Charles, and was afraid of no one.

Sorry, I meant "rather than fight Charles first." I'll fix that on the post

evndrbsn wrote:

Sherlock wrote:I agree with you that Charles beats Zale by a commanding decision, but I don't think Zale went to the military "rather than face Charles, " if that was what you were implying, can't tell for sure. Many boxers left to join the military. Zale took on many more fearful fighters than Charles, and was afraid of no one.

Sorry, I meant "rather than fight Charles first." I'll fix that on the post

No problem, its sometimes hard to understand exactly what another person said as we can't think alike.

It was Burley that was supposed to fight Overlin and Charles was the sub, not the other way around.

Overlin cried off with a cold or something. So Charles fought Burley.

Charles, whenever and however he wanted to.

I don't see how Zale could have lasted long enough to hear the final bell agaisnt Charles. Too bad this fight didn't happen. Charles would be much more appreciated now, I think. He might have even gotten a shot at the light heavyweight title if he had won the middleweight championship.

Charles would have beaten Zale at that point in Zale's career; Tony became a much better fighter later. He finished 29-4 w/25 by ko if memory serves. Did any body else just realize that Conn and Zale fought after Louis/Conn I?

..yes indeed......zale did fight conn soon after the louis fight...and in an interview in one of my books somewhere conn said zale hit him with a shot to the body..and "I said 'to hell with this and from then on i stuck and ran." i'm sure conn deserved the decision, but zale always insisted he won because all con did was run away.

agree...zale was really a better fighter late in his career. can't remember who...might even have been conn, who said zale's blow to the body was like having a hot poker shoved into your gut.

If Zale and Charles had not enlisted in World War II (Zale first, Charles later), do you think this fight would have happened? Even though Charles was number one, I don't think it had a chance in hell of happening.