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. In attempts to regain the world championship, he lost to Walcott in 1952 and twice to Rocky Marciano in 1954. It is a city of fights and fighters, of hockey and heroes, of broken dreams and immortal glory, a city unlike any other. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 23 Feb. 2023 . When Ezz prepared for boxing matches, hed run on the streets and in the Parks of Cincinnati. Art Rust's Illustrated History of the Black Athlete. Reviewed by Bobby Franklin. Ezzard Charless mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. His grandmother raised him to be an honest, good-hearted man. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/charles-ezzard. Or, I couldnt have told you much more prior to reading William Dettloffs excellent biography of the man, Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life, the first publication of its kind, a shocking fact given Charles standing. "Ex-Heavyweight Champ's Calling Card Was Perseverance: Walcott Dead at 80." Ezz Fest occurs on Cincinnatis official Ezzard Charles Day, honoring his legacy with a free community celebration in Laurel Park featuring boxing demonstrations, jazz music, art and fashion displays, and family-friendly crafts. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990. Notable Sports Figures. He trained himself so well that he fought 42 amateur bouts and won them all before embarking on a professional career in 1940. From 1940 to 1959 he fought in 122 bouts, winning 96 of them. http://www.cyberenet.net/~kelta/jerseyjoe.html (October 25, 2002). In 2022, a statue honoring Ezzard Charles was unveiled in Laurel Park Cincinnati, OH. Ezzard Charles. https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/charles-ezzard, Salzman, Linda "Charles, Ezzard "No Champion Out of Ring." Jersey Joe returned to boxing with a vengeance, winning eight of his nine bouts in 1945, three of them against top ten fighters Joe Baski, Lee Murray, and Curtis Sheppard. The following year, he outpointed his idol and former World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis to become the recognized Lineal Champion. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes: Ezz was a boxing champ and beloved father. It was as if he had lost., He gave me two of the toughest fights of my life. Not that those two accomplishments, are even a speck of this heavyweight champs, list of accomplishments. Without Blackburn's guidance, Walcott's boxing career once again seemed to lose direction. In 1951, Charles fought Walcott a third time and lost the title by knockout in the seventh round. "Time Tunnel: Jersey Joe Walcott; The Long, Long Journey." Ezz played the bass cello, even sitting in with some great musicians of the day. Born in Lawrenceville, named after the doctor that birthed him, Ezzard Charless family had the bravery to leave Jim Crowe Georgia to pursue better opportunity. Ezz took pride in his neighborhood and actively gave time to his community. The political finagling to arrange title shots in those days is similarly well sketched, and if you think Don King was reptilian, reading the sections which cover the immediate aftermath of Joe Louis championship reign is truly eye-opening. 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. Learn More Auction Foreclosures These properties are currently listed for sale. The first fight saw Ezz lose but take Marciano all 15 rounds, which no other boxer had done before. 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. It wasn't Ezzard's fault. Charles was unable to secure a title shot at light heavyweight and moved up to heavyweight. 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. Walcott wasn't through. To succeed in life, Ezzard Charles (Ezz) always said that youve got to have a plan. Ezzard Charles knew that joy well, and thanks to this satisfying biography we now know a good deal more about the man and the all-time great fighter that he was. Years later, Walcott recalled: "After the fight, Joe put his arm around me and whispered in my ear, 'I'm sorry.' He gave up for good when a fighter named Alvin Green defeated him on Sept. 1, 1959. Walcott won a match in Sweden against Ollie Tandberg and once again hinted at retirement. He ended Louis's comeback in 1950 by winning a 15round decision, but found the triumph hollow. Ezzard Charles . When is Ezzard Charless birthday? 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. The disease affected Charles' legs and eventually left him completely disabled. The economic boom and the Jazz Age were over, and America began the period called the Great Depression. Although heavyweight was mostly a happy hunting ground for the preternaturally gifted Charles, he was an unpopular figure among fans who remained loyal to the great Joe Louis. Chuckling at his problems, he added: It's more than a rainy day, it's a flood.. In 1968, Ezz was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Sadly, his tenure in the latter position was marred by charges that he had taken bribes. The research which has clearly gone into this work is enjoyably evident, as when Dettloff informs us that young Ezzards zen for the sporting life was ignited after he encountered the great Kid Chocolate, in town to face Cleveland-based journeyman Johnny Farr: We learn about Ezzards idolizing of Joe Louis, and his amateur success in Ohio under the tutelage of diminutive Welshman and World War I veteran Bert Williams, who nurtures his aggressive, fast-handed, fearless style, and plenty more besides. Meet the man, follow the legend, and see for yourself why Ezzard Charles is much more than one of the greatest boxers ever. People just didn't want to see Louis lose. He decided to borrow the name of his father's favorite boxer from the islands, Joe Walcott, a former welterweight champion who was also known as the "Barbados Demon." Get an inside beat on a day in the life of the Cincinnati Cobra, and how the importance of family drove him to greatness. With World War II calling, Ezz was drafted in 1943 to serve in the 92nd Infantry Division the only African American infantry division to see combat in Europe during World War II. Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Ezz worked his opponents with a combination of lightning-fast technique and quick, powerful punches. Ezz was an avid reader, often passing his down time with books about philosophy. Charles eventually moved up in weight class and became the heavyweight champion from 1949 until 1951. Ezzard loved a Brooks Brothers suits, who outfitted him during his heyday in boxing. [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. Who are the richest people in the world? In the fourth round, Louis, confused by the "Walcott Shuffle," which involved shifting the feet around so that first the left and then the right were the lead, and pivoting the body to match, was dropped again by the challenger. 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. Ezzard Mack Charles was born July 7, 1921 in Georgia, but his family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio while he was still young. 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. It wasnt Ezzards fault. I tried to make a way for our young people." Kelta's Kavern. By the early 1940s, Walcott was working in the Camden shipyards, and his boxing career seemed all but over. Doctor W.P. [6] In their September rematch, Charles landed a severe blow that actually split Marciano's nose in half. Charles died on May 28, 1975. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. In 1966 he was stricken with Lou Gehrig's disease that before long confined him to a wheelchair. Ezz spoke English and Italian. Family (1) Spouse Gladys Gartrell (1949 - 27 May 1975) (his death) (3 children) Trivia (14) Defeated Joe Louis on September 27, 1950 to become the undisputed heavyweight . Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Charles won all of his first 17 fights before being defeated by veteran Ken Overlin. Dettloff makes sure were aware that in many cases Charles had to overcome significant size disadvantages to have his hand raised. He also loses, to slick and crafty Kid Tunero, and to Jimmy Bivins and Lloyd Marshall, the latter two defeats later avenged. Referee Ruby Goldstein scored the bout 8-5-2 in rounds for the champion. For more than four decades, he held the distinction of being the oldest boxer to win the heavyweight title, until 45-year-old George Foreman won the crown in 1994. There was even a record made about Ezz! JUMP TO: Ezzard Charless biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. Going pro, Ezz defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes, retiring with a record of 95 wins, 25 losses, and 1 draw. . Find Ezzard Charles School test scores, student-teacher ratio, parent reviews and teacher stats. [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. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Ezzard Charles was born in Lawrenceville, United States. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. 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. All of it was made possible with the $275,000 raised by Cincinnati parks, donors, and residents in the West End . Independent (February 28, 1994). Just over three months later, however, Rocky Marciano knocked out Walcott in the 13th round to take the heavyweight title. Then followed his lackluster reign and the weary road to retirement, poverty and sickness. He was stricken in 1966 with arnyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a muscledebilitating disease, and had been confined to a wheelchair. Shortly after retiring from the ring, he took a job as a parole officer for juvenile offenders. Opportunity. 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. While you get to know Ezz, try your hand at a Cincinnati Cobra Challenge, twelve tasks that connect Ezzs journey to your life. Although acknowledgedand often grudingly praisedas one of the finest boxers ever to hold the heavyweight. 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. "Obituary: Jersey Joe Walcott." Surviving are his widow, Gladys, and three children, Ezzard 2d, Deborah and Leith. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). No matter the reason for Cinnicinnti, there was a list a mile long of reasons to get out of Georgia. Quarterfinals 147-Pound class: Defeated Charles Wilson by decision. His association with Blackburn ended abruptly when the trainer received an offer from a couple of gamblers to come to Chicago to train an amateur champion named Joe Louis . MLS# 67543607. I finally figured it out. The man told Ezzard he owned 365 suits, one for each day of the year. Over the next several years, Walcott fought in dozens of matches, winning most of them but losing occasionally. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". He followed this up in 1939 by winning the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament of champions. 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. He held the title from 1949 to 1951, successfully defending it in 1950 against Joe Louis. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Ezzard Charles is part of G.I. In a rematch with Marciano on May 15, 1953, Walcott was knocked out in the first round. For more programs and events to enjoy, go tocincinnatiparksfoundation.org. "Jersey Joe Walcott." Ezzard Charles. 