A case for Ezzard Charles as a pound for pound great
Posted: 13 Aug 2006, 01:31
Ezzard Charles, the Cincinnati Cobra
Ezzard Charles, The Cincinnati Cobra is a forgotten great by many. Many remember him as a boring, small, and unexciting heavyweight champion. Often found in the list of top 20 all time heavyweights, but Charles was more then that. He simply wasn’t any ordinary fighter; he was what you define as a true all time great.
Like many other fighters in his time, making your way to the top was not easy. Without several wins against top-notch competition most boxers could not meet the fighter who was unquestionably the best fighter there, the champion. Unlike today’s fighters it was thought in Charles’s time that throwing in a fighter with more experienced rivals would make them better even if they loose some fights along the way.
Very early in his carrier, Ezzard was matched with Ken Overlin who had about 140 pro fights up to that time. As a result the young Charles lost a decision. However Ezzard did manage to beat Teddy Yaroz, a very skilled boxer who posted wins over the likes of Billy Conn and Archie Moore during his carrier.
Eddie Futch called Charley Burley the most well rounded fighter he had ever seen and considering Futch’s experience it is quite a compliment. Infact Burley is the only man that some felt Sugar Ray Robinson avoided.
During Burley’s carrier he fought and very often won against “The Black Murderous row” of middleweights: Lloyd Marshall, Holman Williams, Byrt Lytell, Eddie Booker, Jack Chase, Aaron Wade, Archie Moore and Jack Chase.
Burley was the favorite to beat the younger and less experienced Charles, but Charles surprisinngly won. Ezzard just didn’t win a close fight; most eyewitnesses claimed Charles won a wide decision. Charles whipped Burley, a boxer who was praised by everyone, Archie Moore included.
Greg Smith quoted from Charley Burley: The Life and Hard Times of an Uncrowned Champion:
“Charles started out by staggering Burley with a right to the mouth in the opening session, and although the second was even, Burley didn’t take a round until the fifth. Charles smashed home two hard left hooks in the bristling fourth that had Burley hanging on.
“In the fifth and six (sic) Burley went to work and cut inside of his opponent’s mouth, but was just about finished after that. Ezzard came back to belt Burley dizzy with right across (sic) and a right uppercut in the seventh, and Charley was in plenty of trouble.
“Burley went out for the knockout in the tenth but ran into a right hook that dropped him to one knee. Charles had started another punch and couldn’t stop it before striking Burley while he was on the way to the canvas. Burley got up at three but the fight was over then.”
This set up a rematch between the two. While Burley came in better-prepared Charles again out boxed the master boxer winning a decision and establishing himself as one of the leading contenders in arguably the best era in middleweight history.
Two wins over Joey Maxim and everything seemed to be going great for the young man, up until he ran into a very skilled talented light-heavyweight Jimmy Bivins. Charles was floored several times and ended up losing a decision.
Worse to come Charles was dominated and beaten by Lloyd Marshall, one of the most under rated middleweights of the era, who like many, was unfairly not given a crack at the crown. It seemed like Charles’s carrier was over.
After that Charles joined the Army during World War 2 for four years. Many do not realize this but Charles himself said that army taught him discipline and made him a better boxer. Once Ezzard came out of the Army he was bigger, stronger and ready to box again.
Charles took the light-heavyweight division by storm after coming back. Lloyd Marshall was dominated and thrashed, not just once but twice. Clever Jimmy Bivins was soundly out classed by the Cobra on four separate occasions. Charles’s only loss was a controversial split decision to feared heavyweight contender Elmer Ray in which most thought he was robbed. In a rematch Charles took care of things with a convincing knockout.
Perhaps the best way to describe Archie Moore is phenomenal because Moore was just that, a magnificent boxer-puncher with a heart of a true champion, who during his long carrier fought everyone from middleweight up to heavyweight. Yes you can name them; from Charles to Bivins to Harold Johnson to Marciano and even Muhammad Ali when he was nearly 50 years old. Holding on to his light-heavyweight crown for 10 years without ever losing it. “The Old Mongoose” was extra ordinary, he’d jump up and down in weight, and was actually ranked at heavyweight for several years twice challenging for the heavyweight crown, although unsuccessfully.
