Fight:17113

Ezzard Charles 161 lbs lost to Ken Overlin 162 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1941-06-09
• Location: Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
• Judge: Joe Blink
• Judge: Joe Craven
• Judge: Elmer Purcell

Charles-Yarosz Go In Air Over Weight Disagreements
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 10, 1941

Promoter George Nichol's plan to match Ezzard Charles with former Middleweight Champion Teddy Yarosz of Cleveland, June 9 at Crossley Field ran aground yesterday.

Disagreements over a weight clause in the contracts has the proposed fight hanging in mid-air, and unless a plan to suit all concerned can be worked out, the match is slated to fall by the wayside.

Bert Williams, the manager of Ezzard, charges the contract signed by him and the one signed by Yarosz's manager were altered as to weight without his approval.

Williams claims he specified that Yarosz should not scale more than 170 pounds. He said the contract he signed bore this weight. Promoter Nichols admits the weight in the contracts were altered but claims it was done because Williams had agreed to the fight provided Yarosz would weigh in at 175 or less, not exceeding the light-heavyweight maximum, Yarosz is a light-heavyweight.

Bill Goebel, Chairman of the Cincinnati Boxing Commission, called Williams's attention to the altered weight in the contract after it had been presented to the commission.

Williams says, "Its an attempt to take advantage of Charles - a nineteen year-old schoolboy who will be giving away eight or nine pounds at 170."

Goebel claims the altered contract is no contract and that there is nothing the commission can do under the circumstances. Williams says Sam Becker, brother of the promoter Benny Becker, is a close friend of Chris Dundee and has promised to use his influence to get Dundee to agree for Georgie Abrams of Ken Overlin to meet Charles.

Original contracts were declared null and void by the Cincinnati Boxing Commission on Monday, May 12th.

Boxing column
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 18, 1941

Promoter Benny Becker is expected to announce this week result of negotiations to match Ken Overlin, New York, former middleweight champion, or George Abrams, Cleveland topflighter against Ezzard Charles.

Chris Dundee, manager of Overlin and Abrams, is said to have responded favorably to Becker's overtures for a Queen City scrap.

It is believed that a $3,000 guarantee and a cut of the gate would woo in the Overlin camp. Becker has said repeatedly that he is willing to fork out plenty of cash, believing that such a battle would gross $12,000.

Boxing column
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 21, 1941

Understand Chris Dundee, manager of Ken Overlin, asked plenty of questions about the fairness and ability of the local fight judges before he agreed to sign for the June 9 fight with Ezzard Charles. Overlin has a guarantee for a return match with Billy Soose for the championship in August and has a $5,000 forfeit posted by Soose. Dundee doesn't want any black marks on Overlin's report card and isn't eager to take any chances on a "home-town" decision. You can't blame Dundee for being cautious after last week's decision, which, according to all concerned, robbed Overlin of his championship.

Bert Williams, Acting For Ezzard Charles, Signs To Meet Ken Overlin
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 22, 1941

Bert Williams, who heretofore has had more stalls than a stable, signed for his fighter, Ezzard Charles, undefeated middleweight, to meet Ken Overlin, popularly rated as the No. 1 middlweight of the world, June 9 at Crosley Field.

After letting loose in habitual fashion a few mild briefs just to keep in form the wordy Welshman agreed that Charles would make a weight limit of 164 pounds. Overlin fights around 161.

Promoter Benny Becker refused to disclose the pay tickets. Overlin will get, reliable railbirds say, $3,000 with a percentage clause, while Charles will get $400 and a percentage.

"Gee, this is my big chance," Charles remarked after Williams's ink-spreading ironed out the last detail in probably Cincinnati's biggest fight since the halcyon days of Freddie Miller, former featherweight champion. Williams, actually a sourpuss concealing a heart of gold, obviously was elated. "This looks like it," Williams said.

Ken Overlin Not Taking Any Chances
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 25, 1941

Washington, D.C., May 24 - "If Buddy Baer was "robbed" when Referee Donovan disqualified him in the seventh round here last night, then I was "robbed, chiseled and angled" out of my middleweight crown."

The flippant sailor viewed the spectacular Louis-Baer fight but refused futher comment, "It's not my job," he said, "and I guess Donovan knows what he's doing."
"What I'm worried about now," Overlin continued, "is a young boy in Cincinnati by the name of Ezzard Charles. He's only nineteen-year-old schoolboy, but I'm fighting him June 9 at Crosley Field there and I hear the kid really can hit."
"But this old sailor boy is going back to New York tonight and get in the pink. I trained for Soose, you know, and I'm in good shape now. But I ain't taking any chances of blowing the duke in Cincinnati because I wanna meet Soose again."

Boxing column
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 25, 1941

"What's he got to win?" the boys are asking, pointing out that a victory for Overlin will mean nothing, while a loss would be disastrous and possibly would black out his contract for a return shot with Soose August 11.
The fact that little Benny Becker has guaranteed the slugging sailor $2000 with 30% of the gate hardly can be overlooked. Two thousand dollars isn't, and never was for that matter, hay.
The bout gives Charles, a chance to leap into glory, and no one knows that better than the Woodland High junior. He's getting his biggest purse - about $450, and if class, courage, and youth have anything to do with it, it won't be the peak purse of his career.

