Ezzard Charles biography

Profile

Ezzard Charles was born July 7, 1921, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Ezzard won several amateur championships, including two Golden Gloves crowns—welterweight (1938) and middleweight (1939)—before turning professional in 1940. He became the American world heavyweight boxing champion in 1950, when he outpointed Joe Louis. He lost the title in 1951, when he was knocked out by Jersey Joe Walcott.