In their first bout Charles out boxed Moore working his way to a close but clear-cut decision. But Moore prepared himself better for the rematch. In their second fight some felt Archie did enough to earn a decision although Ezzard was given the official verdict, which there fore set up a third fight between these two.
The fight was very fast paced with both men having their moments; however sensing his chances Moore went after Charles nearly stopping Ezzard but the Cincinnati Cobra landed jolting left hooks and an electrifying right hand ended the fight. Moore was only stopped four times in his carrier (discounting his heavyweight losses). And Ezzard was one of the four fighters who stopped incredible Archie.
In an interview later on Moore said “"I would have to put Charles up there with the greatest fighters of all time. He gets too little credit from boxing critics. I think he would have beaten Marciano in his prime. When Rocky fought Charles he was a shell of himself."
As Charles was unable to secure a shot at the light-heavyweight crown, he moved up to heavyweight. But then tragedy struck as Charles killed one of his opponent, Sam Baroudi, a very good fighter. After that many felt Ezzard was never the same again.
The Cobra became the first man to stop a very good heavyweight contender, Joe Baski, the only time Baski was ever stopped.
Jersey Joe Walcott was a clever technician with a big punch, tricky footwork and great boxing skills. Walcott’s carrier saw ups and downs. Early in his carrier he was mismanaged and lost a number of fights but then came back to establish himself as a top contender and got a shot at Joe Louis’s crown. Walcott out boxed the ageing Bomber but was robbed, in a rematch Walcott was leading on all the score cards before getting careless and stopped.
After Louis retired Charles and Walcott met for the vacant tile and Charles won a decision for the heavyweight crown. Ezzard universally recognized himself as world champion after outponting the ageing but still dangerous Louis. Among other title defenses he beat notables like former light-heavyweight king Gus Lesnevich as well as Freddie Bashore and Pat Valentino.
At the same time Charles was very unpopular with the public because he simply wasn’t exciting enough. The public wanted someone like Dempsey or Louis. After a total of 8 defenses, Charles was dethroned by Walcott and Charles lost a points decision in the rematch.
Ezzard, however, was not done yet. He came back after the second Walcott loss with a win over Rex Layne and a points loss to Nino Valdez.
Harold Johnson was unlucky to fight in the same era as Archie Moore otherwise Johnson would likely have been undisputed light-heavyweight king of the 50’s. One of the best technical boxers ever, Johnson also had a great jab and knockdown punch. Johnson posted wins over the likes of Archie Moore (once), Jimmy Bivins, Henry Hall, Nino Valdez, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones and Byrt Lytell. Johnson won a split decision although many felt Charles was robbed. After watching the fight I was surprised to see that Charles did win. It was an exciting encounter but at the very same time a robbery for the Cobra. Beating a fighter the level of Johnson is no easy task and Ezzard did just that.
Then came Charles’s two exciting encounters with Rocky Marciano. For their first fight Charles got himself down to terrific condition and despite being slightly removed from his prime put up a brilliant performance. Marciano, however, himself was in amazing condition. After a great exciting fight Marciano won a decision. Marciano later commented on how tough Charles was and how much pain he had to go through to beat him.
Charles was done after that. He lost the rematch to Marciano by knockout and went downhill from then on. Charles finally retired from the ring.
Is Ezzard Charles among the ten greatest fighters ever? Top five? I tend to think so. After all he dominated two of the greatest fighters of all time a combined five times: Archie Moore and Charley Burley. Charles also twice beat the cunning and crafty Jersey Joe Walcott, terrific light-heavyweights like Jimmy Bivins and Joey Maxim nine times together, twice thrashed the great Lloyd Marshall as well as beating the likes of Teddy Yaroz, Sam Baroudi, Joe Louis, Joe Baski, Elmer Ray and Rex Layne. And he gave Rocky Marciano, the only unbeaten champion, his toughest fights.
On film Charles possessed all the tools that make a great fighter: fast hands and feet, a knockout punch, sold chin, top defense, endurance and guts. Ezzard Charles was everything; a boxer, a puncher, an artist and a warrior. And his awesome record is virtually unmatched in boxing history.
