Show Never a quitter The UPI news dispatch said said it well Ezzard Charles never a quitter in professional fights in which he became the world heavyweight champion lost to an opponent which never quit quit a a rare form of sclerosis He was only 53 years of age The affliction which took his life was the same that killed baseballs baseball's Hall of Fame star Lou Gehrig Charles who never weighed as much muchas as pounds during all of his ring career won the world championship in inJune inJune inJune June 1949 defeating Jersey Joe Walcott in a round 15 bout to determine the successor to the retired Joe Louis One year later Louis returned to boxing and sought to regain his title But in a rounder 15 at Yankee Stadium in NewYork New NewYork NewYork York Charles successfully defended his title He lost loot it to Jersey Joe Walcott in July 1951 In his 14 year boxing career the Cincinnati champion won 96 pro fights beating such fighters as Archie Moore Gus Lesnevich and Joey Maxim The only time he came close to quitting was when Sam Baroudi tragically died after a bout with Charles Although confined to a wheelchair at atthe atthe atthe the Veterans Rehabilitation Center in Chicago since March 4 1974 paralyzed wasted away and with no power of speech hospital attendants reported that he never lost his cheerful disposition He retained his understanding understanding understanding un un- un- un and always had a cheery grin for visitors and friends He was a avery avery avery very fine person but he finally gave ou out t. t It is truly a tragedy that such a stalwart champion should have been cut down in the prime of life by a disease which thus far has baffled the experts in medical science All the themore themore themore more reason that we should bend every effort including that of making our own generous financial contributions toward the discovery of the causes and cure of Multiple and other forms of sclerosis |