Hickey Park, Millvale, Pennsylvania, U.S. Newsmakers Interview with Ezzard Charles Jr., WKRC Channel 12, Cincinnati, August 17, 2008, Newsmakers interview with Ezzard Charles Jr., WKRC Channel 12 Cincinnati, August 17, 2008, "On This Day: Ezzard Charles, one of the greatest fighters of all-time, was born", "Boxing Hall of Fame names first inductees", The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today, "1970's Muscular Dystrophy Commercial with Ezzard Charles", "Ezzard Charles, boxing's 'Quiet Tiger,' dies at 53", "IBRO'S 25 Greatest Fighters of All Time", "The Greatest Light Heavyweights of All Time", NBA World Heavyweight Title Fights - BoxRec, NYSAC World Heavyweight Title Fights - BoxRec, Cincinnati History Library and Archives -- Ezzard Charles, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ezzard_Charles&oldid=1137572597, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers, Sportspeople from the Atlanta metropolitan area, Woodward High School (Cincinnati, Ohio) alumni, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages with login required references or sources, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 09:59. Charles was unable to secure a title shot at light heavyweight and moved up to heavyweight. He was widely criticized for his handling of the match. For more programs and events to enjoy, go tocincinnatiparksfoundation.org. Ezzard Charles grew stronger and sharper after the world war and continued with his winning spree. Ezzard Charles; A Boxing Life. [1] Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. So he is thought of as from Cincinnati. Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 - May 28, 1975), known as the Cincinnati Cobra, was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. His wife is Gladys (? ." Chinese Zodiac: Ezzard Charles was born in the Year of the Rabbit. Explore all four Badges to learn more about what makes Ezz so legendary. See the estimate, review home details, and search for homes nearby. He won the national AAU Middleweight Championship in 1939. I finally figured it out. Not because he saw a successful boxer, but think of the impact of seeing a successful black man, with more than the white people in south ever owned riding around like a king. Skip Ancestry . Fight crowds, writes Dettloff, liked blood and guts and gory displays of violence. Louis had given them crushing knockouts and awesome displays of raw power; Charles was a pugilist of a different stripe. Later that year he experienced something of a setback, losing to Joey Maxim and Elmer Ray in back-to-back bouts. He followed this up in 1939 by winning the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament of champions. Bocchicchio offered to manage Walcott, who at first refused, saying, "Fighting never got me nothin' before, and all I want now is a steady job, so my wife and kids can eat regular. Ezzard Charles was born on July 7, 1921 in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. The "Cincinnati Cobra" was a master boxer of extraordinary skill and ability. He held the title from 1949 to 1951, successfully defending it in 1950 against Joe Louis. Three years service in the Army during World War II interrupted his climb to the heavyweight crown, which he finally attained on June 22, 1949, winning a decision from Walcott for the vacant National Boxing Association title. Theyd all say the same thing: if you want to be a fighter, youve got to eat it and sleep it. But Walcott bounced back in 1947, beating Maxim in January, Ray in April, and Maxim again in June. Because of this, Ezz excelled at boxing while also graduating Woodward High Schoola rare feat for a professional boxer. It all adds up to a fascinating boxing biography, one of the most exhaustively researched Ive come across. Ezzard Charles Birth Name: Ezzard Charles Occupation: Boxer Place Of Birth: Lawrenceville Date Of Birth: July 7, 1921 Date Of Death: May 27, 1975 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Black Nationality: American Ezzard Charles was born on the 7th of July, 1921. Despite being a natural light-heavy he won the heavyweight title and made 9 successful title defenses. Doctor W.P. Charles attempted to right his financial fortunes through careers as a professional wrestler, a greeter at a nightclub and then as a coordinator of boxing clubs in Chicago's Commission on Youth. To become the undisputed champ, Ezz a 2:1 underdog and smaller fighter defeated his childhood idol and American boxing icon, Joe Louis, on September 27, 1950. Log In. Charles was knocked down early in the fight but was able to come back and win it by decision. But Ezzard Charles is so damn good that, despite being avoided to an almost comical degree by light heavyweight champ Gus Lesnevich, he winds up making waves as a heavyweight, capturing the world title left vacant after Joe Louis retired by taking a 15 round decision overJersey Joe Walcott in 1949, repaying Lesnevich in his maiden defence, and then going on to defeat his old idol, Louis. Boxing celebrities, including Marciano, Archie Moore and Muhammad All (then Cassius Clay) turned out to honor the former champion. The year, 1921. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. "[12], In 2007, ESPN online ranks Ezzard Charles as the 27th greatest boxer of all time, ahead of such notable fighters as Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes and Jake LaMotta. The Cincinnati Cobra Badges transport you to stories where youll learn about Ezzs talents, accomplishments, and his lasting legacy in the Queen City. His professio, 1954- The following year he beat top ten contender Jimmy Bivins, following which Bocchicchio lined up a fight for Walcott with another leading contender, Lee Oma, in Madison Square Garden. "Time Tunnel: Jersey Joe Walcott; The Long, Long Journey." 