Ken Overlin v Ezzard Charles
Ken Overlin v Ezzard Charles
Overlin is a much overlooked champion. Some think that the result of the second fight was kind to Ezzard. Has anyone any info on this bout?
Charles V Overlin
The associated press report of the fight stated that the bout consisted of "good, but not savage fighting."
It went on to say: "Charles, flashing a left jab, had the margin in the early rounds, but the Washington scrapper rallied in the seventh round and held a clear edge from there out. Charles lost some of his margin by low blows.
Overlin scored repeatedly on a left hook, and although he didn't throw as many punches as the local youngster, he landed more.
As in their ten rounder last June, which Overlon won by a decision, the former sailor showed superior ring cunning and finished strong. there were no knockdowns."
It went on to say: "Charles, flashing a left jab, had the margin in the early rounds, but the Washington scrapper rallied in the seventh round and held a clear edge from there out. Charles lost some of his margin by low blows.
Overlin scored repeatedly on a left hook, and although he didn't throw as many punches as the local youngster, he landed more.
As in their ten rounder last June, which Overlon won by a decision, the former sailor showed superior ring cunning and finished strong. there were no knockdowns."
.....interesting in that the newspaper account has overlin throwing a left hook.....as overlin was a southpaw....
..before their first fight, overlin, a real veteran cutie, said "no kid with only 22 fights is going to beat me." and he was right. notice that 22 fights made one a really green fighter back then.. now you can hold a couple of titles by that time.
the overlin matches came about this way......ezzard was a young middleweight and it was obvious he was going to outgrow the division soon. his handlers thought a win over overlin would add to his prestige and get him some national recognition. overlin didn't seem a threat to hurt ezzard....he wasn't a puncher. (though he did score a knockdown)...and even if charles did lose it, if he made a decent showing it would still be a plus. overlin was too clever for charles at that time, but ezz made it close and looked good..though the decision was fair and clear.
the rematch...ezz had learned a lot from the first match and from fights with good opponents before the rematch....which as noted was a draw. the consesus was that the fight was so close it could have gone either way...but had it been in overlin's home town he might have been declared the winner.
..before their first fight, overlin, a real veteran cutie, said "no kid with only 22 fights is going to beat me." and he was right. notice that 22 fights made one a really green fighter back then.. now you can hold a couple of titles by that time.
the overlin matches came about this way......ezzard was a young middleweight and it was obvious he was going to outgrow the division soon. his handlers thought a win over overlin would add to his prestige and get him some national recognition. overlin didn't seem a threat to hurt ezzard....he wasn't a puncher. (though he did score a knockdown)...and even if charles did lose it, if he made a decent showing it would still be a plus. overlin was too clever for charles at that time, but ezz made it close and looked good..though the decision was fair and clear.
the rematch...ezz had learned a lot from the first match and from fights with good opponents before the rematch....which as noted was a draw. the consesus was that the fight was so close it could have gone either way...but had it been in overlin's home town he might have been declared the winner.
...the cincinnati fights prior to the overlin ones are almost certainly correct....the out of town ones are questionable.....the san francisco bout is unlikely....
..my own source that had the most accurate info , alas, is no longer with us.
ezzard himself didn't know much about his record...said i knew more than he did.....but a lot of fighters don't keep track of their own careers..
..my own source that had the most accurate info , alas, is no longer with us.
ezzard himself didn't know much about his record...said i knew more than he did.....but a lot of fighters don't keep track of their own careers..