Fight:17109
Ezzard Charles 164 lbs beat Slaka Cavrich 175 lbs by KO at 1:35 in round 2 of 10
- Date: 1941-02-24
- Location: Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Referee: Willie Purcell
Charles In Training For Rematch With Billy Bengal Next Monday Night
Cincinnati Enquirer, February 16, 1941
Ezzard Charles, Cincinnati middleweight, launched an intensive conditioning program yesterday for his rematch with Billy Bengal, Detroit, Monday night, February 24.
Charles, who will do his conditioning at his manager's place, Bert Williams Gym, expressed regret in not scoring a knockout over Bengal, although the Cincinnatian won easily.
The thing that still perturbs the dusky dynamiter is the one-count knockdown which he experienced in the seventh round and he vows that Bengal will "pay dearly for that."
Bengal has informed Promoter George Nichols he will be in better shape for the rematch as he claims he was injured slightly in a bout with Mose Brown at Pittsburgh a week before he met Charles.
Charles To Battle Cavrich In Ten-Round Go Tonite
Cincinnati Enquirer, February 24, 1941
Slaka Cavrich, Patterson Field, Ohio, soldier, will take a leave tonite to battle Ezzard Charles, over the ten-round route in Music Hall Sports Arena. Cavrich is a replacement for Billy Bengal, who was forced to cancel his contract because of a cold.
The fight will be Cavrich's first main event in Cincinnati. A straight-up fighter with a knack of burying his chin in his shoulder, fought several semiwindups here, winning all of them easily. He almost plunked Tommy Misko, Detroit stalwart, to sleep in his last Cincinnati bout.
Ezzard, junior at Woodward High School, will be outweighed for the first time, Cavrich totes a seven-pound advantage over his schoolboy foe. Charles is unbeaten in pro competition and already the news of his prowness has wafted into the temples of the Eastern monopolists. He proved his courage under fire in his last bout, picking himself from the canvas to go on and batter Billy Bengal with withering fusilades of smashes.
Cavrich Lasts Two Rounds As Charles Hangs Up No. 16
by Andy Gilligan, Cincinnati Enquirer, February 24, 1941
"I forgot to get up," Slaka Cavrich said last night after he was piled on the canvas for the count by a straight right hand to his jaw in the second round by Ezzard Charles, before 1,200 spectators in Music Hall Sports Arena.
The Patterson Field, Ohio, aviator "lost" his memory in the first minute and 35 seconds of the second heat, softened by a brace of flying lefts to his face and finished off by a short, sizzling sock.
He hit the floor with the suddenness of rock breaking through cellophane, rolled over on his feet and appeared to be in a rather permanent snooze.
Referee Willie Purcell immediately began the count, completed his motions, and Cavrich suddenly bounded up, his hands down and blood leaking from his nose, but otherwise looking strong and ready - ready to get crucified.
Charles mixed early with his heavier foe, both men trading their best "Sunday punches" in close-up first round encounters. Cavrich connected with the first solid punch, an overhead right to the head, followed by a short left to Charles's face, but was definitely edged as the schoolboy sensation poured into his man, steaming both hands to his opponent's head.
Cavrich entered the ring at 174 1/2 pounds, 6 1/2 over the middleweight limit, to Charles's 164 1/2, but Bert Williams, manager of the Cincinnatian, waved the forfeit. The victory was Charles's sixteenth straight as a pro.