Charles Ezzard 1859-1938 - Ancestry In fact, Ezz was part owner of the Cotton Club and saw many legendary acts come through including Duke Ellington, Scatman Crothers, Pearl Bailey, and Sarah Vaughn. He had a classic match against the heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano going the distance, a full 15 rounds. Click the image below to listen to Ezz-thetics. 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. New York: Scribner, 1994. [1] Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. See Photos. Before a sold-out crowd of 18,000, Walcott suckered Louis with a right-hand lead and then dropped him with a left hook in the very first round. I tried to make a way for our young people." Your email address will not be published. Whos the richest Boxer in the world? Reporters and fans talked only of Louis's diminished talents and berated Charles for his inability to knock out the aging hero. What are you most proud about accomplishing? We encourage you to research and examine these records to . Through all the ups and downs in their life together, Gladys maintained the family finances while she and Ezz always put their children first. Before winning the heavyweight championship, he had won the National Boxing Association title by defeating Walcott on June 22, 1949. Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight boxing champion ever to retire without being defeated. 6318 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 is for sale. When I first decided to get into boxing, Id listen to all of the older guys in the game. GreatSchools is the leading nonprofit providing high-quality information that supports parents pursuing a great education for their child, schools striving for excellence, and communities . However, boxing failed to provide a dependable source of income. 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. 6318 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 | realtor.com 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 . "No Champion Out of Ring." In fact, he wanted to leave the ring, but his handlers held him back.". Charles was sixfeet tall and usually weighed in the 180's. Charles lost his heavyweight title on July 18, 1951, when he was knocked out by Joe Walcott in the seventh round of their third fight. [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. For more programs and events to enjoy, go tocincinnatiparksfoundation.org. ." See Photos. 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. Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Ezzard Charles was a professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion from 1949 - 1951. Ezzard Charles's birth sign is Cancer. New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. The Truth About Rocky Marciano - The Grueling Truth This was the street of his residence during the height of his career.[10]. 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. Where was the opportunity? 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. Generation also known as The Greatest Generation. The Cincinnati Cobra Badges transport you to stories where youll learn about Ezzs talents, accomplishments, and his lasting legacy in the Queen City. We collect and match historical records that Ancestry users have contributed to their family trees to create each person's profile. He had speed, agility, fast hands and excellent footwork. Ezzard Charles won the National Boxing Association heavyweight crown in a fifteen-round decision over Jersey Joe Walcott on June 22, 1949. Like many boxers, financial problems forced Charles to continue fighting, losing 13 of his final 23 fights. Considered one of the giants of sports in the 1920s, Gene Tunney became heavyweight boxing champion of the worl, Sugar Ray Robinson signage and Cincinnati Cobra Badges located near points of interest. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ezzard-Charles, Cincinnati Historical Society Library - Biography of Ezzard Charles. 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] Gwinnett\'s definitive lifestyle and business resource. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He had a 42-0 record, with two Golden Glove Titles before embarking on a pro career that was interrupted by his service in World War II from 1944 and 1945 where he learned to speak Spanish and Italian. 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. He ended Louis's comeback in 1950 by winning a 15round decision, but found the triumph hollow. He was an avid reader and learned to speak Italian while serving during World War II. Born in Georgia in 1921, Ezzard Charles came to Cincinnati at the age of nine to live with his grandmother and great-grandmother in the West End. The 1920s represented an era of change and growth. The initials "G.I." 6318 Ezzard Charles Ln, Houston, TX 77091 - Zillow 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. Muhammad Ali said in his own autobiography: "Ezzard Charles was a truly great fighter and champion. Ezz had a daily routine of exercising and eating right. He followed this up in 1939 by winning the Chicago Golden Gloves tournament of champions. Ezzard Charles Height, Weight & Measurements At 54 years old, Ezzard Charles height is 6' (1.83 m) . "[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. His grandmother raised him to be an honest, good-hearted man. 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. The year, 1921. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. 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 Charles | American boxer | Britannica 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. Baroudi died of the injuries he sustained in this bout. If it turned out that way, and even if he gave Charles a thorough going-over, it wouldnt ruin him because Overlin couldnt break an egg. 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. Because of this, Ezz excelled at boxing while also graduating Woodward High Schoola rare feat for a professional boxer. 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. My mother delivered the boy perhaps in the 1950s or 1960s. Despite being a natural light-heavy he won the heavyweight title and made 9 successful title defenses. Charles won the title in a fifteen-round decision on June 22, 1949. A chilling 1973 commercial showed Charles in his wheelchair horribly disabled by ALS. In the early 1980s, Walcott was appointed chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. ." Notable Sports Figures. Ezzard Mack Charles (Ezz) was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 7, 1921. Family Fun Days in Cincinnati Parks - Cincinnati Parks 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. In 1968, Ezz was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He continued to box when he could but was forced increasingly to work at low-paying jobs outside the ring to support his family. He died on May 27, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. We will continue to update information on Ezzard Charless parents. Spectators were incredulous, applauding wildly for the plucky Walcott. American boxer Follow Ezz and see if you can find all the Badges on the Cincinnati Cobra Routes. Nevertheless, a number of fans and boxing writers felt that Charles deserved the decision. In 1976, Cincinnati honored Charles by changing the name of Lincoln Park Drive to Ezzard Charles Drive. Walcott continued to live in the Camden area after leaving boxing. Walcott died at the age of 80 on February 25, 1994, in Camden, N.J. Boxer Ezzard Charles was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Although acknowledgedand often grudingly praisedas one of the finest boxers ever to hold the heavyweight title, Ezzard Mack Charles somehow was never able to capture in addition the glamour and unrestrained idolatry that often accompany boxing's most coveted goal. Square that I was, I believed every word. We learn that Ezzard Charles was a timid kid, the prey of school bullies, God-fearing, yet a locally celebrated scrapper, participating in rudimentary backyard boxing matches from the age of eight. In the first bout, held in Yankee Stadium on June 17, 1954, he valiantly took Marciano the distance, going down on points in a vintage heavyweight bout. "Jersey Joe Walcott: The Improbable Champion." I finally figured it out. Not that those two accomplishments, are even a speck of this heavyweight champs, list of accomplishments. 3 beds, 2 baths, 1363 sq. It was as if he had lost. The Cobra frequently trained in Cincinnati Parks and other community spaces. Charles retired from boxing in the late 1950s. 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. . Learn More Auction Foreclosures These properties are currently listed for sale. Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. As per the report, Ezzard Charles lives in Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. And right there in Charles hometown, the judges gave Overlin the win, just as they should have.. He won his next five matches before losing, on November 16, 1933, in a rematch with Henry Taylor in Philadelphia. The man told Ezzard he owned 365 suits, one for each day of the year. 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.. Like anyone who identifies as something of a boxing diehard, Im familiar with the name Ezzard Charles. They seldom rely on other people in daily life, which can make them impatient when dealing with others. Ezzard Charles 1954-1998 - Ancestry 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. Charles fought a young contender named Sam Baroudi, knocking him out in Round 10. 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. From that point on Ezzard wanted to be a Boxer. Ezzard Charles Biography, Life, Interesting Facts