Ezzard Charles was truly one of the greats and he deserves more credit then he gets by many- a lot more.
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Ezzard Charles, The Cincinnati Cobra is a forgotten great by many. Many remember him as a boring, small, and unexciting heavyweight champion. Often found in the list of top 20 all time heavyweights, but Charles was more then that. He simply wasn’t any ordinary fighter; he was what you define as a true all time great.
Like many other fighters in his time, making your way to the top was not easy. Without several wins against top-notch competition most boxers could not meet the fighter who was unquestionably the best fighter there, the champion. Unlike today’s fighters it was thought in Charles’s time that throwing in a fighter with more experienced rivals would make them better even if they loose some fights along the way.
Very early in his carrier, Ezzard was matched with Ken Overlin who had about 140 pro fights up to that time. As a result the young Charles lost a decision. However Ezzard did manage to beat Teddy Yaroz, a very skilled boxer who posted wins over the likes of Billy Conn and Archie Moore during his carrier.
Eddie Futch called Charley Burley the most well rounded fighter he had ever seen and considering Futch’s experience it is quite a compliment. Infact Burley is the only man that some felt Sugar Ray Robinson avoided.
During Burley’s carrier he fought and very often won against “The Black Murderous row” of middleweights: Lloyd Marshall, Holman Williams, Byrt Lytell, Eddie Booker, Jack Chase, Aaron Wade, Archie Moore and Jack Chase.
Burley was the favorite to beat the younger and less experienced Charles, but Charles surprisinngly won. Ezzard just didn’t win a close fight; most eyewitnesses claimed Charles won a wide decision. Charles whipped Burley, a boxer who was praised by everyone, Archie Moore included.
Greg Smith quoted from Charley Burley: The Life and Hard Times of an Uncrowned Champion:
“Charles started out by staggering Burley with a right to the mouth in the opening session, and although the second was even, Burley didn’t take a round until the fifth. Charles smashed home two hard left hooks in the bristling fourth that had Burley hanging on.
“In the fifth and six (sic) Burley went to work and cut inside of his opponent’s mouth, but was just about finished after that. Ezzard came back to belt Burley dizzy with right across (sic) and a right uppercut in the seventh, and Charley was in plenty of trouble.
“Burley went out for the knockout in the tenth but ran into a right hook that dropped him to one knee. Charles had started another punch and couldn’t stop it before striking Burley while he was on the way to the canvas. Burley got up at three but the fight was over then.”
This set up a rematch between the two. While Burley came in better-prepared Charles again out boxed the master boxer winning a decision and establishing himself as one of the leading contenders in arguably the best era in middleweight history.
Two wins over Joey Maxim and everything seemed to be going great for the young man, up until he ran into a very skilled talented light-heavyweight Jimmy Bivins. Charles was floored several times and ended up losing a decision.
Worse to come Charles was dominated and beaten by Lloyd Marshall, one of the most under rated middleweights of the era, who like many, was unfairly not given a crack at the crown. It seemed like Charles’s carrier was over.
After that Charles joined the Army during World War 2 for four years. Many do not realize this but Charles himself said that army taught him discipline and made him a better boxer. Once Ezzard came out of the Army he was bigger, stronger and ready to box again.
Charles took the light-heavyweight division by storm after coming back. Lloyd Marshall was dominated and thrashed, not just once but twice. Clever Jimmy Bivins was soundly out classed by the Cobra on four separate occasions. Charles’s only loss was a controversial split decision to feared heavyweight contender Elmer Ray in which most thought he was robbed. In a rematch Charles took care of things with a convincing knockout.
Perhaps the best way to describe Archie Moore is phenomenal because Moore was just that, a magnificent boxer-puncher with a heart of a true champion, who during his long carrier fought everyone from middleweight up to heavyweight. Yes you can name them; from Charles to Bivins to Harold Johnson to Marciano and even Muhammad Ali when he was nearly 50 years old. Holding on to his light-heavyweight crown for 10 years without ever losing it. “The Old Mongoose” was extra ordinary, he’d jump up and down in weight, and was actually ranked at heavyweight for several years twice challenging for the heavyweight crown, although unsuccessfully.
