CINCINNATI

The roadway leading to the Museum Center in Cincinnati is called Ezzard Charles Drive.  Some may say, "who or what is an Ezzard?"

Ezzard Charles was a prize fighter, a boxer, and once the Heavyweight Champion of the World.  Although born in Georgia, he was raised and trained in Cincinnati.  He graduated from Woodward High School.

Ezzard fought in the middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions of professional boxing.  Ring Magazine named him the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

Charles was an amateur champion in the welterweight division in the 1930's.  He turned pro in 1940.  His career was interrupted by a stint in the military during World War II.   He won the heavyweight title by defeating Jersey Joe Walcott in 1949.  The next year he defeated the famous Joe Louis in his comeback attempt and had several other title defenses.

In 1954, he had a string of battles with Rocky Marciano that were broadcast over radio and stirred my interest in boxing.  He stayed in the game too long for his own good.  He died in 1968 after a long battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.