Ezzard Charles vs. Pat Valentino

Challenger rankings

Org.	Pos.	As of	Published
1+ Mth. Old
NBA	5	10.07.1949	10.07.1949
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
2+ Mth. Old
NBA	5	10.07.1949	10.07.1949
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A
3+ Mth. Old
NBA	9	05.04.1949	05.04.1949
Ring	N/A	N/A	N/A

Ezzard Charles 182 lbs beat Pat Valentino 188 lbs by KO at 0:35 in round 8 of 15

• Date: 1949-10-14
• Location: Cow Palace, Daly City, California, USA
• Referee: Jack Downey 38-39
• Judge: Frankie Carter 38-39
• Judge: Frank Manfredo 39-37

• National Boxing Association World Heavyweight Title (2nd defense by Charles)

Notes

• On July 26, William Kyne sent an official offer to Charles: $35,000 in cash and 35 percent from ticket sales for defending his title against Valentino in October.[1]
• Negotiations were still underway as of early August.[2][3]
• Contract signed on September 13.[4]
• Valentino was the California State Heavyweight Champion at this time.
• Charles was a 1 to 5 betting favorite.
• A crowd of 19,591 produced a gross gate of $167,870.
• Charles received 35 percent of the net, and Valentino fought for a flat $5,000 guarantee.
• Eddie Muller of the San Francisco Examiner called the bout "the greatest fight I ever saw." He further described it as "drama-packed, spine-tingling, and vicious from the opening bell, until a somewhat bewildered and weary Ezzard Charles finally ended the savage duel at 35 seconds of the eighth round. In that 21 minutes, these stalwarts had me ducking, wincing and shouting like any paying customer in the enormous Cow Palace, which rocked to its foundation." When told of Muller’s description, Valentino said, "I wouldn’t go that far. That seems a bit much." [5]
• Valentino would lose his sight in one eye after this fight.

[6]

• Program, Ticket.