Happy Hump Day! Wednesday is a day that some of us dread, but others look at it as being the halfway mark to the weekend. Either way, it's a day that doesn't get a lot of love, but today is no ordinary Wednesday. We're going to show our love and pay homage to a Cincinnati icon and favorite son--it's the 100th birthday of the Ezzard "The Cincinnati Cobra" Charles!
Ezzard Mack Charles was born July 7, 1921 in a three room house on 109 Church Street in Lawrenceville, Georgia. As an eight year old, he was known as "Snooky" Charles. A very interesting experience occurred to him when he went after Billy Montgomery, who was white and six year old son of Lawrenceville Mayor Grover Montgomery. No one knows exactly who won that first fight, but the people in the northern Georgia town did remember "Snooky" as the best fighter in that town as well as an equally good sandlot football player. At the time, Mayor Montgomery convinced his son that he should challenge someone his own age & size, as Charles was larger than Billy. Billy told his dad "I wouldn't hurt him, Daddy". The two boys would fight regularly over the next couple of years, and with other boys and in 1931, Charles' parents Alberta Johnson Charles and William Charles and his grandmother moved to the Queen City in the West End neighborhood.. A few years later, Charles' great-grandmother, 90 year old former slave Bell Russell, joined them (Cincinnati Enquirer, 6-26-49).
He graduated Woodward High School, where Ted Berry, Cincinnati's first African American mayor, also graduated. Berry would become Charles' manager and legal guardian while Charles was still in high school.
On June 5, 1940, Charles had one of his first major face off against Akron, Ohio native Frankie Williams and knocked him out in seven of the scheduled eight rounds. Charles was paid $25 for that match.
Charles was the world heavyweight champion from 1949-1951, winning 95 bouts, losing 25, and one draw. In 1939, he was named National Golden Glove Champion in 160 weight class (List of US National Golden Gloves Champions | List National Golden Gloves Champions (liquisearch.com).
Financial difficulty meant that Charles felt that he had to continue boxing for much longer than what would be recommended these days, and as a result, he lost 13 of his final 23 bouts. During his career, Charles had a strong taste for expensive clothing, and he even wanted a new car every year, which made it difficult for him to hold on to his assets.
The final five years of his life, with the exception of hospital visits from his wife and three children, was spent isolated at a Chicago hospital due to Lou Gehrig's disease. His best friend and assistant, Robert Christmas, hid behind another friend and snuck in to the hospital while a nurse was wheeling Charles down the hall. Though he was incapacitated, Charles wanted to be informed about his friends.
Christmas would recall that Charles would fight Joe Lewis to defend his friend's honor. Charles met Louis while he was in the army. "Ezz knew that he could beat Louis then, but he always avoided him because of the admiration he had" (Cincinnati Enquirer, May 29, 1975).
Sadly, Charles passed away from the disease on May 28, 1975 in Chicago and was buried in Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip, Illinois. The following year, Lincoln Park Drive was renamed Ezzard Charles Drive.
As of May this year, BoxRec ranks Charles as the second greatest boxer of all time, behind Floyd Mayweather.
Now, for sites significant to Charles:
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| Ezzard Charles Drive. Faintly in the background is Union Terminal, |
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| West facade of Music Hsll, where Charles fought over 20 bouts in Music Hall Sports Arena. |
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| The future home of Alcove. Charles trained & fought here. A photo and punching bag remain. |
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| The Emanuel Center, where Charles trained and boxed. |
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| Artworks mural |
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| Laurel Park, the future site of the world's first interactive sculpture of Charles. |
Charles has left an impact on both athletes and non athletes everywhere. Throughout his life and even in death, he has taught us that no matter the trials and tribulations, we can all knock out the stumbling blocks of life and rise above the ignorance and hate in our lives. For that, I am forever grateful.
Happy Birthday, Cincinnati Cobra!
