Charles lost his heavyweight title on July 18, 1951, when he was knocked out by Joe Walcott in the seventh round of their third fight. The decade was one of learning and exploration. In 1938, he won the Diamond Belt Middleweight Championship. By the early 1940s, Walcott was working in the Camden shipyards, and his boxing career seemed all but over. Follow in Ezzs footsteps with wayfinding signage and Cincinnati Cobra Badges located near points of interest. Square that I was, I believed every word. However, if pressed I could not tell you much more than this: that Charles famously beat Joe Louis during the latters ill-advised comeback and that he is touted by many knowledgeable scholars of the game as, pound-for-pound, one of the greatest pugilists in boxing history. However, he served in the U.S. military during World War II and was unable to fight professionally in 1945. Notable Sports Figures. Walcott eagerly headed for the Louis training camp, but on his very first day on the job, he dropped Louis with a left hook, abruptly ending his stint as sparring partner. They'd all say the same thing: if you want to be a fighter, you've got to eat it and sleep it. He was previously married to Gladys Gartrell. Despite being a natural light-heavy he won the heavyweight title and made 9 successful title defenses. Long after most boxers would have abandoned all hope, Walcott battled on. Despite this stain on his reputation, Walcott will forever stand as an inspiration to dreamers everywhere that perseverance can pay off. Against top rate opposition like Archie Moore, Charley Burley, Lloyd Marshall, Jimmy Bivins, and Joey Maxim he was an impressive 16-2 combined. Just after his second defeat by Marciano, Walcott announced his retirement from boxing. Marciano won a unanimous decision. Dettloff, a former senior writer at The Ring and now editor-in-chief of the e-magazine Ringside Seat, writes with clarity and authority about the greatCincinnati Cobra, beginning with his early years in Lawrenceville, Georgia. In 2018, the Cincinnati Parks Foundation (CPF) took on the effort of raising the funds for the new Ezzard Charles statue in Laurel Parka park located along the street named for him, where he would once run his training routes. This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. He also lost his first rematch with Charles on March 7, 1951. Click the image below to listen to Ezz-thetics. He would try his punches on the homemade boxing bag. All the same, his buddies push him into sparring with the great Joe Louis, who is touring bases in the area and conducting boxing exhibitions. Skip Ancestry . My mother delivered the boy perhaps in the 1950s or 1960s. Again, Bocchicchio persuaded him to continue boxing. The Moon represents one's nurturing and emotional instinct. In fact, Ezz was part owner of the Cotton Club and saw many legendary acts come through including Duke Ellington, Scatman Crothers, Pearl Bailey, and Sarah Vaughn. He was also very mild mannered with a gentle air . Like anyone who identifies as something of a boxing diehard, Im familiar with the name Ezzard Charles. As per the report, Ezzard Charles lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. Chinese Zodiac: Ezzard Charles was born in the Year of the Rabbit. The two took a short vacation together, after which they issued a press release announcing that Walcott had changed his mind and would continue his boxing career. He died on May 27, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The man told Ezzard he owned 365 suits, one for each day of the year. In the first of two losing efforts against Marciano in 1954, Charles achieved his highest moment of recognition. Transplanted to Cincinnati from his native Georgia at age 9, Charles started boxing early, going professional in 1940 and graduating from Cincinnati's Woodward High School two years later. . This was the street of his residence during the height of his career.[10]. Often Ezz would meet with school-age children and have fun with them exercising or going on group trips to the theater. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. A dresser to the nines, he had impeccable style and was a talented tailor. A fund raiser was held to assist Charles and many of his former opponents spoke on his behalf. Odds makers gave Walcott little chance against the Brown Bomber. The statue sits in Ezzard Charles Park, surrounded by 100 newly-planted trees. See Photos. [1] Jefferies, Eddie. New York Times, May 29, 1975, p. 38. http://www.njboxinghof.org/cgi-bin/henryseehof.pl?286 (October 25, 2002). He was stricken in 1966 with arnyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a muscledebilitating disease, and had been confined to a wheelchair. "Jersey Joe Walcott: The Improbable Champion." Published by McFarland, 232 pages $35.00. In 1966 he was stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease that before long confined him to a wheelchair. Marciano pointed out the lack of appreciation that had dogged Charles, especially in his fight against Louis. So, at 9 years old Ezzard moved to Cincinnati, One day a boxer came by in a nice car and wearing a nice suit. I would like him to have it. Ezz spoke English and Italian. It was reportedly the only time Ezzard touched the canvas during his entire amateur career. People of this zodiac sign like home-based hobbies, relaxing near or in water, helping loved ones, and dislike strangers, revealing of personal life. Ezzard won several amateur championships, including two Golden Gloves crownswelterweight (1938) and middleweight (1939)before turning professional in 1940. Nobody gave any credit to Ezzard, he said. The business entanglements are also covered: Charles severs ties with Williams and is guided largely by firebrand Pittsburgh promoter Jake Mintz, as well as a management collective comprising an accountant, a restaurant proprietor, and Max Elkus, owner of a clothing store Charles had worked in after school. Doctor W.P. In 1987 he was named the ninth greatest heavyweight of all time by The Ring. Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. Brancaccio Theater, Esquilino, Rome, Italy. Perhaps sensing that he was comfortably ahead on points, Walcott took it easy on Louis in the final rounds of the fight. 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. He gave up for good when a fighter named Alvin Green defeated him on Sept. 1, 1959. Marciano fought over half the fight with a huge gash over his eye that would require ten . Over the next several years, Walcott fought in dozens of matches, winning most of them but losing occasionally. They met twice. So, how much is Ezzard Charles worth at the age of 54 years old? The year, 1921. 845 Ezzard Charles Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45203 is a 1 bed, 1 bath home. Theyd all say the same thing: if you want to be a fighter, youve got to eat it and sleep it. Dettloff gives us snapshots of the boxing landscape in the 30s, 40s and 50s, an era when crooks and gamblers had their fingers in the game Gamblers, hustlers, drunks, whores, killers; they all felt at home in the fight business because they were among their own and because nobody was there to stop them.. Ezzard Charles is part of G.I. Historian Bob Mee looks back on the glorious career the legendary Ezzard Charles who was born on July 7, 1921 . Find your friends on Facebook. He ended Louis's comeback in 1950 by winning a 15round decision, but found the triumph hollow. He temporarily left boxing in 1943 to enlist in the U.S. Army. Encyclopedia.com. ." Because of this, Ezz excelled at boxing while also graduating Woodward High Schoola rare feat for a professional boxer. He had a classic match against the heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano going the distance, a full 15 rounds. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. ." Muhammad Ali said in his own autobiography: "Ezzard Charles was a truly great fighter and champion. Shortly after retiring from the ring, he took a job as a parole officer for juvenile offenders. Marciano's cornermen were unable to stop the bleeding and the referee almost halted the contest until Marciano rallied with an eighth-round knockout. Sign Up. Born in Lawrenceville, named after the doctor that birthed him, Ezzard Charles's family had the bravery to leave Jim Crowe Georgia to pursue better opportunity. They seldom rely on other people in daily life, which can make them impatient when dealing with others. Ezzard Charles; A Boxing Life. Where was the opportunity? His visits to Lawrenceville, were brief after the move north to Cincinnati and then to Chicago after that, but he did feel confident enough to visit Lawrenceville again briefly in 1949, as both a war vetern and the champ, most likely to visit family. 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. Charles retired from boxing in the late 1950s. International Boxing Hall of Fame. Considered one of the giants of sports in the 1920s, Gene Tunney became heavyweight boxing champion of the worl, Sugar Ray Robinson Although his purses totaled $2million while he was winning 96 of 122 bouts from 1940 to 1959, Charles had the misfortune to gain the title upon the 1949 retirement of Joe Louis, one of boxing's most popular champions. I learned much about Uncle Mike Jacobs, Louis chief powerbroker, as well as figures from the National Boxing Association and International Boxing Commission, organisations which ruled the boxing roost at that time. His ring career took a positive turn after the unschooled Walcott began to work with trainer Jack Blackburn, who helped to teach him more about the art of boxing. 830 Ezzard Charles Drive Cincinnati, OH 45214 513.381.6672. Davis, Samuel. 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'. In 1968, Ezz was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Jim Crowe laws not only threatened the lives of the black community, but ALL opportunities. People just didn't want to see Louis lose. For his regular contributions to the community, Ohio Governor Frank Lasche presented Ezz with the Good Citizenship Award in 1954. Ezzard Charles won the National Boxing Association heavyweight crown in a fifteen-round decision over Jersey Joe Walcott on June 22, 1949. 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. Required fields are marked *. I did my best. ." 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. His grandmother raised him to be an honest, good-hearted man. Ezzard Charles. Possibility. Walcott successfully defended his title, winning a fifteen-round decision over Charles. He had won 15round decisions from Walcott two times earlier. - 27 May 1975) ( his death) ( 3 children) Ezzard Charles Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. The year, 1921. The first fight saw Ezz lose but take Marciano all 15 rounds, which no other boxer had done before. I'm over 30 and just plain tired of it all.". 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. Almanac of Famous People, 6th edition. New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Even after a big win, Ezz would go back to training as soon as he could. The name Ezzard was among the 1,000 most popular U.S. baby names right around the time and only around the time Ezzard Charles was champ: 1953: 37 baby boys named Ezzard 1952: 54 baby boys named Ezzard [ranked 975th] Family Life He had three children. Post World War. After that, everyones age was more or less a guess.. Ezzard Charles . http://www.ibhof.com/walcott.htm (October 25, 2002). East Side Boxing. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/walcott-jersey-joe, Amerman, Don "Walcott, Jersey Joe 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. 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.
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