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Georgia, and raised there until the age of nine when his parents parted. 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. Any devotee of The Sweet Science should add this volume to their Required Reading list, without delay. Often Ezz would meet with school-age children and have fun with them exercising or going on group trips to the theater. Just a simple, square sort of fellow, who believed in playing the game by the rules, Charles said in selfdescription some years ago. Walcott wasn't through. 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. Follow in Ezzs footsteps with wayfinding signage and Cincinnati Cobra Badges located near points of interest. He held the title from 1949 to 1951, successfully defending it in 1950 against Joe Louis. 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. Judge Artie Aidala scored the fight 9-5-1 while judge Harold Barnes' tally was 8-6-1. [6] In their September rematch, Charles landed a severe blow that actually split Marciano's nose in half. His wife is Gladys (? In 1976, Cincinnati honored Charles by changing the name of Lincoln Park Drive to Ezzard Charles Drive. Opportunity. Square that I was, I believed every word. In 1950 Walcott won his first four matches of the year, only to lose to Rex Layne on November 24. Ezzard Charles won the National Boxing Association heavyweight crown in a fifteen-round decision over Jersey Joe Walcott on June 22, 1949. It was reportedly the only time Ezzard touched the canvas during his entire amateur career. Ezz took pride in his neighborhood and actively gave time to his community. In fact, he wanted to leave the ring, but his handlers held him back.". This page is updated often with new details about Ezzard Charles. Charles was sixfeet tall and usually weighed in the 180's. Associated With He was close friend of Rocky Marciano as well as a one-time neighbor of Muhammad Ali. Obituary. If Charles had won this fight, he would have become the first man in history to regain the heavyweight championship. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. But Walcott bounced back in 1947, beating Maxim in January, Ray in April, and Maxim again in June. Charles was knocked down early in the fight but was able to come back and win it by decision. 3 Beds. He had simply come along at a time when a bloodhungry public couldnt appreciate him. Charles won all of his first 17 fights before being defeated by veteran Ken Overlin. 6318 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 - Zillow The quick knockout was never his objective. He told me in the South they make you sit in the back of the bus. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Marciano fought over half the fight with a huge gash over his eye that would require ten . http://www.ibhof.com/walcott.htm (October 25, 2002). To honor Ezzs legacy, CPF leveraged the statue project into a vibrant revitalization of the entire Laurel Park as a gift to Ezzs family and to the residents of the West End. It wasn't Ezzard's fault. Blaylock, Donnell Our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend Donnell Eugene Blaylock transitioned peacefully at home Sunday February 26, 2023 surrounded by family. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. CHICAGO, May 23 (UPI)Ezzard Charles, the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1949 until 1951, died today at the Veterans Administration Hospital here. 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. American boxer Thanks to a collaboration between the Cincinnati Parks Foundation and go Vibrant, weve mapped out three Cincinnati Cobra Routes starting in Laurel Park the largest Cincinnati Park in the West End! 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] Ronnie McCluskey. You can give back to Cincinnati by picking up any litter you see in the Parks or on your block. A fund raiser was held to assist Charles and many of his former opponents spoke on his behalf. Donnell Blaylock Obituary (2023) - Muskegon Heights, MI - Grand Rapids SOLD JUN 13, 2022. Encyclopedia.com. Nearly 25% of voters had Charles in the top 10. Bookmark this page and come back often for updates. International Boxing Hall of Fame. Against top rate opposition like Archie Moore, Charley Burley, Lloyd Marshall, Jimmy Bivins, and Joey Maxim he was an impressive 16-2 combined. He won his next five matches before losing, on November 16, 1933, in a rematch with Henry Taylor in Philadelphia. This was the street of his residence during the height of his career.[10]. He was . Please check back soon for updates. With a perfect, Moore, Archie Charles was very close with Rocky Marciano and a neighbor and friend of Muhammad Ali when they both lived on 85th Street in Chicago. 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. After retiring from the ring, Walcott remained active in boxing as a referee and later became chairman of the New Jersey State Boxing Commission. Your email address will not be published. They'd all say the same thing: if you want to be a fighter, you've got to eat it and sleep it. He bought food and coal for Walcott's family, got the boxer's license renewed, and finally persuaded Walcott to give it a try. Born in Georgia, he was a musician and loved jazz, bringing records home from his travels abroad. ft. house located at 6618 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 sold on Sep 21, 2020 after being listed at $191,000. Where was the opportunity? When I first decided to get into boxing, I'd listen to all of the older guys in the game, he remarked recently. Ezzard Charles grew stronger and sharper after the world war and continued with his winning spree. Not that those two accomplishments, are even a speck of this heavyweight champs, list of accomplishments. In 1949, he won against Jersey Joe Walcott for the heavyweight belt. He gave me two of the toughest fights of my life. Young Walcott quit school and began looking for any kind of work he could find to help. I finally figured it out. 