Vintage boxing artwork
THE RING ALMANAC
THE RING ALMANAC
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Heavyweight · Golden Age (1920–1959)

Ezzard Charles

"The Cincinnati Cobra"

Top 100 · #30 · 64.6 points
95
Wins
25
Losses
1
Draws
52
KOs
55%
KO %
Born
1921
Died
1975
Nationality
USA
Career
1940–1959

Perhaps the greatest light heavyweight never to hold that title, Charles beat Archie Moore three times.

Titles & Honours

Career Timeline

1940–1959
  1. Milestone

    First recorded professional bout

    vs Melody Johnson · W KO

    View fight record
  2. Milestone

    25th recorded win

    vs Steve Mamakos · KO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

    View fight record
  3. Milestone

    50th recorded win

    vs Al Smith · TKO. Newspaper decisions excluded.

    View fight record
  4. Signature fight

    vs Archie Moore

    W KO8 Archie Moore (1948) · Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.

    View fight record
  5. Title history

    Title reign begins

    World Heavyweight Champion (1949–1951). Year from profile title history; exact title-winning bout not identified.

    View title / honour details
  6. Signature fight

    vs Joe Louis

    W PTS15 Joe Louis (1950) · Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.

    View fight record
  7. Signature fight

    vs Rocky Marciano

    L PTS15 Rocky Marciano (1954) · Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.

    View fight record
  8. Signature fight

    vs Rocky Marciano

    L PTS15 Rocky Marciano (1954) · Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.

    View fight record
  9. Milestone

    Latest recorded bout

    vs Alvin Green · L UD. Not necessarily the retirement date.

    View fight record

Derived from the current archive and profile honours. Title-reign years are not exact bout dates; title claims are not independently verified. Signature fights use existing profile selections, or clearly labelled wins over other archived fighters when no selections exist. Year-only dates retain their original precision.

Photo Archive

Ezzard Charles (right) connects with a left hand to the head of his opponent Joey Maxim (left) during their championship boxing match on May 30, 1951 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.
Ezzard Charles (right) connects with a left hand to the head of his opponent Joey Maxim (left) during their championship boxing match on May 30, 1951 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.
Grave of Ezzard Mack Charles (1921–1975) at Burr Oak Cemetery
Grave of Ezzard Mack Charles (1921–1975) at Burr Oak Cemetery
Ezzard Charles (left) ducks a right hand from Joe Louis (right) during their boxing match on September 27, 1950 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Charles won the fifteen round bout by unanimo
Ezzard Charles (left) ducks a right hand from Joe Louis (right) during their boxing match on September 27, 1950 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Charles won the fifteen round bout by unanimo
Ezzard Charles Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Ezzard Charles Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
American boxer Ezzard Charles
American boxer Ezzard Charles
Ezzard Charles, in a private engraving by stamp engraver Czesław Słania. It is #16 in his series of world champion boxers engraved in stamp format. The stamp has only been produced privately and the t
Ezzard Charles, in a private engraving by stamp engraver Czesław Słania. It is #16 in his series of world champion boxers engraved in stamp format. The stamp has only been produced privately and the t

6 archival photographs under their original licences.

