Harold Johnson vs Ezzard Charles || Highlights

Ezzard Charles 185 lbs lost to Harold Johnson 177 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10 Date: 1953-09-08 Location: Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Referee: Buck McTiernan 3-6 Judge: Lou Tress 3-7 Judge: Joe Capristo 5-4 Unofficial AP scorecard: 5-3-2 Johnson Unofficial UP scorecard: 5-5 The Associated Press reported: “Harold Johnson of Philadelphia won a 10-round upset decision over former heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles in a bruising, slashing, action-packed brawl at Connie Mack Stadium last night. The 25-year-old light heavyweight, making his first big time boxing bid, was awarded a split decision.“ Johnson was an 11-5 betting underdog. The crowd of 8,462 produced a gate of $37,680. A short but deep gash over Johnson’s right eye, suffered in the first round, trickled persistently into the eye and handicapped him throughout the fight. The cut required only one stitch to close. Charles suffered a slight cut over his left eye in the eighth. Charles hit Johnson with a right in the tenth round, and Johnson fired back with a right of his own. As he threw the punch, Johnson went down on his right knee. He jumped up immediately, and the referee did not rule it a knockdown. Promoter Herman Taylor stated before the fight that the International Boxing Club promised the winner of the fight the next shot at the heavyweight title. The contract had a clause that gave Charles the right to a rematch within 60 days and the right to choose the site. Charles’ co-managers, Tom Tannas and Jake Mintz, said they wanted the return bout in either Pittsburgh or Milwaukee. Johnson’s manager, Tommy Loughrey, confirmed there was a rematch clause but said they were leaning towards a world title fight with either heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano or light heavyweight champ Archie Moore. “I really thought I won. I didn’t think it was a hard fight. I gave him the first two rounds and one other.“ -Ezzard Charles “I’ll knock out Charles next time and then challenge the Marciano-LaStarza winner.“ - Harold Johnson