He ended Louis's comeback in 1950 by winning a 15round decision, but found the triumph hollow. New York: Scribner, 1994. Charles Ezzard 1859-1938 - Ancestry I looked across the ring, and I could tell that Louis thought he had lost the fight. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. The two faced off on June 22, 1949. Follow Ezz and see if you can find all the Badges on the Cincinnati Cobra Routes. He was born June 13, 1973 in Saginaw, MI to Jacqueline Marie Blaylock and Ezzard Charles Mack. Then it was in the ring for sparring. Two thirds of voters had him inside the top 20. Ezz had lots of people in his corner: Do something kind for a friend or someone in your family. American boxer What are you most proud about accomplishing? But Walcott bounced back in 1947, beating Maxim in January, Ray in April, and Maxim again in June. Ezzard Charles - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays 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. But the Queen City celebrated their first-ever heavyweight champion with fanfare and a parade. Charles died on May 28, 1975. 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. Ezzard was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States. "Time Tunnel: Jersey Joe Walcott; The Long, Long Journey." On July 18, 1951, he became, at the age of thirty-seven, the oldest boxer ever to become the heavyweight champ, knocking out Ezzard Charles in the seventh round to finally take the title he had so long pursued. 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 In the early 1980s, Walcott was appointed chairman of the New Jersey State Athletic Commission. He started to train by himself in a young age. Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 - May 28, 1975), known as the Cincinnati Cobra, was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. 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. Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History. He started boxing in his teen years, winning 42 amateur fights and the Amateur Athletic Union national middleweight title before he graduated from Woodward High School in 1942.. Charles continued boxing until he was called to serve . Gwinnett\'s definitive lifestyle and business resource. , Rocky MarcianoHeavyweight Champ 1952-195649 Wins 0 Losses. Nobody gave any credit to Ezzard. Greatness is often overlooked in its own time. Click the image below to listen to Ezz-thetics. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Doctor W.P. Opportunity. The book is an engaging portrait of a marvellous pugilist who wreaked havoc in the ring but beyond the ropes remained humble, honourable, hard-working and all the other things you wanted your kid to be when you sent him off into the world. In other words, a man apart from mobbed-up figures like Blinky Palermo and Frankie Carbo, prominent fixtures in the Golden, but shady, Age. There was even a record made about Ezz! All of it was made possible with the $275,000 raised by Cincinnati parks, donors, and residents in the West End . ." 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. The Champ: County to honor legendary boxer Charles today A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news/Jersey-Joe-Walcott.php (October 26, 2002). I have a bracelet given to a boy, last name Charles when he was born in Cincinnati. Gods of War: Ezzard Charles - Bloody Elbow He was widely criticized for his handling of the match. People just didnt want to see Louis lose. Known for his slick defense and precision, he is often considered the greatest light heavyweight boxer of all time. It wasnt Ezzards fault. Not that those two accomplishments, are even a speck of this heavyweight champs, list of accomplishments. After that, everyones age was more or less a guess.. But Ezz kept fighting with his eye on being the first boxer of his time to regain the heavyweight title. Ezzard Charles | American boxer | Britannica Ezzard Charles died at the age of 53 years. He bought food and coal for Walcott's family, got the boxer's license renewed, and finally persuaded Walcott to give it a try. Ezzard Charles was born on July 7, 1921 in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. Name three heroes in your life. Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a hard-hitting lefty who could switch his stance and also box right-handed. Prominent boxing promoter Mike ("Uncle Mike") Jacobs in late 1947 set up what was supposed to be a ten-round charity exhibition match between World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis and Walcott. Ezz had a breakfast of dry cereal, prunes, and lamb chops.Orange juice or tea, no coffee. The family didnt own a Bible in which to record the birth dates of each of their kids, which was the custom in those parts, so they kept a record by making notches on the trunk of an oak tree that sat on their property. Long after most boxers would have abandoned all hope, Walcott battled on. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990. Ezzard Charles Biography - American boxer | Pantheon Without Blackburn's guidance, Walcott's boxing career once again seemed to lose direction. To become the undisputed champ, Ezz a 2:1 underdog and smaller fighter defeated his childhood idol and American boxing icon, Joe Louis, on September 27, 1950. The first fight saw Ezz lose but take Marciano all 15 rounds, which no other boxer had done before. "No Champion Out of Ring." 