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. 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 Cincinnatis tough West End, in a rundown, three-room frame house supported by bricks at the corners.. The year, 1921. Thanks to the authors unfailing commitment to detail, the reader is left in no doubt about just how special this kid was in his prime. Considered one of the giants of sports in the 1920s, Gene Tunney became heavyweight boxing champion of the worl, Sugar Ray Robinson Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. "Jersey Joe Walcott." 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. Charles was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, in 1966. Click the image below to listen to Ezz-thetics. Cincinnati. 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. Half of the voters had him in the top 15. Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Ezzard Charles was a professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion from 1949 - 1951. Ezzard Charles - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays [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. Montreal is The Fight City. Ezz Fest brings people together for an annual celebration in Laurel Park. Learn More Auction Foreclosures These properties are currently listed for sale. Outside of the ring, Ezzard also had owned several night clubs, played bass with the eras top jazz performers, even sitting in for a session one night with the legendary Duke Ellington. He temporarily left boxing in 1943 to enlist in the U.S. Army. When he was only thirteen years old, his father, an immigrant from Barbados, died. One of the most persistent boxers of the 20th century, Jersey Joe Walcott refused to give up his dream of winning the world heavyweight title. It was as if he had lost. Walcott continued to live in the Camden area after leaving boxing. Charles was so devastated he almost gave up fighting. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. 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. The two faced off on June 22, 1949. "[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. 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. ." His son, Ezzard Charles II on his visit to Gwinnett for the induction at CoolRay Field was quoted as saying of his fathers childhood, That time in our nation was tough on African-Americans. A rematch in Philadelphia the following year saw Charles take an impressive lead on points, but squander it (and the decision) through conservative tactics. Go ringside for a look at Ezzard Charles (Ezz) legendary boxing career and what it takes to be one of the greatest fighters ever. 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. His grandmother raised him to be an honest, good-hearted man. Ezzard Charles was a Cancer and was born in the G.I. Two thirds of voters had him inside the top 20. Please let me know how to contact someone regarding this. Despite this victory, Charles did not receive the recognition many felt he deserved. The disease affected Charles' legs and eventually left him completely disabled. Gods of War: Ezzard Charles - Bloody Elbow 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. Donnell was an avid music collector. Recently sold: 6622 Ezzard Charles Lane, TX 77091 0.11 Acres Lot 1,544 SQFT 3 Beds 2 Full Baths Single-Family View more details Surviving are his widow, Gladys, and three children, Ezzard 2d, Deborah and Leith. Three years later, on June 17, 1954, he lost a grueling fifteen-round decision to Rocky Marciano, and in a rematch later that year Marciano knocked him out in the eighth round. By William Dettloff. He died in 1973. Known in years past as "Sin City" and "Babylon on the St. Lawrence", it saw more than its share of ring legends over the decades. Ezzard Charles Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Charles was instead a cool ring tactician who was content to outpoint his opponents or to wear them down through a profusion of punches. Remaining a top contender with wins over Rex Layne, Tommy Harrison and Coley Wallace, Charles knocked out Bob Satterfield in an eliminator bout for the right to challenge Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano. 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. Ezzard Charles - BoxRec Ezzard Charles's birth sign is Cancer. 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. When Ezz prepared for boxing matches, hed run on the streets and in the Parks of Cincinnati. Ezzard made the most of it, becoming the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and an inspiration to Gwinnett County. To succeed in life, Ezzard Charles (Ezz) always said that youve got to have a plan. Charles won the title in a fifteen-round decision on June 22, 1949. Discover what happened on this day. Charles possessed a masterful jab and was a superb combination puncher. During the midnineteensixties, he became increasingly afflicted by lateral sclerosis, a disease that crippled his oncepowerful legs and then impaired his ability to speak. Without Blackburn's guidance, Walcott's boxing career once again seemed to lose direction. In the. 830 Ezzard Charles Drive Cincinnati, OH 45214 513.381.6672. He had won 15round decisions from Walcott two times earlier. Encyclopedia.com. It stands tall beside the Ezzard Charles monument, the only permanent, visible evidence the boxer ever lived in .