After retiring in 1956, he made brief comeback attempts in 1958 and 1959, losing to a compendium of alsorans. Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. This streak of success is all the more surprising in light of Charles tragic win over 20-year-old Sam Baroudi in 1948, following which Baroudi died after suffering a harrowing beating at Ezzards hands. In 1948 an unfortunate thing happened, Charles knocked out Sam Baroudi in round 10 and he died shortly after the fight. Ezz won most of his 42 amateur boxing matches. Yet he himself was the victim of the onepunch knockout, in July, 1951, when he lost his title to Jersey Joe Walcott in the seventh round at Pittsburgh. Half of the voters had him in the top 15. Like anyone who identifies as something of a boxing diehard, Im familiar with the name Ezzard Charles. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The statue sits in Ezzard Charles Park, surrounded by 100 newly-planted trees. They seldom rely on other people in daily life, which can make them impatient when dealing with others. 1913-1998 LAUREL PARK FAMILY FUN DAYS 500 Ezzard Charles Dr., Cincinnati March 5 | 3:30-6pm April 2 | 1:30-4pm May 21 | 3:30-6pm June 24 | With live music 5-7:30pm July 16 | With the CSO (TBD) August 13 | With live music 5-7:30pm September 3 | 5-7:30pm Offered in partnership with Cincinnati Parks and 7 Hills Neighborhood Houses MLK PARK FAMILY FUN DAYS He won the national AAU Middleweight Championship in 1939. Family Life He had three children. But if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing., See the article in its original context from. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Between 1943 and 1951, a truly stacked era, Charles loses just once, an unpopular split decision to veteran heavyweight and lethal puncher Elmer Ray, a defeat which he avenges by knockout a year later. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. International Boxing Hall of Fame. Then followed his lackluster reign and the weary road to retirement, poverty and sickness. But Walcott bounced back in 1947, beating Maxim in January, Ray in April, and Maxim again in June. ft. house located at 6618 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 sold on Sep 21, 2020 after being listed at $191,000. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Muhammad Ali Performances, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Punchers, Top 12 Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Is Forever The Greatest. American boxer [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. MLS# 67543607. Successful defenses against Walcott, Lee Oma and Joey Maxim followed. 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. He was 53 years old. Blaylock, Donnell Our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend Donnell Eugene Blaylock transitioned peacefully at home Sunday February 26, 2023 surrounded by family. But the two judgesFrank Forbes and Marty Monroegave the fight to Louis. He was stricken in 1966 with arnyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a muscledebilitating disease, and had been confined to a wheelchair. Jefferies, Eddie. "Ezzard Mark Charles." Who are the richest people in the world? He gave me two of the toughest fights of my life. single-family home with a list price of $350000. Charles was sixfeet tall and usually weighed in the 180's. But then his family moved to Cincinnati when he was very young. Like many boxers, financial problems forced Charles to continue fighting, losing 13 of his final 23 fights. When expenses for therapy became more than he could handle, Charles was honored at a benefit in Chicago on Nov. 13, 1968. Encyclopedia.com. is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". As an amateur boxer in the featherweight divisions, he had a perfect 42-0 record, and started his pro career defeating the future Hall of Famer Archie Moore . He was the only heavyweight champion, other than a young Sonny Liston, who I think would have really troubled me at my best. Skip Ancestry . 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. The 92nd Division was stationed in North Africa and Italy, where Ezz learned to speak Italian. Ezzard Charless mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. Charles retired from boxing in the late 1950s. When Ezz was young she gave him permission to join a gym and pursue boxing, keeping him busy after school. Charles is the only man ever to last the full 15-round distance against Marciano. Two thirds of voters had him inside the top 20. Ezzards education details are not available at this time. Ezz had a breakfast of dry cereal, prunes, and lamb chops.Orange juice or tea, no coffee. Learn More Auction Foreclosures These properties are currently listed for sale. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990. Ezzard Charles School is a Educational Organization headquartered in Chicago, IL. 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. In 1938, he won the Diamond Belt Middleweight Championship. We will continue to update information on Ezzard Charless parents. A year after his debut, still just a teenager, Charles fights Ken Overlin, a veteran ranked by The Ring as the worlds second best middleweight. Although acknowledgedand often grudingly praisedas one of the finest boxers ever to hold the heavyweight. Anything was now available to Ezzard, anything was possible. Muhammad Ali said in his own autobiography: "Ezzard Charles was a truly great fighter and champion. Shower and massage. It also earned them acclaim as the toughest men of their eras. Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a hard-hitting lefty who could switch his stance and also box right-handed. And one which illuminates the essence of the sport while sympathetically documenting the life of one of its cleverest exports, with searing passages describing the lure of the Fancy. He also lost his first rematch with Charles on March 7, 1951. Later that year he experienced something of a setback, losing to Joey Maxim and Elmer Ray in back-to-back bouts. My father would say, come up here, sit in the front. They'd all say the same thing: if you want to be a fighter, you've got to eat it and sleep it. 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 "Time Tunnel: Jersey Joe Walcott; The Long, Long Journey." The baby from honeysuckle circle, in downtown Lawrenceville was named after the Doctor who delivered him. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. In 1950 Walcott won his first four matches of the year, only to lose to Rex Layne on November 24. signage and Cincinnati Cobra Badges located near points of interest. The following year, Charles failed in an attempt to recapture the title from Walcott, who lost it barely three months later to Rocky Marciano. I have a bracelet given to a boy, last name Charles when he was born in Cincinnati. Ezz had lots of people in his corner: Do something kind for a friend or someone in your family. 