Ricky Mulveyās Podcast: āTotal Fighterā about Cincinnatiās Ezzard Charles
This podcast shines a new light on the underratedĀ Cincinnati Cobra; the greatest light-heavyweight of all time.
Part 3 of Ricky Mulveyās 5 part podcast series on Ezzard Charles, “Total Fighter” is up now.
In the third episode, Ezzard Charles tries to move on from his tragic meeting with Sam Baroudi and the mafia tightens its grip over his boxing career. A match against Joe Louis becomes more possible after the biggest fight in Cincinnati’s history.
The Man in Front of Me (Part 3)
Total Fighter features interviews with Buddy LaRosa, founder of LaRosa’s Pizza, William Dettloff, author of “Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life,” and Ezzard Charles II.
Episode 2: “Cobra Strike” covers Ezzard’s tragic and career-defining boxing match, his experience in World War II, and his manager who was “allegedly” connected to the New York Mafia.
Play Episode 2
Featuring interviews withĀ P Man Jones, Ezzard Charles II, William Dettloff, author of “Ezzard Charles: A Boxing Life,” and Buddy LaRosa, founder of LaRosa’s Pizza.
This podcast shines a new light on the underrated Cincinnati Cobra; the greatest light-heavyweight of all time.
The series will ultimately follow Charles to his match against Joe Louis, and the characters who followed himā his family and the mafia.
The premier episode, āMore Than a Gym Fighterā is a deep-dive into a very different Cincinnati. Go to a bustling Findlay Market in the 1940s, in between the pool tables and cigar smoke at the American Legion Hall in Newport, Kentucky for Charlesā first boxing match, and a Battle Royale in Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Play Episode 1
āTotal Fighterā features interviews and stories from Buddy LaRosa, founder of LaRosaās Pizza, William Dettloff, author of āEzzard Charles: a Boxing Life,ā Frank Wettencamp, one of Ezzās high school classmates, and more.Ā
This show explores his complex character; why the name āEzzard Charlesā became an insult by Frank Sinatra and an inspiration to the composer George Russell.
