Fight:17095

Ezzard Charles 160 lbs beat Melody Johnson 160 lbs by KO in round 4 of 4

• Date: 1940-03-12
• Location: Armory, Middletown, Ohio, USA
• Referee: Charlie Garrett

Ezzard Charles, National A.A.U. and Golden Gloves champion, has turned his back on amateur boxing for good. Charles was suspended for a year at a meeting of the Registration Committee of the A.A.U. yesterday at the Central Parkway Y.M.C.A. for a participating in a professional boxing show at Middletown, Ohio, March 12.

The A.A.U. informed Charles that it would place him on the probation list if he would refrain from further participation as a professional.

Bert Williams, Ezzard's manager, announced he had conferred with Charles's family and they are of the opinion he should turn pro, especially since he already had signed a contract with Promoter Bob Evans.

Source: Cincinnati Enquirer, Mar 24, 1940.

Substitutes Fail To Fight

Marking the first home appearance of Middleweight Ezzard Charles as a pro, was marred by the substituting of a Long John Reeves, Columbus, for Remo Fernandez.

The classification of amateur or professional appeared to make no difference to Charles, and he buffeted Reeves around at will to take a six-round decision. Reeves, fighting as though his one thought was to stay the limit, made it difficult for Charles to show at his best. Lethal-like body blows had Reeves on the floor twice in the opening stanza.

Source: by Bob Bohne Cincinnati Enquirer. Mar 28, 1940.