Ezzard Charles

Ezzard Charles
Charles in 1950
Born	Ezzard Mack Charles (1921-07-07)July 7, 1921 Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.
Died	May 28, 1975(1975-05-28) (aged 53) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Other names	Cincinnati Cobra
Statistics
Weight(s)	Middleweight Light-heavyweight Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Reach	73 in (185 cm)
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	121
Wins	95
Wins by KO	52
Losses	25
Draws	1
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Cincinnati Golden Gloves 1937 Cincinnati Welterweight 1938 Cincinnati Welterweight 1939 Cincinnati Middleweight Chicago Golden Gloves 1939 Chicago Middleweight Ohio District AAU Championships 1937 Cincinnati Welterweight 1938 Cincinnati Welterweight 1939 Cincinnati Middleweight National AAU Championships 1939 San Francisco Middleweight

Ezzard Mack Charles (July 7, 1921 – May 28, 1975), was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1959. Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Charles was respected for his slick defense and precision, and is often regarded as the greatest light heavyweight of all time, and one of the greatest fighters pound for pound,^[1] having defeating numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles was the world heavyweight champion from 1949 to 1951, and made eight successful title defenses in under two years.

After losing the world title, Charles continued to fight several top rated heavyweight contenders and made three close but unsuccessful attempts at reclaiming the heavyweight championship. Charles eventually retired from a near two decade long career with a record of 95–25–1. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 1990.^[2]