Fight-by-Fight Record

DateResultOpponentMethodRoundVenue
1940-03-12WMelody JohnsonKO4Armory, Middletown, Ohio, U.S.
1940-03-27WJohn ReevesPTS6Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-04-03WRemo FernandezPTS6Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-05-20WCharley BanksPTS6Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-06-03WCharley BanksKO1Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-06-13WFrankie WilliamsTKO5Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-06-17WYoung Kid AshKO3Legion Hall, Portsmouth, Ohio, U.S.
1940-06-29WCarl TurnerPTS6Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-08-05WJohn ReevesPTS4Haft's Acre, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
1940-09-23WBilly HoodKO2Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-10-01WMarty SimmonsPTS10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1940-12-02WCharley JeromeKO3Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-02-10WBilly BengalUD10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-02-24WSlaka CavrichKO2Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-03-10WFloyd HowardKO7Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-03-31WJoe SutkaPTS10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-05-12WRudy KozolePTS10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-06-09LKen OverlinUD10Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-07-21WAl GilbertTKO5Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-10-13WPat ManginiKO1Parkway Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1941-11-17WTeddy YaroszUD10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1942-01-12WAnton ChristoforidisTKO3Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1942-03-02DKen OverlinMD10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1942-04-08WBilly PryorPTS10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1942-05-13LKid TuneroSD10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1942-05-25WCharley BurleyUD10Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1942-06-29WCharley BurleyPTS10Hickey Park, Millvale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1942-07-14WSteve MamakosKO1Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1942-07-27WBooker BeckwithKO9Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1942-08-17WJose BasoraKO5Hickey Park, Millvale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1942-09-15WMose BrownKO6Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1942-10-27WJoey MaximUD10Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1942-12-01WJoey MaximUD10Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1943-01-07LJimmy BivinsUD10Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1943-03-31LLloyd MarshallTKO8Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1944-12-13WStanley GoiczPTS3Brancaccio Theater, Esquilino, Rome, Italy
1944-12-16WAl BarlowPTS3Brancaccio Theater, Esquilino, Rome, Italy
1946-02-18WAl SheridanKO2Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1946-03-25WTommy HubertUD10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1946-04-01WBilly DuncanKO4Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1946-04-15WGeorge ParksTKO6Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1946-05-13WTommy HubertKO4Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1946-05-20WArchie MooreUD10Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1946-06-13WShelton BellKO5Idora Park, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
1946-07-29WLloyd MarshallKO6Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1946-09-23WOakland Billy SmithUD10Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1946-11-12WJimmy BivinsUD10Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1947-02-17WOakland Billy SmithKO5Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1947-03-10WJimmy BivinsKO4Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1947-04-14WErv SarlinUD10Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1947-05-05WArchie MooreMD10Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1947-07-14WFitzie FitzpatrickKO5Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1947-07-25LElmer RaySD10Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1947-09-16WJoe MatisiUD10Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1947-09-29WLloyd MarshallKO2Crosley Field, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1947-10-16WAl SmithTKO4Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S.
1947-10-27WClarence JonesKO1Radio Center Arena, Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
1947-11-03WTeddy RandolphUD10Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1947-12-02WFitzie FitzpatrickKO4Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1948-01-13WArchie MooreKO8Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1948-02-20WSam BaroudiKO10Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1948-05-07WElmer RayKO9Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1948-05-20WErv SarlinUD10Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1948-09-13WJimmy BivinsUD10Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., U.S.
1948-11-15WWalter HaferKO7Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1948-12-10WJoe BaksiTKO11Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1949-02-07WJohnny HaynesKO8Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1949-02-28WJoey MaximMD15Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1949-06-22WJersey Joe WalcottUD15Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1949-08-10WGus LesnevichRTD7Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1949-10-14WPat ValentinoKO8Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
1950-08-15WFreddie BeshoreTKO14Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, U.S.
1950-09-27WJoe LouisUD15Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1950-12-05WNick BaroneKO11Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1951-01-12WLee OmaTKO10Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1951-03-07WJersey Joe WalcottUD15Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1951-05-30WJoey MaximUD15Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1951-07-18LJersey Joe WalcottKO7Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1951-10-10WRex LayneTKO11Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1951-12-12WJoe KahutKO8Pacific Livestock Pavilion, Portland, Oregon, U.S.
1951-12-12WJoey MaximUD12Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
1952-06-05LJersey Joe WalcottUD15Philadelphia Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1952-08-08LRex LaynePTS10Ogden Stadium, Ogden, Utah, U.S.
1952-10-08WBernie ReynoldsKO2Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1952-10-24WCesar BrionUD10Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1952-11-26WJimmy BivinsUD10Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1952-12-15WFrank BufordTKO7Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1953-01-14WWes BascomTKO9St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
1953-02-04WTommy HarrisonTKO9Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
1953-04-01WRex LayneUD10Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1953-05-12WBilly GilliamUD10Toledo Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
1953-05-26WLarry WatsonKO5Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
1953-08-11LNiño ValdésUD10Miami Beach Exhibition Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
1953-09-08LHarold JohnsonSD10Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
1953-12-16WColey WallaceKO10San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.
1954-01-13WBob SatterfieldKO2Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1954-06-17LRocky MarcianoUD15Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1954-09-17LRocky MarcianoKO8Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, U.S.
1955-02-18WCharley NorkusUD10Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
1955-04-11WVern EscoeKO3Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
1955-04-27LJohn HolmanTKO9Miami Beach Exhibition Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
1955-06-08WJohn HolmanUD10Music Hall Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
1955-07-13WPaul AndrewsSD10Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1955-08-03LTommy JacksonUD10War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S.
1955-08-31LTommy JacksonUD10Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
1955-11-14LToxie HallSD10Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
1955-12-06WToxie HallUD10Rochester War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York, U.S.
1955-12-22WBob AlbrightSD10Cow Palace, Daly City, California, U.S.
1955-12-29LYoung Jack JohnsonTKO6Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1956-04-21WDon JasperTKO9Windsor Arena, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
1956-05-21LWayne BetheaUD10St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S.
1956-06-19WBob AlbrightRTD6Softball Park, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
1956-07-13LPat McMurtryUD10Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
1956-08-31LHarry MatthewsUD10Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
1956-10-02LDick RichardsonDQ2Harringay Arena, London, England
1958-08-28WJohnny HarperUD10East-West Stadium, Fairmont, West Virginia, U.S.
1958-09-30LAlfredo ZuanyUD10Plaza de Toros, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
1958-10-27LDonnie FleemanKO6Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
1959-07-03WDave AshleyTKO9Lincoln Heights High School, Lincoln Heights, California, U.S.
1959-07-30LGeorge LoganKO8Fairgrounds Arena, Boise, Idaho, U.S.
1959-09-01LAlvin GreenUD10Municipal Auditorium, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.

Showing 121 of 121 recorded fights · last updated 2026-10-11. Imported record tables are not independently verified and may be incomplete. Early-era logs include newspaper decisions (NWS), which are not counted in the official totals above.

Record notes

Fight record last retrieved: 2026-10-11. Title histories remain subject to archival review.

Historical-era totals differ between record-keeping conventions (newspaper decisions, exhibitions).

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