6318 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 | MLS #37286952 | Zillow By Agent By Owner New Construction Coming Soon Coming Soon listings are homes that will soon be on the market. Even after a big win, Ezz would go back to training as soon as he could. You could often find Ezz at Cincinnatis Cotton Club, which at the time was one of the few integrated jazz clubs in the US. Welcome to Ezzard Charles at Laurel Parka bronze sculpture brought to life with a self-guided tour that tells the story of Cincinnati legend and West End hero, Ezzard Charles. Ezz had a breakfast of dry cereal, prunes, and lamb chops.Orange juice or tea, no coffee. A dresser to the nines, he had impeccable style and was a talented tailor. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". Updates? He would try his punches on the homemade boxing bag. A hardscrabble life awaits: his father William departs when he is just five, not to be seen again for two decades, and after this the future heavyweight king is raised mostly by his wizened grand- and great-grandmothers in Cincinnati's tough West End, in "a rundown, three-room frame house supported by bricks at the corners." http://www.cyberenet.net/~kelta/jerseyjoe.html (October 25, 2002). In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. support his family. While you get to know Ezz, try your hand at a Cincinnati Cobra Challenge, twelve tasks that connect Ezzs journey to your life. He retired with a record of 93-25-1 (52 KOs). Archie Moore was one of the most colorful and respected figures in the modern history of boxing. The Cincinnati Cobra Badges transport you to stories where youll learn about Ezzs talents, accomplishments, and his lasting legacy in the Queen City. After he married and started a family, Walcott was forced more and more to take jobs outside the ring to make ends meet. He was stricken in 1966 with arnyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a muscledebilitating disease, and had been confined to a wheelchair. Ezzard Charles won the National Boxing Association heavyweight crown in a fifteen-round decision over Jersey Joe Walcott on June 22, 1949. ." Omissions? Charles dominated the first four rounds but in typical Rocky fashion, Marciano eventually got going and dominated most of the rest of the brutal battle. Like anyone who identifies as something of a boxing diehard, Im familiar with the name Ezzard Charles. Shortly after retiring from the ring, he took a job as a parole officer for juvenile offenders. Encyclopedia.com. Ezzard Charles Popularity #81837 Born in Lawrenceville, GA Boxer Born in Georgia Cancer Boxer To that end, Ezz was determined to be the best for his family, for himself, and for his boxing profession. Nevertheless, a number of fans and boxing writers felt that Charles deserved the decision. As per the report, Ezzard Charles lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. This streak of success is all the more surprising in light of Charles tragic win over 20-year-old Sam Baroudi in 1948, following which Baroudi died after suffering a harrowing beating at Ezzards hands. After knocking out Joe Baksi and Johnny Haynes, Charles won the vacant National Boxing Association Heavyweight title when he outpointed Jersey Joe Walcott over 15 rounds on June 22, 1949. Id win a fightand the very next day, Id be back in the gym.. I looked across the ring, and I could tell that Louis thought he had lost the fight. He helped shape the Cincinnati Music Scene, as he would buy jazz records from around the world and bring them back home to share with local musicians and artists. He had a 42-0 record, with two Golden Glove Titles before embarking on a pro career that was interrupted by his service in World War II from 1944 and 1945 where he learned to speak Spanish and Italian. Often to the dismay of boxing fans looking for a lights-out finish, the Cobra would consistently chip away at his opponents and go for a win on points rather than a knockout. He turned professional in 1940, knocking out Melody Johnson in the fourth round. Known for his slick defense and precision, he is often considered the greatest light heavyweight boxer of all time. Walcott made his professional boxing debut in 1930 at the age of sixteen, knocking out Cowboy Wallace in the first round of a match in Vineland, New Jersey. However, boxing failed to provide a dependable source of income. Ezzard Charles was next and he was ranked number three at the time of his first fight with Marciano. 1913-1998 As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. $615,000 Last Sold Price. ." Incidentally, these opponents Ray, Bivins, Burley et al are not glossed over but given a proper backstory, Dettloff making them come alive on the page and increasing our appreciation for Charles achievement in vanquishing them. His grandmother and great-grandmother guided him through his childhood, keeping his eyes on finishing school, working hard, being a kind man, and attending church on Sundays. Dettloff captures the tragedy of an audience booing and catcalling one of the sports greatest practitioners as he slips through the ropes, his perceived inability, or unwillingness, to register conclusive knockouts a constant mark against his name. He had won 15round decisions from Walcott two times earlier. [7] Charles also starred in one motion picture: Mau Mau Drums, an independent (and unreleased) jungle-adventure film shot in and around Cincinnati in 1960 by filmmaker Earl Schwieterman. Full-body sculpture of Ezzard Charles revealed to family | WKRC WINTON PLACE, Ohio (WKRC) - Ezzard Charles' son and namesake saw the full-body sculpture of his father for the first time. He won his next five matches before losing, on November 16, 1933, in a rematch with Henry Taylor in Philadelphia. Please subscribe, share, and leave us a comment of review if you like the show! I was saving for a rainy day, and the rainy day has come, he said after admitting that his $2million had finally drained mysteriously away. He bought food and coal for Walcott's family, got the boxer's license renewed, and finally persuaded Walcott to give it a try. [4] Known as "The Cincinnati Cobra", Charles fought many notable opponents in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, eventually winning the World Championship in the latter. Square that I was, I believed every word. From poor beginnings in the Jim Crow South to the top of the boxing world and beyond, Ezz . Montreal is The Fight City. When he was only thirteen years old, his father, an immigrant from Barbados, died. He started boxing in his teen years, winning 42 amateur fights and the Amateur Athletic Union national middleweight title before he graduated from Woodward High School in 1942.. Charles continued boxing until he was called to serve . Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight boxing champion ever to retire without being defeated. I did my best. Zodiac Sign: Ezzard Charles was a Cancer. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Post World War. Speaking haltingly to the assembled crowd, Walcott said, "I tried to be a champion for everybody. After a brilliant amateur boxing career, Charles turned pro in 1940 and went on to win twenty consecutive fights in the first eighteen months of the decade. Ezzard Charless mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. www.mcfarlandpub.com. http://www.ibhof.com/walcott.htm (October 25, 2002). Research genealogy for Charles Ezzard of Brampton, Hampshire, England, as well as other members of the Ezzard family, on Ancestry. . A rematch in Philadelphia the following year saw Charles take an impressive lead on points, but squander it (and the decision) through conservative tactics. So, how much is Ezzard Charles worth at the age of 54 years old? Charles retired from boxing in the late 1950s. People just didn't want to see Louis lose. 1921-1989 They'd all say the same thing: if you want to be a fighter, you've got to eat it and sleep it. Ezz had lots of people in his corner: Do something kind for a friend or someone in your family. . And one which illuminates the essence of the sport while sympathetically documenting the life of one of its cleverest exports, with searing passages describing the lure of the Fancy. Perhaps sensing that he was comfortably ahead on points, Walcott took it easy on Louis in the final rounds of the fight. Five-time middleweight champion of the world, Sugar Ray Robinson is remembered as the greatest boxer ever, Ezpeleta y Galdeano Dicastillo y del Prado, Jos Manuel de (17421823), https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/walcott-jersey-joe, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/charles-ezzard, Born in Merchantville, New Jersey, on January 31, Quits school to help support family after father dies, Works in Camden, New Jersey, shipyard, fighting rarely, Embarks on comeback trail under guidance of promoter Felix Bocchicchio, Dies in Camden, New Jersey, on February 25, Won first professional fight, knocking out Cowboy Wallace on September 9, Won fights against top 10 contenders Joe Baski, Lee Murray, Curtis Sheppard, Won fights against Jimmy Bivins and Lee Oma but lost to Joey Maxim and Elmer Ray, Won heavyweight title against Ezzard Charles, July 18, Edward J. Neil Trophy for Fighter of the Year, Successfully defends title against Charles on June 5, Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame. [9] He was buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. He was popular for being a Boxer. He was born July 7, 1921, in Lawrenceville, Ga. After his family moved to Cincinnati when he was a child, he became interested in boxing. Charles was a student of the sweet science Growing Up Born Ezzard Mack Charles in July 7 1921, into a life of poverty in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the Charles family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, which would later earn him his nickname 'The Cincinnati Cobra'. 2020 Heroes Project: The Decade of Heroes. Over the next ten years, forty-one African Americans were lynched right there in Georgia., Into this brutal milieu comes Ezzard, named in lieu of payment after the town doctor who delivered him. Family Life He had three children. Opportunity. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Ezzard made the most of it, becoming the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and an inspiration to Gwinnett County. After winning his first away fight in Pittsburgh against Charley Burley, the reporters asked him to stay for some questions, but Ezz declined, I cant, Ive got my high school graduation tomorrow.. Ezzard Charles . He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990. But two years later, on July 18, 1951, Walcott turned the tables on Charles, knocking him out to take the heavyweight title for himself. Of Elmer Ray, the author writes: He was born into a family of six girls and three boys to a potato-and-cabbage farmer near Hastings, Florida. People who are born with Moon as the ruling planet are sensitive, nurturing, and usually have fluctuating moods. 45203. . He was born June 13, 1973 in Saginaw, MI to Jacqueline Marie Blaylock and Ezzard Charles Mack. Rust, Art, Jr., and Edna Rust. Without Blackburn's guidance, Walcott's boxing career once again seemed to lose direction. Ezzard Charles died at the age of 53 years. Art Rust's Illustrated History of the Black Athlete. In 2006, Ezzard Charles was named the 11th greatest fighter of all time by the IBRO (International Boxing Research Organisation).[11]. He was just a skinny kid and nothing particularly remarkable as a boxer in those early years, but he stayed with it and began fighting on the club circuit of southern New Jersey and nearby Philadelphia.
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