30.03.2022
Today’s “Learn from the Fight” saw highlights from both Jimmy Carter’s world lightweight defence against George Araujo in 1953 and the much anticipated Rocky Marciano/Ezzard Charles heavyweight clash of June 1954.
Jimmy Carter versus George Araujo Undisputed World Lightweight Title 12.06.1953
After winning back his world title Jimmy Carter fought four non-title bouts from 9th December 1952 to 16th February 1953. He only won the first of these on a unanimous decision over Archie Whitewater. He then drew on a majority decision with Freddie Herman before losing to both Eddie Chavez and Canada’s Armand Savoie on split decisions. Next he defended his lightweight title, stopping Tommy Collins in round four just over a week later on 24th February.
George Araujo was of Cape Verdean descent and born in the Fox Point neighbourhood of Providence, Rhode Island, USA on 26th May 1931. He would begin boxing professionally in July 1948 where, like many of his lighter weight division, began taking fights twice a month. He reportedly won his first 14 fights by knockout and by June 1952 had a record of 45-1. He stood at 5’5½” and weighed in at 132lbs to Carter’s 135lbs.
In round one both fighters came out confidently to exchange jabs.
Round three saw Araujo open up a cut over Carter’s right eye. From here the challenger began aggravating it with a flickering jab, darting in and out with pendulum shifts. He began to take the lead on the official score cards.
By round five Araujo had opened the cut above his opponent’s eye to almost an inch. It would require three or four stitches after the fight.
Round eight ended with Araujo now leading on points and Carter bleeding. Carter kept on the offensive with the challenger now being cautious with exchanges. However, in round nine Carter penned his man in and sent him to the canvas twice, and leaving him on shaky legs by the round’s end.
Round 13 saw Carter’s aggression pay off. He had been repaying Araujo’s aggravating jabs with his own to set up body shots. Araujo swarmed over the top of Carter who looked for his next opportunity. It came in the form of a powerful shovel hook to the liver. Hurt, Araujo tried to escape but was hastily pursued by Carter who unloaded on the challenger’s jaw. He then sent him down and the fight was stopped 2:16 into this round.
Ezzard Charles weighed in at 185½lbs to Rocky Marciano’s 187½lbs. Charles was the 18-5 underdog. 47,585 attendees brought in a gate of $543,002 at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, USA. According to BoxRec: “Rocky's purse, not counting the movies which may prove to be a bonanza, came to about $275,691. Charles collected approximately $137,980. That included their share of the gate, the approximately $188,000 from the telecast to 61 theaters in 45 cities, and the $35,000 from the network radio broadcast.” Old favourite, the ever-nimble Ruby Goldstein acted as referee for the night. Rounds one to four put Charles in the lead on the official scorecards. Both men came out at the fight’s opening with a very active game. Charles landed most of the clean shots, including a powerful left hook to the head that Marciano weathered. In round four he opened up a severe gash over the champion’s eye. Marciano bulled forward in his familiar fashion but appeared to be falling into traps set by the challenger, including the rear uppercut so many swarmers fall foul of when charging. Marciano then reportedly picked up pace in round five and we went straight to round six where he nearly knocked Charles down in round six. The round opened with Marciano clearly now more into his stride and on the offensive, repeatedly clubbing the Cincinnati Cobra with hooks and a few unreported inward forearm smashes. When in the clinch, Charles’s head was jerked up a few times by Marciano’s short uppercuts. Charles did well to angle off from the champion’s relentless barrage of punches as well intercepting them to muffle their impact. He even began to push back, forcing Marciano to give ground albeit whilst still throwing punch after punch. Marciano’s left hand was regularly rested as a collar tie and Charles employed a single under-hook. By round 10 the champion had edged slightly ahead and continued this momentum although Charles came into the round picking some sharp punches. The challenger began landing a stiff shovel hook as well as some snappy one-twos before the champion waded forward with hooks and overhands. Charles pushed back, probed with his jab that Marciano rolled under and then freely changes body shots. He sought to manoeuvre out to long range where he could better control the fight and set Marciano up for misses with his power punches. Next he tied up his arms using a true out-boxer versus swarmer strategy. However, Marciano was relentless and kept coming forward with punch after punch. It had already become a war of attrition by this stage. Both men were visibly tired yet they kept on going. In such a situation the out-boxer/boxer-puncher might be favoured in that he conserves more energy by picking his shots and the swarmer is more liable to wear himself out. However, it can easily go the other way if the swarmer in excellent condition and his shots continue to be weighty. Marciano, like Jake LaMotta, was in excellent condition and rarely cared how often he missed so long as he eventually landed a punch. Unlike LaMotta, he also had a slugger’s punch and the effect was evident every time one got through. By round 15 Marciano was delivering most of the punishment. Charles’s face was a swollen mess whilst Marciano’s sported the very visible gash given to him in round four. It was clear the champion was doing most of the work and continued to pummel. Charles was still in the fight, if exhausted, mainly spoiling in the clinch and occasionally hitting back with hooks to the body. Marciano just seemed as relentless as ever, pressing forward and rarely ceasing to throw his looping and hooking punches until the bell went. According to BoxRec: “Referee Ruby Goldstein had it 8-5-2, Judge Harold Barnes 8-6-1 and Judge Arthur Aidala 9-5-1. The Associated Press score card had Rocky far in front 10-4-1.” Charles was one of six fighters in the entirety of Marciano’s career to go the distance and he was the first to go the full 15 rounds with the Brockton Blockbuster. It was also an extremely rare example of Marciano not knocking down an opponent once in an entire fight. Marciano remarked, “It was as tough as my first fight with Jersey Joe Walcott, maybe tougher… He gave me a helluva fight. He deserves a return fight if he wants it." Charles confirmed that was exactly what he wanted. He told the press, “I want him again. I thought I won. I think I came closer to knocking him out than he did me. The next time it will be different." The next time would on 17th September that year. Following the first fight both boxers went straight hospital where Marciano had some old scar tissue cut away from above his left eye and the gash created by Charles was given 10 stitches. Charles was treated for facial swelling. https://clubbchimera.com/services/
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