The top 50 light-heavyweights ever - No 1, Ezzard Charles

 

So it came down to a man who many boxing fans will only know as a heavyweight. It is very likely that, when I get round to my all-time heavyweight list, Ezzard Mack Charles, world heavyweight champion from 1949-1951, a man who beat Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott and came close to stopping Rocky Marciano, will struggle to make the top ten. Yet despite never having even challenged for the world light-heavyweight title, Ezzard Charles is the greatest light-heavyweight ever.

How can this be?

Well for starters, he beat Archie Moore, the No 2 on this list and many people's pick for the top spot, three times. He also beat Joey Maxim five times, Charley Burley, Jimmy Bivins and Gus Lesnevich.

But the main case must be made around those three wins over Moore. The bouts took place between 1946 and 1948 (Moore won the title from Maxim in 1952). When they first boxed, Charles was 24, Moore 29. Charles won the first two on points (the second on a majority decision) and knocked Moore down in both. He then came back from the verge of defeat to knock Moore out in the third fight.

Charles was a master boxer, not particularly quick, but clever. He also had a handy dig and was very tough, as he showed when he matched Marciano punch for punch.

When Lesnevich lost the world title to Freddie Mills in England, Charles, who was then in his prime, decided to move up to heavyweight, earning a shot at Walcott for the title Louis vacated, where he never weighed more than 14st in his prime. Charles also lost two years in his early career because he served in the Second World War.

Like many before him, Charles boxed too long past his prime after running out of money. He even came to London, boxing Dick Richardson at Harringey Arena, where he was disqualified in the second round for persistent holding. He died aged just 53 from multiple sclerosis.

So there it is, The Cincinnatti Cobra is my No 1 light-heavyweight of all time.

Comments are always welcome, as are suggestions for what the next list should be. I will be compiling an altered full list of the top light-heavyweights soon. There is still time to make a claim for any boxer you think is too high, too low or maybe not even on the list.

For previous entries, click here.

Comments

[Phill Arrowsmith]

Great list again Ron. The debate these spark is almost better than the lists themselves. Maybe not for the next one but how about for this time next year, as a way of rounding of this decade, your top 10 hottest prospects? You could do a British and/or World list. I'll stake an early claim now, on a domestic and European level at least, for Karl Place.

[p.hooper]

I am still bemused by your logic as to charles being number 1 . You keep quoting maxim,burley,bivins and lesnevich, look at my post regarding these fights. Ok moore lost to burley but charles losing to johnson and moore winning to 2 out of 3 against johnson,I think this cancels this out.Are we going to stay within the limits of the lightheavyweight division,or are we going to include some heavyweight fights of charles just to uprate his position.Charles went to london to fight richardson lost by disqualification,will that make richardson number 1 !!

[James Fairweather]

One of my heroes and an all-time great in anyone's language.

As I've said before, Ron, I think this series to be the best yet. Two possible omissions do suggest themselves, however. The first, and more serious, is Lloyd Marshall, whose victories over men such as Charles himself in a talent-laden light-heavyweight era suggest that he belongs as high as the mid-30s in this list.

Then there is the case of Yaqui Lopez. Admittedly, he is more readily associated with gallant failure than many in this top 50, but it seems unjust not to reward his persistence and how close he came to unseating some of the best champions of all time. I'd certainly take him ahead of old Freddie Mills, who managed the nimble feat of holding the world title for nearly two years in one of the toughest eras ever without once putting his crown at hazard.

Well done again. Now for the lightweights? Go on, let's see how we separate Benny Leonard, Duran and Whitaker at the top, with Joe Gans fourth!

[p.hooper]

Now that the dust has settled,and we all have our own choice as to the number 1,let us look to the next series.I do like the idea of the lightweights, it will be just as suspensefull as the last.

[Listen2]

What wonderful and throught provoking articles on boxing and the comments are really well thought out and well informed. I see many boxing oficionados who know what they are talking about.
Keep up the great work!

[David McCann]

Charles was one of those underated fighters of the 1940s who were simply too good for their own good. The others were Charley Burley, Lloyd Marshall and Archie Moore.

The reigning middleweight and Light-heavyweight champs avoided the four of them like the plague.

Another underated light-heavy (and heavy for that matter) was Gene Tunney. Over 15 rounds Tunney would have had a chance against any light-heavy ever.

[alex]

Rubbish talk Marciano was the best 'light' heavyweight of all time he was never stopped and never would of been. 49 fights 43 ko's says everything ,

[anthony lamarque]

Maricano was the best heavyweight bar none. He is the only undefeated champ and in spite of policial correctness, he is still the best - no double standard. Give credit to the man that never backed off from anybody.

[ray burgess]

Archie Moore put Rocky on the canvas
but because of the long count given
by the ref could not finish the fight. Archie was a great finisher and would have knocked Rocky out if it were'nt for the long count.

[Dennis C]

I'll tell you what, Charles v Moore is a trilogy I'd like to have seen.