3 Beds. What are you most proud about accomplishing? His legacy of goodwill still thrives throughout the West End and Cincinnati to this day. He started to train by himself in a young age. The Cincinnati Cobra Badges transport you to stories where youll learn about Ezzs talents, accomplishments, and his lasting legacy in the Queen City. The Cincinnati Cobra Badges transport you to stories where youll learn about Ezzs talents, accomplishments, and his lasting legacy in the Queen City. Amerman, Don "Walcott, Jersey Joe "Jersey Joe Walcott Is Remembered." This generation experienced much of their youth during the Great Depression and rapid technological innovation such as the radio and the telephone. In 1938, he won the Diamond Belt Middleweight Championship. Shortly after his knock-out of Moore in their third and final meeting, tragedy struck. He temporarily left boxing in 1943 to enlist in the U.S. Army. Doctor W.P. So, at 9 years old Ezzard moved to Cincinnati, One day a boxer came by in a nice car and wearing a nice suit. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. Ezzard Charles, in full Ezzard Mack Charles, (born July 7, 1921, Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.died May 28, 1975, Chicago, Illinois), American world heavyweight boxing champion from September 27, 1950, when he outpointed Joe Louis in 15 rounds in New York City, to July 18, 1951, when he was knocked out by Jersey Joe Walcott in 7 rounds in Perhaps it is this experience which convinces Ezzard to resume his boxing career after service concludes, service which includes a stint with a truck battalion in Oran, North Africa, and sees Charles promoted to corporal before being busted back to private. Victories over future Hall of Famers Teddy Yarosz and the much avoided Charley Burley had started to solidify Charles as a top contender in the middleweight division. Click the image below to listen to Ezz-thetics. Georgia, and raised there until the age of nine when his parents parted. Ezz won most of his 42 amateur boxing matches. Surviving are his widow, Gladys, and three children, Ezzard 2d, Deborah and Leith. I would like him to have it. See Photos. In 1948 an unfortunate thing happened, Charles knocked out Sam Baroudi in round 10 and he died shortly after the fight. Again, Bocchicchio persuaded him to continue boxing. With Louis being so popular, many fans and boxing writers were not happy with the outcome. He was 53 years old. As we know, this early setback does little to deter the gifted Ezzard Charles, and his evolution as a boxer is well documented as he carves out a reputation as one of the best young prospects in America. He depended on his boxing skills and ability to score points rather than delivering one powerful knockout punch and thus was criticized by some for lacking a harsh fighting instinct. If Ezzard Charles hadnt left Lawrenceville by 1930 his life simply would not have been anywhere comparable, he would not have an honorary monument under a shade tree in the Lawrenceville Historic Courthouse Square, He would not be in the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame at Coolray Stadium. Charles was very close with Rocky Marciano and a neighbor and friend of Muhammad Ali when they both lived on 85th Street in Chicago. There he took up boxing and by the time Charles was a teenager he. . ." [3] Charles graduated from Woodward High School in Cincinnati where he was already becoming a well-known fighter. Charles was sixfeet tall and usually weighed in the 180's. Reporters and fans talked only of Louis's diminished talents and berated Charles for his inability to knock out the aging hero. 13 on The Ring magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. Newsday (February 27, 1994): 18. Follow in Ezzs footsteps with wayfinding signage and Cincinnati Cobra Badges located near points of interest. Id win a fightand the very next day, Id be back in the gym.. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Charles also winds up boxing for the Army in inter-allied tournaments throughout Europe, enjoying predictable success. Cincinnati. [9] He was buried at Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. The "Cincinnati Cobra" was a master boxer of extraordinary skill and ability. Ezzard Charles was a Cancer and was born in the G.I. The baby from His record is quite impressive. 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 . 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. However, boxing failed to provide a dependable source of income. Ronnie McCluskey. 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. Hall of Fame boxing champion who fought frequently in the heavyweight division and earned titles in all three different weight divisions. Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Ezzard Charles was a professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion from 1949 - 1951. Ezzard Charles was born on July 7, 1921. ." He bought food and coal for Walcott's family, got the boxer's license renewed, and finally persuaded Walcott to give it a try. Walcott successfully defended his title, winning a fifteen-round decision over Charles. But Walcott bounced back in 1947, beating Maxim in January, Ray in April, and Maxim again in June. When I first decided to get into boxing, Id listen to all of the older guys in the game. Once more details are available, we will update this section. Boxer Ezzard Charles was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. Brancaccio Theater, Esquilino, Rome, Italy. Donnell was an avid music collector. Omissions? http://www.ibhof.com/walcott.htm (October 25, 2002). 1913-1998 Throughout his ring career, Charles was criticized for lacking the killer instinct, that highly salable knockout drive that created boxoffice bonanzas for Jack Dempsey, Louis and the late Rocky Marciano.
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