Charles In Heavy Workout For Overlin Bout
Cincinnati Enquirer, June 1, 1941

Ezzard Charles, who never disobeyed his manager, Bert Williams, in his life, broke training yesterday - for the biggest bout of his little less than dazzling career.
Ezzard confessed : He was hot and sweat was washing off him. The dust and the smoke of downtown Cincinnati seemed to grind into his flesh. A good day for a swim, all right. The gym's was just around the corner.
Ezzard was cooled off.
Later he had the job of cooling off his hot-tempered manager, Williams, who pointed out to his boy that swimming is a good way to cool off but not to train for a fight. Capable, Williams became detailsome, explaining that swimming easily could unhinge the fine meshing of muscles needed by a fighter.
Bert wore a great big smile yesterday, however, when Ezz worked out in the morning session at the Williams A.C. Going against imported middleweight spar mates. the dynamite boy romped through eight blistering rounds and cuffed the heavy bags. "I've never seen his timing any better," Williams commented, adding "and timing's everything in this game."

Charles Bout Risky
Cincinnati Enquirer, June 2, 1941

New York, June 1 - Aroused by a growing whispering campaign that he missed a beat when he signed for his No.1 money maker, Ken Overlin, against Charles, Chris Dundee announced today that he personally would "scout" the Cincinnati comer.
He will leave for Cincinnati early this week. Dundee's decision, unprecedented in his tenure as Overlin's brain cells, followed on the heels of an interview with Joe Sutka, rugged Detroit light heavyweight, who was masterfully laced by the nineteen-year-old.
Sutka is believed to have informed Dundee that Charles is one of the most savage hitting cloutsmiths extant. Sutka, lasted the limit with Anton Christoforidis is expected to drill with Overlin.
Dundee's announcement climaxed a growing belief in the Overlin camp here that the June 9 go is risky. A loss would black out Overlin's tentative return go in August or July with Billy Soose, who recently was awarded an unpopular decision over Ken in a title bout.
Dundee denied vigorously that he was "dressed down" by Promoter Mike Jacobs for signing for the Cincinnati skirmish. Opposition managers have declared openly that Jacobs refused to set a specific date for the return fracas with Soose because he saw a good chance of Overlin being blasted out by the Cincinnati youngster.

Looking 'em Over
by Bob Bohne, Cincinnati Enquirer, June 6, 1941

You've got to be psychic, or at least lucky, to come up with the winner of Monday night's melee between Ezzard Charles and Ken Overlin.
You can't find the answer in the record books. You can dig through the past performances until you wear blisters on your fingers and won't find where the two have engaged a common foe. Moreover, you won't find where they have met an opponent upon which you can figure "comparative scores."
Overlin, the belligerent sailor, has been knocking around the top of the middleweight class for several years. He has confined his leather-tossing activities to the big boys.
Charles, the Woodward High School boy, has been bashing the heads of palookas for the last year or two. Overlin hasn't even heard of most of the fellows Charles has fought.
Overlin is crafty old man with dozen or more years of experience under his belt. The years have taken some of the wallop out of his punch, but the experience he has gained offsets this.

Overlin Is Crafty - Charles Is Strong

Not so long ago he engaged Steve Belloise in New York. Belloise uncorked a terrific belt that floored Overlin in the sixth, but the Battling Tar pulled himself off the floor and fought his way out of the hole to gain the decision. When the final bell sounded Belloise was arm weary from punching Overlin's arms and elbows. We mention this just to show what a tricky old gaffer Overlin is.
What Charles can do against boys like Belloise, Soose, Hostak and Garcia - the sort Overlin has been playing around with - remains to be seen. Charles hasn't had an opportunity to meet the big-name boys.
Charles's chief weapon when he climbs though the ropes Monday night will be youth, strength, and a wallop. Charles is rangy, with a long reach and most of his weight concentrated in his shoulders. He is hard to hurt and he can punch. His wallop is attested by the fact that he has whipped home the sleeper punch on 19 of 22 opponents he has faced since turning professional. He has been knocked off his feet only once in those battles, and on that occasion got up to soudly trounce Billy Bengal, the fellow who landed the sucker punch.

Beat The Best As An Amateur

As an amateur Charles fought some 50 or 60 battles and topped his amateur career by winning the National A. A. U. middleweight title. He was floored only once on his way to the championship, a hard-hitting youngster, last name McDaniel, floored him in Chicago, but Charles shook off the fog and copped the three-rounder - a near impossible accomplishment in such short space.
One thing is certain, Charles isn't going to swoon when the referee calls him to the center of the ring for instructions.
We talked to him after a workout yesterday at the Williams A.C., and he appeared to have no more fear of Overlin than he has of next week's examinations at Woodward.
He feels he is headed toward the upper bracket of ring earnings, and intends to make the most of the opportunity. "I'm going to start punching from the opening gong and keep it up until something drops," Charles explained last night when asked if he had any special plans.