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. Through all the ups and downs in their life together, Gladys maintained the family finances while she and Ezz always put their children first. When I first decided to get into boxing, I'd listen to all of the older guys in the game, he remarked recently. http://www.cyberenet.net/~kelta/jerseyjoe.html (October 25, 2002). Nobody gave any credit to Ezzard, he said. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When I was a little boy wed take the bus to the shopping plaza at 35th (Chicago) and Id always run to the back of the bus. [1] Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Published by McFarland, 232 pages $35.00. 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. Throughout his ring career, Charles was criticized for lacking the killer instinct, that highly salable knockout drive that created boxoffice bonanzas for Jack Dempsey, Louis and the late Rocky Marciano. His finest skills of ringmanship enabled him to go 15 hard rounds at Yankee Stadium in June, but the Brockton Bomber won the decision in what he called one of his toughest fights. http://www.gamemasteronline.com/Archive/SweetScience/JerseyJoeWalcott.shtml (October 26, 2002). Nearly 25% of voters had Charles in the top 10. Referee Ruby Goldstein agreed, observing, "Walcott punched his ears off." 421 Oak Street, Cincinnati OH 4521, 513-861-0023 The listing agent for these homes has added a Coming Soon note to alert buyers in advance. Cincinnati. The decade was one of learning and exploration. Ezz spoke English and Italian. Charles also winds up boxing for the Army in inter-allied tournaments throughout Europe, enjoying predictable success. In 1968, Charles was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. His association with Blackburn ended abruptly when the trainer received an offer from a couple of gamblers to come to Chicago to train an amateur champion named Joe Louis . The 1920s represented an era of change and growth. Despite his fame, Ezz stayed humble and was a dedicated advocate for the West End. Rocky Marciano in particular called Charles the bravest man he ever fought. Bocchicchio offered to manage Walcott, who at first refused, saying, "Fighting never got me nothin' before, and all I want now is a steady job, so my wife and kids can eat regular. 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. Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. Associated With He was close friend of Rocky Marciano as well as a one-time neighbor of Muhammad Ali. Corrections? Ezzard Charles Biography, Life, Interesting Facts 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. After he married and started a family, Walcott was forced more and more to take jobs outside the ring to make ends meet. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes: Ezz was a boxing champ and beloved father. "Enshrinees: Jersey Joe Walcott." Ezzard Charles, A Gentle Terror - Boxing Over Broadway 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. In 1950 Walcott won his first four matches of the year, only to lose to Rex Layne on November 24. Ezzard Charless mothers name is unknown at this time and his fathers name is under review. A chilling 1973 commercial showed Charles in his wheelchair horribly disabled by ALS. Fortunately for Walcott, Bocchicchio was not so easily dissuaded. Dictionary of American Biography: Supplement 9: 1971-1975. The Cobra held the heavyweight title for 1949-1951. Ezzard was inducted into Ring magazines Boxing Hall of Fame in 1970. When he was in Cincinnati he developed love for the game of boxing. However, if pressed I could not tell you much more than this: that Charles famously beat Joe Louis during the latters ill-advised comeback and that he is touted by many knowledgeable scholars of the game as, pound-for-pound, one of the greatest pugilists in boxing history. 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. American boxer Marciano pointed out the lack of appreciation that had dogged Charles, especially in his fight against Louis. 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. He was the only heavyweight champion, other than a young Sonny Liston, who I think would have really troubled me at my best. Amerman, Don "Walcott, Jersey Joe His grandmother raised him to be an honest, good-hearted man. In 1966 he was stricken with a muscle-debilitating disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and was confined to a wheelchair. A long time Cincinnatian, he was also an entrepreneur, a musician, a multilinguist, and a good-will ambassador to the West End community, where he lived at the height of his boxing career. Log In. ." Some of the community organizations that he advocated for continue to provide services throughout Cincinnati and have since enshrined Ezzard Charles in their history. A fund raiser was held to assist Charles and many of his former opponents spoke on his behalf. Obituary. My father would say, come up here, sit in the front. Ezzard Charles . His attempts to recapture the title, first from Walcott and later from Marciano, all ended in failure. Ezzard Charles won the National Boxing Association heavyweight crown in a fifteen-round decision over Jersey Joe Walcott on June 22, 1949. Ezzard won several amateur championships, including two Golden Gloves crownswelterweight (1938) and middleweight (1939)before turning professional in 1940. Encyclopedia.com. He was popular for being a Boxer. [3] Charles graduated from Woodward High School in Cincinnati where he was already becoming a well-known fighter. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. From 1940 to 1959 he fought in 122 bouts, winning 96 of them. Referee Ruby Goldstein scored the bout 8-5-2 in rounds for the champion. He had simply come along at a time when a bloodhungry public couldnt appreciate him. Get an inside beat on a day in the life of the Cincinnati Cobra, and how the importance of family drove him to greatness. The Cincinnati Cobra defended his title four times until falling to Walcott in a championship rematch. In the second fight, Marciano knocked out the former champ in eight rounds, securing his seat atop the heavyweight division. Possibility. He helped shape the Cincinnati Music Scene, as he would buy jazz records from around the world and bring them back home to share with local musicians and artists. A rematch in Philadelphia the following year saw Charles take an impressive lead on points, but squander it (and the decision) through conservative tactics. Omissions? SOLD JUN 13, 2022. Encyclopedia.com. 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. The year, 1921. Born in Lawrenceville, named after the doctor that birthed him, Ezzard Charless family had the bravery to leave Jim Crowe Georgia to pursue better opportunity. Cincinnati's World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Ezzard Charles, will be permanently recognized with a bronze statue and plaza commemorating both his life and legacy in the former, Laurel Park, which was recently renamed in his honor, at the 5th annual Ezz Fest to take place Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 10:15 AM. Teachers not only fail to answer or return calls . $615,000 Last Sold Price. Whos the richest Boxer in the world? After retiring in 1956, he made brief comeback attempts in 1958 and 1959, losing to a compendium of alsorans. But two years later, on July 18, 1951, Walcott turned the tables on Charles, knocking him out to take the heavyweight title for himself. "Ex-Heavyweight Champ's Calling Card Was Perseverance: Walcott Dead at 80." Walcott successfully defended his title, winning a fifteen-round decision over Charles. Matthews, Wallace. Dettloff gives us snapshots of the boxing landscape in the 30s, 40s and 50s, an era when crooks and gamblers had their fingers in the game Gamblers, hustlers, drunks, whores, killers; they all felt at home in the fight business because they were among their own and because nobody was there to stop them.. Charles was a student of the sweet science Growing Up Born Ezzard Mack Charles in July 7 1921, into a life of poverty in Lawrenceville, Georgia, the Charles family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, which would later earn him his nickname 'The Cincinnati Cobra'. In the. ." Charles returned to boxing after the war as a light heavyweight, picking up many notable wins over leading light heavyweights, as well as heavyweight contenders Archie Moore, Jimmy Bivins, Lloyd Marshall and Elmer Ray. Research genealogy for Charles Ezzard of Brampton, Hampshire, England, as well as other members of the Ezzard family, on Ancestry. Not long thereafter, he stopped in one day at Battling Mac's Gym in Camden, New Jersey, where he soon became a regular, sparring with some of the fighters who called the gym home. Doctor W.P. Anything was now available to Ezzard, anything was possible. JUMP TO: Ezzard Charless biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos and related celebs. Ezz took pride in his neighborhood and actively gave time to his community. 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.. 3 Beds. In 2006, Ezzard Charles was named the 11th greatest fighter of all time by the IBRO (International Boxing Research Organisation).[11]. Speaking haltingly to the assembled crowd, Walcott said, "I tried to be a champion for everybody. Prominent boxing historian Bert Sugar listed Charles as the seventh greatest Heavyweight of all time. To succeed in life, Ezzard Charles (Ezz) always said that youve got to have a plan. Ezzard Charles was born in Lawrenceville, United States. single-family home with a list price of $350000. Charles attempted to right his financial fortunes through careers as a professional wrestler, a greeter at a nightclub and then as a coordinator of boxing clubs in Chicago's Commission on Youth. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Later that year he experienced something of a setback, losing to Joey Maxim and Elmer Ray in back-to-back bouts. https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/walcott-jersey-joe, Amerman, Don "Walcott, Jersey Joe 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. or. I think he never took trips back because of the way it was in the South.. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He continued to box when he could but was forced increasingly to work at low-paying jobs outside the ring to support his family. With Louis being so popular, many fans and boxing writers were not happy with the outcome. Ezzard Mack Charles (Ezz) was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 7, 1921. The Truth About Rocky Marciano - The Grueling Truth Although acknowledgedand often grudingly praisedas one of the finest boxers ever to hold the heavyweight. While you get to know Ezz, try your hand at a Cincinnati Cobra Challenge, twelve tasks that connect Ezzs journey to your life. 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. 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. . It was as if he had lost. . Charles started his career as a featherweight in the amateurs, where he had a record of 420. Philadelphia Tribune (March 4, 1994). Charles retired from boxing in the late 1950s. We encourage you to research and examine these records to . Contact Us - CATSober | Center for Addiction Treatment Buy. I'd win a fightand the very next day, I'd be back in the gym.. Meet the man, follow the legend, and see for yourself why Ezzard Charles is much more than one of the greatest boxers ever. In the first of two losing efforts against Marciano in 1954, Charles achieved his highest moment of recognition. Walcott died at the age of 80 on February 25, 1994, in Camden, N.J. To do so, he would have to topple the new champ, Rocky Marciano, who had KOd all of his challengers. People who are born with Moon as the ruling planet are sensitive, nurturing, and usually have fluctuating moods. 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. So he is thought of as from Cincinnati. This was the street of his residence during the height of his career.[10]. Ezzard Mack Charles (Ezz) was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 7, 1921. Half of the voters had him in the top 15. He went on to win the Boxing Heavyweight Title and carried it from 1949 to 1951. Explore all four Badges to learn more about what makes Ezz so legendary. Family (1) Spouse Gladys Gartrell (1949 - 27 May 1975) (his death) (3 children) Trivia (14) Defeated Joe Louis on September 27, 1950 to become the undisputed heavyweight . The following year, he outpointed his idol and former World Heavyweight Champion Joe Louis to become the recognized Lineal Champion. But if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing., See the article in its original context from. It also earned them acclaim as the toughest men of their eras. Newsday (February 27, 1994): 18. His legacy of goodwill still thrives throughout the West End and Cincinnati to this day. He was best known for being a Boxer. Detroit: Gale Group, 1998. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. It was reportedly the only time Ezzard touched the canvas during his entire amateur career. Like anyone who identifies as something of a boxing diehard, Im familiar with the name Ezzard Charles. No matter the reason for Cinnicinnti, there was a list a mile long of reasons to get out of Georgia. Walcott took the match in a ten-round decision. Perhaps sensing that he was comfortably ahead on points, Walcott took it easy on Louis in the final rounds of the fight. After fighting the disease for nearly a decade and becoming an advocate for ALS awareness, Ezz died on May 28, 1975, in Chicago. When I first decided to get into boxing, Id listen to all of the older guys in the game. The family's visit started in an ideal setting, the old Lawrenceville Court House. . The baby from Marciano's cornermen were unable to stop the bleeding and the referee almost halted the contest until Marciano rallied with an eighth-round knockout. If Ezzard Charles hadnt left Lawrenceville by 1930 his life simply would not have been anywhere comparable, he would not have an honorary monument under a shade tree in the Lawrenceville Historic Courthouse Square, He would not be in the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame at Coolray Stadium. Well, that would be a hell of a notch in his belt, But it was Overlin who got the notch: Everything that Charles had going for him his youth, his strength, his speed, his hunger wasnt enough to overcome what Overlin had, which was experience Overlin took his time, letting Charles make all the mistakes young fighters make, letting him burn out so that by the end he was wobbling all over the ring. Ezzards education details are not available at this time. Hall of Fame boxing champion who fought frequently in the heavyweight division and earned titles in all three different weight divisions. 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. . 45203. . American boxer Archie Moore was one of the most colorful and respected figures in the modern history of boxing. He gave up for good when a fighter named Alvin Green defeated him on Sept. 1, 1959. Blaylock, Donnell Our beloved husband, father, son, brother and friend Donnell Eugene Blaylock transitioned peacefully at home Sunday February 26, 2023 surrounded by family.