Fight:17114
Ezzard Charles 162 lbs beat Al Gilbert 159 lbs by TKO at 3:00 in round 5 of 10
- Date: 1941-07-21
- Location: Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Referee: Joe Camille
Gilbert Eases Up
Cincinnati Enquirer, July 20, 1941
Al Gilbert, New York middleweight who meets Ezzard Charles Monday night in the Parkway Arena, eased up his training grind yesterday at the Cincinnati Gym, confining his activities to rope skipping and punching the light bags. Frank Bachman, Gilbert's manager, became expansive over his boy's showing, "I'd be willing to bet our entire end of the purse that Gilbert at least whips Charles," reviving reports that Bert Williams, manager of Ezzard, and Bachman may work on a winner-takes-all basis. The Cincinnati Boxing Commission, however, is said to frown upon such a wager.
Kayo Win Predicted
Cincinnati Enquirer, July 20, 1941
For the first time in his fistic career, close-mouthed Ezzard Charles, predicted that he would knock out Al Gilbert, when they collide over the ten-round route Monday night.
While Charles was unburdening himself with his first prefight prediction, the hard-hitting Gilbert, who came out earlier in the week with a cut-and-dry stock statement that he would murder "dat bum," meaning Charles, clipped and cuffed a trio of sparmates yesterday in workouts at the Cincinnati Gym.
Gilbert's soft-spoken manager, Frank Bachman, who has handled such moneymakers as Maxie Rosenbloom, Lou Jenkins, and Bob Olin, point out that the New York sleep-slinger has kayoed 21 out of 40 opponents, and hints that Charles may be whistling in the dark.
Ezzard rope skipped and fiddled with the light sacks yesterday, as he wound up his fourth week of training at the Williams A.C.
Charles faces Gilbert Tonite In Ten Rounds At Parkway
Cincinnati Enquirer, July 21, 1941
Billy Becker signed the former middle kingpin of the Hawaiian Army Post after Gilbert kayoed Henry Schaft, New York, in seven rounds at Holyoke, Mass. Becker knew that Promoter Mike Jacobs was booming the sensational Shaft for a shot at Champion Billy Soose.
Ezzard, who, at 19, is considered a coming champion by such astute critics as Barney Ross, former welter champion, will have a four or five pound weight advantage. But weight is not expected to settle the fight, Gilbert having had considerable experience at belting out light heavies. In fact, Gilbert chilled most of the middleweight and light-heavyweight contenders of the South before he claimed the Dixie middle championship.
Frank Bachman, manager of Gilbert, insists that if there's any knocking out it will be done by his boy. Bachman backed up his words by declaring that his boy would be willing to fight on a winner-take-all basis. Bert Williams, Ezz's pilot turned down the bid.
Ez Winner On Technical Kayo
by Bob Bohne, Cincinnati Enquirer, July 22, 1941
Ezzard Charles may not be ready for Ken Overlin or Middleweight Champion Billy Soose, but Ebony Ezzard is too good for the like of Al Gilbert.
Charles had little or no trouble hammering out a six-round technical knockout over the champion of the Hawaiian army post and way points.
Charles opened slowly last night and "warmed up" through the first three rounds by rocking Gilbert with fairly stiff left jabs. He bagan to throw an occasional right in the fourth and in the fifth he started hooking his left and mixing his right more frequently.
The mixture was confusing and unhealthy for Gilbert and a signal to the 2,000 fans at Leader's Parkway Arena that the end was near. By the end of the fifth, Charles's two-fisted attack had blood pouring from Gilbert's nose and lower lip.
Referee Joe Camille, acting upon the advice of Doctor Michael Barrett, ordered Gilbert not to answer the bell for the sixth round. The fight was Charles's first since he dropped a ten-round decision to Overlin a month ago at Crosley Field. It was his twenty-third triumph in 24 fights. Charles weighed 162 pounds and Gilbert 159.