Charles — Walcott Fight Was Dull Affair

Chronicle (Levin), 24 June 1949, Page 5

Charles — Walcott Fight Was Dull Affair

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Reeeived Thursday 7 p.m. NEW YORK, June 22. Ezzard Charles outpointed Jersijy Joe Walcott over 15 rounds at Comiskey Park, Chieago, to-night, to be declared the National Boxing Association 's world lieavyweight champion. Charles won a total of 233 points to 217 for Walcott. The referee and botli jud'ges gave a verdiet for Charles. Twentv-five thousand people were present imt they saw nothing to make them hail the birth of a new and spectacular champion. The crowd booed nearly all the latter rounds because ot the inaction of the fighters. Charles won the fight mainly in two rounds, the seventh and tenth, in both of which he had Walcott wobbling and on the bj-ink of going down. Those two rounds added considerably to Walcott 's 35 years. They took all the bounce out of hira.,. Walcotf, however, was a better ring general and brought' Charles dovvn to his own slow pace for the second half of the fxght. He was dog^ tired at the end and leaden footed from his constant backpedalling and shifty sidestcpping. It was hard going all the way but the only exeiting exchanges took plaee in the 'first half of the fight. Once Walcott tired the fight became more and more- undistinguished. Charles dbl not exhibit any of the -fire which marks an outstanding champion. Charles7 youth told against Walcott 's age. Walcott 's tired arms and legs wero gradually drained of their strength. Walcott is a veteran of the ring, raarried with six children. His right haml was swollen after the fight and he said he hurt it in the fourth round. ' ' 1 eouldn 't nse it handylike after that, ' ' he said, Charles said he was going home to Cineinnati to play golf until anothev fight was lined up for him. He said: " l want to be a great champion lilce Louis and do a lot of fighting but I also want to be a good golfer like him."