re: Ring Magazine ranking of best boxers since World War II

quote:

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And yet he's always ranked well ahead of Rocky. My point is he obviously doesn't suck, but I'm never quite sure why he's always ranked SO highly. Like top 5-10 heavyweight and GOAT light-heavyweight high.

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Because Ezzard Charles is the better all around fighter & criminally UNDERRAted by the general public. Not by boxing historians & fans.



1)Ezzard Charles started out as Middleweight & cleared out the division to become the #1 contender ,but never got a title shot after beating Charles Burley twice & other HOF MW. Charles would have probably beaten Ray Robinson(a better welterweight who ducked Charles Burley) as well had he stayed in MW.

Charles lost 2 peak years to WWII & returned to the ring as a Light Heavy weight & is considered by many the GOAT LHW & most have Charles no lower than # 3


Charles after nearly clearing out the MW division without a title did the same in the LHW division without a title shot. Beat future champ Joey Maxim 5 times among other contenders & HOF fighters


3) After nearly clearing outt the MW & LHW divisions without given a title shot due to 'business decisions' he moved up to the only class he could get a title shot.


Ezzard Charles beat a prime HW Archie Mooore 3 times (KO last fight) , beat a prime Jersey Joe Walcott twice & went on to become the HW Champion in 1949.



Past his prime (Charles prime ended in 1951) he lost the belt to Walcott whom he had beaten twice & lost a rematch..


After losing the belt Ezzard Charles (past his prime) again nearly cleared out the HW division & got another shot in 1954 at 33 years old to Marciano.

Lost a close decision & rematch he was winning & nearly won on a stoppage after cutting open Marciano. 3 Years after his Prime when most thought Charles was a shell of his former self.



Ezzard Charles is underrated if anything & certainly has a stellar resume(better than Marciano's).