Boxing Only


75 years ago

Ezzard Charles vs Pat Valentino

Date: 14th October 1949

Venue: Cow Palace, Daly City, California

Title: National Boxing Association World Heavyweight Title

Promoter: International Boxing Club

Tv:

Ezzard Charles
( 64 - 5 - 1 )
Weight: 182 lbs

Pat Valentino
( 58 - 11 - 6 )
Weight: 188½ lbs


On October 14, 1949, the boxing world turned its attention to the Cow Palace in Daly City, California, for a bout that would be remembered as one of the era's most dramatic and intense fights. Ezzard Charles, the reigning National Boxing Association World Heavyweight Champion, was set to defend his title against Pat Valentino, the California State Heavyweight Champion, in what would be Charles' second defence.

The fight was set against high expectations, with Charles entering the ring as a heavy favourite, with odds of 1 to 5 in his favour. The bout was made official on September 14, leading to a month of anticipation and preparation from both fighters. Valentino, fighting for a flat guarantee of $5,000, faced off against Charles, who was set to receive 35 per cent of the net from a fight that drew a crowd of 19,591 and generated a gross gate of $167,870.

The fight lived up to its billing from the opening bell as a fiercely contested battle. Eddie Muller of the San Francisco Examiner described the bout as "the greatest fight I ever saw," praising its drama, intensity, and the ferocity of the exchanges between the two boxers. According to Muller, the fight was "drama-packed, spine-tingling, and vicious," both fighters engaged in a savage duel that left the audience at the Cow Palace electrified.

The fight's climax came 35 seconds into the eighth round when Charles knocked out Valentino despite being somewhat bewildered and weary from the relentless battle. At that moment, he marked the end of a brutal and intense contest, with Charles successfully defending his heavyweight title.


The victory solidified Charles' position as one of the premier fighters in the heavyweight division, showcasing his resilience, power, and skill inside the ring. However, the fight took a significant toll on Valentino, who would lose his sight in one eye following the bout, a stark reminder of the physical costs associated with the sport of boxing.


Despite Valentino's modest response to Muller's enthusiastic description, saying, "I wouldn't go that far. That seems a bit much," the fight remains a memorable chapter in the history of boxing.


Ezzard Charles vs Pat Valentino on YouTube


Ezzard Charles vs Pat Valentino



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