It was billed as one of the big fights of the summer, but nobody was taken in. Heavyweight Challenger Freddie Beshore, less skillful than stubborn, was never a dashing performer. And pencil-mustached Ezzard Charles, though heavyweight champion of the world (National Boxing Association version, not good in New
York or London), has neither heavy punch nor box-office drawing power. Last week, as they faced each other in Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium, the fans stayed away in droves; paid attendance (6,298) and receipts ($28,666) were the lowest ever for a heavyweight championship bout.
For most of the fight, Beshore hugged and tugged while broad-shouldered Ezzard...
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