Ezzard Charles
The Cincinnati Cobra, heavyweight champion who beat Joe Louis in 1950
Overview
Charles beat Jersey Joe Walcott in 1949 for the vacant NBA heavyweight title and outpointed a comeback Joe Louis in 1950 to secure general recognition. Many historians rate him among the finest light heavyweights who ever lived, though he never fought for that title. Walcott knocked him out in 1951, and in 1954 he took Rocky Marciano the full fifteen rounds before losing a rematch by knockout.
Related Entries
Joe Louis
Louis won the title from James Braddock in 1937 and held it until 1949, making 25 successful defenses, 21 by knockout. His one rou...
Willie Pep
Will o the Wisp from Hartford won his first 62 bouts and took the world featherweight title in 1942 at age 20. Ring lore says he o...
Sugar Ray Robinson
Born Walker Smith Jr, Robinson went 85-0 as an amateur and ran a 91 fight unbeaten streak as a pro. He won the welterweight title ...
Jake LaMotta
LaMotta fought Sugar Ray Robinson six times, winning a close decision over Robinson in Detroit in 1943, one of the few men ever to...