Joe Louis vs Ezzard Charles-who ranks higher?

[10,000 Days]

I was just wondering which one of these greats ranks higher in the ATG list?

[JimEarl]

Whose list ?

Louis had the defenses to stand higher as a heavyweight.

Although some of us rate Charles at #1 as lightheavyweight (me included) he never actually held the title at that weight so that's strictly a subjective opinion and so he doesn't have the title defenses at that weight that Louis has at heavyweight.

[IronDanHamza]

Charles.

By a wide margin.

[TBear]

Louis by a wide margin.

[K-DOGG]

As a heavyweight, Louis; but I do have Charles as the best light-heavyweight ever and also have him in my top 10, sometimes 5 Pound for Pound......but, in cairness, I purposefully exclude heavyweights from my pound for pound rankings.

Louis is more "accomplished"; but that could be because Charles was so feared that he never got a shot until Louis retired, and then he had to move up one more class.

I think, based on accomplishments, you'd have to go with Louis; but if all things were equal, as they are in the mythical pound for pound world, Charles seems....SEEMS to be the better fighter.

....but that's purely hypothetical.

[TBear]

Everybody ranks fighters differently. My response was based on the fact that I would have Louis on my all time rankings in the top five and Charles lower. In both ESPN and The Rings all time rankings they have Louis at number four behind Robinson, Ali and Armstrong. Ratings are subjective however.

[f15bone]

Louis ranks higher IMO because of his overall accomplishments...

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Ezzard Charles ranks higher for me..

[Humean]

Joe Louis
Overall Record--------------------63-3-0
Non-World Level------------------26-0-0
Borderline World level-------------12-0-0
World Level----------------------28-3-0

Opponents

Borderline
Charley Massera, Lee Ramage, Natie Brown, Charley Retzlaff, Jack Sharkey, Johnny Paychek, Al McCoy, Gus Dorazio, Cesar Silverio Brion, Jimmy Bivins

World Level
Patsy Perroni, Primo Carnera, King Levinsky, Max Baer, Paulino Uzcudun, Max Schmeling, Al Ettore, Bob Pastor, Jim Braddock, Tommy Farr, Nathan Mann, John Henry Lewis, Tony Galento, Arturo Godoy, Red Burman, Abe Simon, Buddy Baer, Billy Conn, Lou Nova, Tami Mauriello, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Lee Savold, Rocky Marciano


Ezzard Charles
Overall Record-------------------93-25-1
Non-World Level------------------54-8-0
Borderline World Level--------------8-4-0
World Level----------------------31-13-1

Opponents

Borderline
Teddy Yarosz, Kid Tunero, Sam Baroudi, Joe Kahut, Cesar Silverio Brion, Bob Satterfield, Charley Norkus, John Holman, Pat McMurtry, Harry Matthews

World Level
Ken Overlin, Anton Christoforidis, Charley Burley, Jose Basora, Joey Maxim, Jimmy Bivins, Lloyd Marshall, Archie Moore, Oakland Billy Smith, Elmer Ray, Joe Baksi, Jersey Joe Walcott, Gus Lesnevich, Pat Valentino, Joe Louis, Nick Barone, Lee Oma, Rex Layne, Nino Valdes, Harold Johnson, Rocky Marciano, Paul Andrews, Tommy Jackson

[IronDanHamza]

Louis by a wide margin.

Why do you think that?