Ezzard Charles vs Gus Lesnevich

Ezzard Charles strengthened his claim to the world heavyweight championship by forcing Gus Lesnevich to retire after seven rounds at Yankee Stadium, New York, on August 10, 1949. Charles, weighing 178 pounds, was making the first defence of the National Boxing Association title he had won from Jersey Joe Walcott seven weeks earlier. Lesnevich, the former light-heavyweight champion, weighed 182 pounds. His manager, Joe Vella, called referee Ruby Goldstein to the corner after the seventh and said that his fighter could not continue. Under the rules then applying in New York, the result was recorded as a seventh-round technical knockout.

The championship position remained unsettled. Forty-seven states affiliated to the NBA recognised Charles, but the New York State Athletic Commission refused to accept the contest as a world-title defence. Its chairman, Eddie Eagan, maintained that further matches were required before an undisputed successor to the retired Joe Louis could be established. Charles therefore entered the stadium as a champion seeking recognition as much as a victory. A crowd of 16,630 paid a gross gate of $75,832, with another $17,500 received for radio rights. Attendance was modest for a heavyweight championship occasion, and the evening was held in oppressive heat approaching 100 degrees.

Charles began more aggressively than he had in his cautious points victory over Walcott. He moved lightly around Lesnevich, used his advantages in height and reach and struck with quick, accurate blows before moving out of danger. Lesnevich tried to bring his heavy right hand into play, but Charles either blocked it, slipped outside it or made him fall short. The champion then countered sharply to the face and body. Charles was not a natural heavyweight puncher in the manner of Louis, but his combinations were fast and correctly placed, and Lesnevich was unable to match him for speed.

The damage appeared early. By the interval between the second and third rounds, Lesnevich’s seconds were already applying ice to his swelling left eye. Charles continued to step around him, jabbing and bringing the right hand behind it. When Lesnevich advanced with both hands, Charles gave ground just far enough to avoid the attack and then drove punches into the openings. The former light-heavyweight champion remained willing, but his shorter arms and slower feet left him pursuing a target he could seldom hold in place. Charles also struck heavily to the body, particularly with the right, and these blows reduced Lesnevich’s pace.

Charles maintained his command through the fourth and fifth rounds. He drove left hands to the head and caught Lesnevich with a firm right to the body as the challenger came forward. Lesnevich plodded after him, attempting to close the distance and turn the contest into a physical struggle, but Charles was too quick and too composed. He did not remain close after completing his combinations. He struck, moved to the side and forced Lesnevich to begin his advance again. The punishment was being concentrated around the eyes, and Lesnevich’s face was becoming increasingly swollen and marked.

The sixth provided Lesnevich with his only sustained success. Realising that the contest was slipping away, he rushed from his corner and attacked with a succession of rights and lefts. The sudden effort brought the crowd to its feet. Lesnevich landed several solid punches, including two lefts and a right, and for the first time made Charles abandon his measured attack. One or two rights shook the champion, although Charles later said that he had never been seriously hurt. It was a brave and effective rally, but it also required Lesnevich to expend much of the strength he had left. Most ringside observers gave him the round, the only session he was generally credited with winning.

Lesnevich tried to continue the attack in the seventh despite blood running down his face. Charles met the challenge calmly and gradually regained control. As Lesnevich tired, he sought rest in the clinches, but Charles pushed him back and resumed punching to the head. A fresh cut was opened around the left eye, adding to the injuries above and below the right and on the left cheek. Charles struck repeatedly during the closing stages, and Lesnevich staggered back to his corner looking exhausted. His eyes were almost closed, his face was badly swollen, and the blood was flowing freely. Vella decided that no useful purpose would be served by sending him out again.

There was no dispute over the state of the contest. The Associated Press and the official judges had Charles leading by six rounds to one after seven. He had won through speed, reach, accurate counter-punching and a willingness to engage more freely than he had against Walcott. Lesnevich had shown courage in the sixth, but for most of the evening he had been unable to reach the champion without taking several punches in return. His retreat ended a professional career which had included the world light-heavyweight championship and victories over Billy Fox, Tami Mauriello and Melio Bettina. He announced his retirement after reaching the dressing room, although reports initially suggested that he might reconsider. He did not fight again.

For Charles, the performance was considerably more convincing than the victory over Walcott, which had brought him the NBA title. He had not gained recognition from the New York commission, but he had decisively disposed of a respected former champion. Lesnevich had never been knocked down, yet the accumulated punishment had produced a finish as conclusive as a count of ten. Charles left Yankee Stadium still lacking universal recognition but looking, on the evidence of seven one-sided rounds, like the best active heavyweight in the world.

Ezzard Charles deserved respect for this win and the manner in which he went about it. He had beaten Jersey Joe Walcott for NBA recognition only seven weeks earlier, but New York still refused to call him champion. Against Gus Lesnevich, Charles boxed like a man determined to settle the argument himself.

Lesnevich was a respected former light-heavyweight champion with a dangerous right hand, but he was too slow and outreached. Charles stepped around him, picked him off with straight punches and drove the right into the body whenever Gus lumbered forward. Lesnevich rallied in the sixth, but that was about all he had.

By the seventh, both eyes were nearly closed, and his face was badly cut. His corner rightly stopped it. Charles was quicker, sharper and technically in another class. Lesnevich never boxed again, while Charles left Yankee Stadium looking every inch the world’s best active heavyweight.