[Vano-irons]

I think we can conceivably rate 7 boxers as the greatest of all time. Ray Robinson and Harry Greb are most people's choice, but I feel Langford, Duran, Armstrong, Fitzsimmons and Ezzard Charles could all take the mantle. I'm going to attempt to explain all my picks over the next few weeks, and today we will concentrate on Ezzard Charles.

For me, Charles has the second best resume in this list (Greb being the first). His list of victims included greats from Middleweight to Heavyweight. Charly Burley x2, Archie Moore x3 and dominating an old Joe Louis obviously stand out. But the depth he has is insane. Joey Maxim x4 (?) , Teddie Yarosz, Jimmy Bivins (x4? albeit past his best), Lloyd Marshall, Jersey Joe Walcott, Elmer Ray, Joe Baski, Gus Lesnevich, and years past his best he became the only man to take Rocky Marciano 15 rounds.

As a fighter, he was a skilled slick boxer who had an all time great chin to rely on should an opponent get through. He also had underrated power and could go into beast mode when he wanted.

So, can we conceivably rate Ezzard Charles as the greatest boxer of all time?

 

[Chatty]

I think he falls short when compared to Robinson and Greb but he is a shoe in for top 5 imo.

 

[Vano-irons]

Are Robinson and Greb your two stand outs then mate?

 

[Boxed Ears]

I wouldn't agree that he is, but I can't disagree that there's a sane case to be made for a handful of guys, him included.

 

[Chatty]

Are Robinson and Greb your two stand outs then mate?

Yeah, them two and Armstrong. The others you mentioned not far behind but just that little bit out.

 

[Burt Brooks]

I think we can conceivably rate 7 boxers as the greatest of all time. Ray Robinson and Harry Greb are most people's choice, but I feel Langford, Duran, Armstrong, Fitzsimmons and Ezzard Charles could all take the mantle. I'm going to attempt to explain all my picks over the next few weeks, and today we will concentrate on Ezzard Charles.

For me, Charles has the second best resume in this list (Greb being the first). His list of victims included greats from Middleweight to Heavyweight. Charly Burley x2, Archie Moore x3 and dominating an old Joe Louis obviously stand out. But the depth he has is insane. Joey Maxim x4 (?) , Teddie Yarosz, Jimmy Bivins (x4? albeit past his best), Lloyd Marshall, Jersey Joe Walcott, Elmer Ray, Joe Baski, Gus Lesnevich, and years past his best he became the only man to take Rocky Marciano 15 rounds.

As a fighter, he was a skilled slick boxer who had an all time great chin to rely on should an opponent get through. He also had underrated power and could go into beast mode when he wanted.

So, can we conceivably rate Ezzard Charles as the greatest boxer of all tiI have Ezzard me?

I have Ezzard in the top 10P4P fighters ever...Coming up he was a great young MW star,whose only loss was to the forgotten today Ken Overlin.
He then became a great Lightheavyweight lording over a great talented LH division as ever been seen. As a smaller heavyweight a little past his peak,
he was terrific...A great fighter and a fine human being was Ezzard Charles...Was he a better lightheavyweight than Gene Tunney ? I don't know...
But I too have Harry Greb as the best P4P fighter ever...His record was almost surreal,fighting and beating everyone and everywhere regardless of size,
colour or style...And with one eye I might add....

 

[Vano-irons]

I have Ezzard in the top 10P4P fighters ever...Coming up he was a great young MW star,whose only loss was to the forgotten today Ken Overlin.
He then became a great Lightheavyweight lording over a great talented LH division as ever been seen. As a smaller heavyweight a little past his peak,
he was terrific...A great fighter and a fine human being was Ezzard Charles...Was he a better lightheavyweight than Gene Tunney ? I don't know...
But I too have Harry Greb as the best P4P fighter ever...His record was almost surreal,fighting and beating everyone and everywhere regardless of size,
colour or style...And with one eye I might add....

I think he drew with Ken Overlin Burt, who was a great great fighter like you say.

I honestly think his resume rivals Greb's, even of it just slightly falls short IMO. Guys like Moore, Louis and Burley are usually locks for top 25 ATGs, with Bivins and Marshall just outside.

 

[Danny]

I always think he's a tier below Robinson, Greb, Armstrong and Langford but a tier above everyone else. Every list I've ever done I've had him 5th I think.

 

[O59]

No, I really think you can't. Guys like Greb, Robinson, etc. Just have too much to their names.

It isn't that Charles isn't good enough, he is one of the best ever. Easily.