Overlin In Impressive Drill For Charles
by Bob Bohne, Cincinnati Enquirer, June 8, 1941

Ken Overlin, the middleweight madcap, stepped the equivalent of three rounds in an impressive workout yesterday afternoon at the Cincinnati Gym in preparation for his Monday night scrap with Ezzard Charles.
What impressed the onlookers most was the sailor's left - a loose, fast moving left that shoots out like a piston and hooks like something catapulted out of a spring machine.
The consensus of such ring-wise veterans as former Featherweight Champion Freddie Miller, Harry McCarthy, and Bob Bonner was that the left will cause plenty of trouble for Ezzard. Overlin's infighting and his ability to roll with punches thrown by his sparmate, middleweight Curley Denton, also impressed the gathering.
These same sages were quick to admit, however, that Overlin might not pack the wallop of Ezzard and reckoned as how the Battlin' Tar had best not make any mistakes and let Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Ezzard tag him in a vulnerable spot. Overlin beamed confidence throughout and after the workout, once stopping to inquire facetiously, "who's the favorite?"
In the dressing room he expressed his confidence by saying he expected to have some trouble but would win handily. "I expect some trouble - these young fighters always cause some - but I'll win," he remarked, then added, "there's no doubt about it."
"You appear to be in good shape for a nightclub addict," someone remarked as the sailor boy was removing his gloves. "I am in good shape," Overlin replied, "this old boy takes care of himself. I had 19 fights in the last year and a fellow doesn't get drunk every night and come through that many fights - all 10 rounds or more - like I've done.
"You know I love a good time. I like night clubbing and I like to drink, but things are exaggerated. Being a champion, everything I do gets into print. If I take a drink or two and visit a couple or three or maybe four night clubs, I'm drunk, especially in the smaller towns. I like New York, there's no place like it. You can have a good time there like everyone else, and people think nothing of it."
Immediately after the workout, Promoter Benny Becker put the old knockout on reports that the fight would be broadcast. Bert Williams, was the first to file a complaint.
"I won't stand for any broadcast," Williams told Becker. Overlin and his trainer Izzy Kline, seconded the motion. There's no use giving away something you're trying to sell, was the way Overlin put it. Since both fighters are receiving guarantees but have options on switching to the percentage basis, a full agreement was needed for a broadcast. Becker agreed there'll be no broadcast.
Becker said the ticket office at 718 Vine Street will be open all day today.
Weighing in time, originally set for tomorrow at 3 o'clock at the Times-Star Gym, has been moved forward to 1 o'clock.

Charles Meets First Setback As Pro Fighter
by Bob Bohne, Cincinnati Enquirer, June 10, 1941

The Ezzard Charles victory march ran into a sharp detour last night at Crosley Field when he dropped a ten-round decision to Ken Overlin.
Overlin had all the better of the going in the late rounds and hammered home hard punches throughout the final three heats.
Charles, somewhat tired and weary from his early efforts, couldn't protect himself against the late shifting attack of the Ancient Mariner.
But Ezzard was game, and, apparently realizing that he was on the short end of the score sheet, grew careless and started to wade in. This was his undoing. The former sailor was waiting for just such a move and he punched Charles somewhat at will during the final two stanzas.
For six rounds, however, there was little to choose between the fighters. Thereafter it was obvious to most of the crowd of 5,000, which paid approximately $9,000, that the well-planned battle of Overlin would result in victory. Decision of the judges was unanimous, all three marking their cards in favor of the former middleweight champion.

No Knockdowns

There were no knockdowns, although Charles did go to his knees for count in the second round. He bounced up as soon as his knees touched the floor and apparently hit the canvas as the result of a shove.
Charles's best round was the sixth. He tagged the Sailor several times with a two-fisted attack, alternately aimed at the body and head. The blows hurt, but Overlin shook off the effects and never was in trouble thereafter.
Most ringsiders had the battle scored even for six rounds with two for Charles, two for Overlin, and two even. But Overlin took the final four.
Both battlers concentrated on body punching until the sixth when Charles showed no preference as to where he punched Overlin. In the seventh, the Sailor began to move in instead of backing away and he had the better of Charles in the in-fighting. Overlin alternated, shifted his attack to the body and head in the seventh and eight and kept up this procedure in the ninth and tenth with left jabs and hooks.

Charles Nose Bleeds

Best punches of Charles's were ripped home chielfy on the counter fighting. When he tried to take the lead he was outmaneuvered.
Charles finished the battle with blood dripping from his nose and a small cut just below his left eye but he was hollering for another shot at the Sailor before he cooled out. It was the first defeat in 23 professional bouts for Charles.
The fight was moved forward and run off as the second bout due to threatening weather. Cloudy sky and intermittent showers in suburbs held the crowd far below the expected attendance.