3 beds, 2 baths, 1363 sq. People born under this sign are honest, observant and hardworking. I looked across the ring, and I could tell that Louis thought he had lost the fight. Ezzard Charles was born on July 7, 1921. He coasted through the final four rounds and lost the chance to become the first man to regain the heavyweight championship. Donnell was an avid music collector. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/walcott-jersey-joe, Amerman, Don "Walcott, Jersey Joe 13 on The Ring magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. 1921-1989 Full-body sculpture of Ezzard Charles revealed to family | WKRC WINTON PLACE, Ohio (WKRC) - Ezzard Charles' son and namesake saw the full-body sculpture of his father for the first time. If Charles had won this fight, he would have become the first man in history to regain the heavyweight championship. Ezz played the bass cello, even sitting in with some great musicians of the day. Salvation came in the form of Felix Bocchicchio, a Camden area sports club owner and gambler. 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. When Ezz prepared for boxing matches, hed run on the streets and in the Parks of Cincinnati. Find Ezzard Charles School test scores, student-teacher ratio, parent reviews and teacher stats. For his regular contributions to the community, Ohio Governor Frank Lasche presented Ezz with the Good Citizenship Award in 1954. 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. He later had a brief stint as a boxing referee, officiating at the second match between Cassius Clay (before changing his name to Muhammad Ali ) and Sonny Liston . https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ezzard-Charles, Cincinnati Historical Society Library - Biography of Ezzard Charles. Everything that Charles had been before the Bivins fight he was again: fast, powerful, hungry and indefatigable Moore, as good as he was, and as cagey and strong as he was, never stood a chance.. 45203. . But on July 18, 1951, Walcott made boxing history when he knocked out Charles in the seventh round to become the oldest boxer ever to win the world heavyweight title. Odds makers gave Walcott little chance against the Brown Bomber. Historian Bob Mee looks back on the glorious career the legendary Ezzard Charles who was born on July 7, 1921 . When he was a child, his family moved to Cincinnati, where he became interested in boxing. His grandmother raised him to be an honest, good-hearted man. 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. In the. It turned into a title match after the New York State Athletic Commission ruled that any match of more than six rounds with Louis had to be for the title. 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. He always wanted to sit in the front. Despite being a natural light-heavy he won the heavyweight title and made 9 successful title defenses. Shortly after winning his rematch with Walcott, Louis announced his retirement from the ring. "Jersey Joe Walcott: 1914-1994." Obituary. Early in his professional career, the young New Jersey boxer decided his last name of Cream seemed wholly inappropriate for a fighter who hoped some day to be a champion. Charles lost a controversial decision in their fourth and final bout. 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! As a condition for accepting the job, Blackburn wangled an invitation for Walcott to accompany him and join the gamblers' Chicago stable of fighters, but Walcott came down with typhoid and was unable to make the trip. The disease affected Charles' legs and eventually left him completely disabled. In the following years he fights and beats a succession of formidable middleweights and light heavyweights, champions and ex-titlists, including Teddy Yarosz, Anton Cristofiridis, Charley Burley, Booker Beckwith, Mose Brown and Joey Maxim. "Ex-Heavyweight Champ's Calling Card Was Perseverance: Walcott Dead at 80." Charles won all of his first 17 fights before being defeated by veteran Ken Overlin. 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. Your email address will not be published. Known for his slick defense and precision, he is often considered the greatest light heavyweight boxer of all time. He fought only five matches from 1940 through 1944, one of which was his loss to Simon. 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. Nevertheless, boxing fans, as well as Louis, were all convinced Walcott had cinched the fight. Speaking haltingly to the assembled crowd, Walcott said, "I tried to be a champion for everybody. Sadly, his tenure in the latter position was marred by charges that he had taken bribes. Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life. The first fight saw Ezz lose but take Marciano all 15 rounds, which no other boxer had done before. 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. 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. Ezz Fest brings people together for an annual celebration in Laurel Park. Almanac of Famous People, 6th edition. [1] A rematch in Philadelphia the following year saw Charles take an impressive lead on points, but squander it (and the decision) through conservative tactics. Ezzard Mack Charles (Ezz) was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 7, 1921. Ezzard Mack Charles (Ezz) was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 7, 1921. People just didn't want to see Louis lose. Corrections? The former boxer spent his last days in a nursing home. - 27 May 1975) ( his death) ( 3 children) Ezzard Charles Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. 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. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. 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. Without Blackburn's guidance, Walcott's boxing career once again seemed to lose direction. 830 Ezzard Charles Drive Cincinnati, OH 45214 513.381.6672. After retiring from the ring, Walcott remained active in boxing as a referee and later became chairman of the New Jersey State Boxing Commission. Through all the ups and downs in their life together, Gladys maintained the family finances while she and Ezz always put their children first. Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 - May 28, 1975), known as the Cincinnati Cobra, was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. Montreal is The Fight City. 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. Your email address will not be published. $359,900 Last Sold Price. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. American boxer Four times during that period, he squared off against one of the ten top-ranked fightersAl Ettore in 1936, Tiger Jack Fox in 1937 and 1938, and Abe Simon in 1940in his weight class, only to lose every match. Not that those two accomplishments, are even a speck of this heavyweight champs, list of accomplishments. He was born Ezzard Mack Charles on July 7, 1921, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Just a simple, square sort of fellow, who believed in playing the game by the rules, Charles said in selfdescription some years ago.