 

[Vano-irons]

No, I really think you can't. Guys like Greb, Robinson, etc. Just have too much to their names.

It isn't that Charles isn't good enough, he is one of the best ever. Easily.

I don't really understand what u mean. Does his résumé bit stand up to the others in your opinion? Or is it something else?

 

[O59]

I don't really understand what u mean. Does his résumé bit stand up to the others in your opinion? Or is it something else?

Charles has an outstanding resume. Louis, Walcott, Moore, Burley, Maxim, etc. What I meant to say was that it's not that Charles' record isn't strong enough, it's just that others are a bit stronger.

Guys like Greb have ridiculous resume's. As does Robinson.
If Charles had scored the victory over Harold Johnson when they fought, that would turn the tide somewhat.

 

[Burt Brooks]

I think he drew with Ken Overlin Burt, who was a great great fighter like you say.

I honestly think his resume rivals Greb's, even of it just slightly falls short IMO. Guys like Moore, Louis and Burley are usually locks for top 25 ATGs, with Bivins and Marshall just outside.

V, Ken Overlin, a little past his peak decisioned Ezzard Charles on June 9,1941 and on March 2, 1942 Overlin and Charles fought a 10 rd. draw...
Two months later Ezzard Charles decisioned the great Charley Burley twice...Ken Overlin was a hell of a middleweight who was called.
"the poor man's Harry Greb"... In which Ken Overlin was quoted , I'm convinced Harry Greb would have beaten me and my top contender, both on
the same night, with no time between bouts "! So highly thought of was the Pittsburgh Windmill...

 

[Vano-irons]

V, Ken Overlin, a little past his peak decisioned Ezzard Charles on June 9,1941 and on March 2, 1942 Overlin and Charles fought a 10 rd. draw...
Two months later Ezzard Charles decisioned the great Charley Burley twice...Ken Overlin was a hell of a middleweight who was called.
"the poor man's Harry Greb"... In which Ken Overlin was quoted , I'm convinced Harry Greb would have beaten me and my top contender, both on
the same night, with no time between bouts "! So highly thought of was the Pittsburgh Windmill...

I stand corrected :good

Charles has an outstanding resume. Louis, Walcott, Moore, Burley, Maxim, etc. What I meant to say was that it's not that Charles' record isn't strong enough, it's just that others are a bit stronger.

Guys like Greb have ridiculous resume's. As does Robinson.
If Charles had scored the victory over Harold Johnson when they fought, that would turn the tide somewhat.

Yeah that's a fair comment. I think Charles' resume is a tad better than Robinson's, but there isn't much in it

 

[Michael]

I think he falls short when compared to Robinson and Greb but he is a shoe in for top 5 imo.

Yeah I agree with this, a fin fighter no doubt, and a shoe i top 10 p4p fighter, or maybe event op 5 as you said. I wouldnt justify ranking him above the likes of Greb, Robinson and Armstrong. Hes the best 175 pounder of all time though, IMHO.

 

[Vano-irons]

Yeah I agree with this, a fin fighter no doubt, and a shoe i top 10 p4p fighter, or maybe event op 5 as you said. I wouldnt justify ranking him above the likes of Greb, Robinson and Armstrong. Hes the best 175 pounder of all time though, IMHO.

He also beat the greatest HW ever too

 

[Michael]

He also beat the greatest HW ever too

Nah mate, Ali's time came round 15 years after Charles's :hey

But yeah, Charles was/is a seriously underrated heavyweight champ, he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves at the weight imo. Louis was fairly shopworn when Ezzard defeated him, but it a vicotry like that still counts for something. Not to forget that Joe also put up a very competitive and admirable fight against the much younger Charles:good

 

[Burt Brooks]

He also beat the greatest HW ever too

Albeit, much past Louis's prime !

 

[Hands of Iron]

Absolutely not, and he's actually my #5 all-time. I just feel there's a big enough gap between Robinson/Armstrong/Greb and the guys below them, however close numerically, to say No.

 

[Teeto]

No, not in my opinion. He is one of the greatest though in terms of him being on that tier, but when it comes to arranging that tier, I never have him coming out on top.

 

[Boxed Ears]

Nah mate, Ali's time came round 15 years after Charles's :hey

But yeah, Charles was/is a seriously underrated heavyweight champ, he still doesn't get the recognition he deserves at the weight imo. Louis was fairly shopworn when Ezzard defeated him, but it a vicotry like that still counts for something. Not to forget that Joe also put up a very competitive and admirable fight against the much younger Charles:good

I consider him a top fifteen heavyweight.