Ezzard Charles, born in Georgia in 1921, was a successful amateur boxer before turning professional in 1940. He won many of his first 38 matches by knockout, served in the military, and later became the world heavyweight champion in 1950. Charles won 96 of 122 fights and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He died in 1975 from Lou Gehrig’s disease. Cincinnati renamed the street he lived on after him.
Born in Lawrenceville, Georgia in 1921, Ezzard Charles grew up to be a heavyweight champion. Charles moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to live with his grandmother and great-grandmother at the age of 9. There he successfully boxed as an amateur in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. His professional career began in 1940, two years before graduating from high school.
Many of Ezzard Charles’ first 38 professional matches were won by knockout. In 1944-45, his boxing career took a back seat as he served in the military. When he returned from service, he boxed in the light heavyweight division.
Charles never weighed more than 200 pounds (91 kg). He has fought many famous middleweights and light heavyweights, including Archie Moore, Ken Overlin, Charley Burley, Joey Maxim and Teddy Yarosz. In 1948, Charles knocked out Sam Baroudi in the tenth round of a match. Baroudi later died of his injuries sustained during the match. Many believe Charles became more cautious after that battle.
Nicknamed the “Cincinnati Cobra,” his rise to the heavyweight championship began with his victory in a 15-round match against Jersey Joe Walcott in 1949. Ezzard Charles defeated Walcott to win the National Boxing Association championship. In 1950 Charles defeated Joe Louis to win the world heavyweight championship, which he held until 1951 when Walcott defeated Charles in a re-match.
Ezzard Charles’ most memorable fights include two with Rocky Marciano, both of which took place in 1954. In the first fight, Charles lost a fifteen-round match on points. In the rematch, Marciano was declared the winner even though the match was nearly over in the eighth round due to Marciano’s split nose. This particular match was named “Fight of the Year”.
Considered one of the best boxers of the 1940s and 50s, Ezzard Charles won 96 of 122 fights. He won 59 of those matches by knockout. Charles was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1966. He died in 1975 in Chicago.
Cincinnati recognized Ezzard Charles by renaming the street he lived on when he won the world heavyweight title after him. Charles was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He is recognized in many historical texts as an influential person, including 100 Who Made a Difference: Greater Cincinnatians Who Made a Mark on the 20th Century and Profiles in Black History.
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