In their first bout Charles out boxed Moore working his way to a close but clear-cut decision. But Moore prepared himself better for the rematch. In their second fight some felt Archie did enough to earn a decision although Ezzard was given the official verdict, which there fore set up a third fight between these two.
The fight was very fast paced with both men having their moments; however sensing his chances Moore went after Charles nearly stopping Ezzard but the Cincinnati Cobra landed jolting left hooks and an electrifying right hand ended the fight. Moore was only stopped four times in his carrier (discounting his heavyweight losses). And Ezzard was one of the four fighters who stopped incredible Archie.
In an interview later on Moore said “"I would have to put Charles up there with the greatest fighters of all time. He gets too little credit from boxing critics. I think he would have beaten Marciano in his prime. When Rocky fought Charles he was a shell of himself."
As Charles was unable to secure a shot at the light-heavyweight crown, he moved up to heavyweight. But then tragedy struck as Charles killed one of his opponent, Sam Baroudi, a very good fighter. After that many felt Ezzard was never the same again.
The Cobra became the first man to stop a very good heavyweight contender, Joe Baski, the only time Baski was ever stopped.
Jersey Joe Walcott was a clever technician with a big punch, tricky footwork and great boxing skills. Walcott’s carrier saw ups and downs. Early in his carrier he was mismanaged and lost a number of fights but then came back to establish himself as a top contender and got a shot at Joe Louis’s crown. Walcott out boxed the ageing Bomber but was robbed, in a rematch Walcott was leading on all the score cards before getting careless and stopped.
After Louis retired Charles and Walcott met for the vacant tile and Charles won a decision for the heavyweight crown. Ezzard universally recognized himself as world champion after outponting the ageing but still dangerous Louis. Among other title defenses he beat notables like former light-heavyweight king Gus Lesnevich as well as Freddie Bashore and Pat Valentino.
At the same time Charles was very unpopular with the public because he simply wasn’t exciting enough. The public wanted someone like Dempsey or Louis. After a total of 8 defenses, Charles was dethroned by Walcott and Charles lost a points decision in the rematch.
Ezzard, however, was not done yet. He came back after the second Walcott loss with a win over Rex Layne and a points loss to Nino Valdez.
Harold Johnson was unlucky to fight in the same era as Archie Moore otherwise Johnson would likely have been undisputed light-heavyweight king of the 50’s. One of the best technical boxers ever, Johnson also had a great jab and knockdown punch. Johnson posted wins over the likes of Archie Moore (once), Jimmy Bivins, Henry Hall, Nino Valdez, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones and Byrt Lytell. Johnson won a split decision although many felt Charles was robbed. After watching the fight I was surprised to see that Charles did win. It was an exciting encounter but at the very same time a robbery for the Cobra. Beating a fighter the level of Johnson is no easy task and Ezzard did just that.
Then came Charles’s two exciting encounters with Rocky Marciano. For their first fight Charles got himself down to terrific condition and despite being slightly removed from his prime put up a brilliant performance. Marciano, however, himself was in amazing condition. After a great exciting fight Marciano won a decision. Marciano later commented on how tough Charles was and how much pain he had to go through to beat him.
Charles was done after that. He lost the rematch to Marciano by knockout and went downhill from then on. Charles finally retired from the ring.
Is Ezzard Charles among the ten greatest fighters ever? Top five? I tend to think so. After all he dominated two of the greatest fighters of all time a combined five times: Archie Moore and Charley Burley. Charles also twice beat the cunning and crafty Jersey Joe Walcott, terrific light-heavyweights like Jimmy Bivins and Joey Maxim nine times together, twice thrashed the great Lloyd Marshall as well as beating the likes of Teddy Yaroz, Sam Baroudi, Joe Louis, Joe Baski, Elmer Ray and Rex Layne. And he gave Rocky Marciano, the only unbeaten champion, his toughest fights.
On film Charles possessed all the tools that make a great fighter: fast hands and feet, a knockout punch, sold chin, top defense, endurance and guts. Ezzard Charles was everything; a boxer, a puncher, an artist and a warrior. And his awesome record is virtually unmatched in boxing history.
Ezzard Charles was truly one of the greats and he deserves more credit then he gets by many- a lot more.
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