It is upon us. The dawning of the modern heavyweight division is bursting onto the scene. It’s the final decade of the “Black & White Age,” which goes back to the rise and reign of John L. Sullivan in the 1880s. As you can imagine (and probably know), the Black & White Age is jam-packed to the brim with landmarks, classic wars, and the overall expansion of boxing lore. That being said, the 1950s heavyweight division has a tall task in that it has to (unknowingly) close out the “Black & White Age”.
Enter the BIG 4! The 1940s would see the end of the Joe Louis era with his duology against Jersey Joe Walcott. Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano would ultimately join this rivalry as it expanded into the coming 1950s. Speaking of Charles, he beat Walcott to become the champion after Louis retired and entered the 50s as the face of the division. Even so, Charles (and Walcott, by extension) failed to capture the hearts of the boxing public as the American Hero [Louis] had before. Captain America was an impossible ambassador to follow up, a true “People’s Champion.”
So, the stage is set for this “last dance.” We’ve got a thin roster of top guys, an unfavored champion, and a shifting era of the sport. Things are NOT looking up…but just when you think it’s over, the fat lady won’t sing that note! The Brockton Blockbuster would return excitement and order to boxing’s marquee division, elevating the shadows of Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles along the way. Making matters even more interesting was that Joe Louis would throw his hat back into the mix (we all know even the best legends can’t resist that comeback). I almost feel guilty spoiling this, but then again, you’ve probably already seen the coverage of the BIG 4 in my previous article and video. I digress.
Now, what about the shifting of the era that I mentioned? That would come to fruition in 1956, and mixed feelings followed. The surprise was that the elevation of the division would meet a polarizing second half of the decade. The title scene, the contenders, and even the overall state of the division would take a drastic turn and cease to be what it was. You know how you may get sick when the weather shifts from being hot to cold in a day? That’s our division from the midpoint onward. You’ll see what I mean.
The Olympics, per usual, are covered. The significance begins, in my opinion, at least, here in the 50s. I mean in relation to the professional ranks. This is the first time the amateur Olympian would forge his path successfully in the pros.
You’ve got many (and I mean MANY) classic battles in store:
Joe Louis vs Rocky Marciano
Ezzard Charles vs Jersey Joe Walcott III
Jersey Joe Walcott vs Rocky Marciano I
Rocky Marciano vs Ezzard Charles II
Floyd Patterson vs Ingemar Johansson I
and so many more…
Welcome to the finale of the “Black & White Age” as we transition in full to the modern heavyweight scene that is ongoing. Your portal into heavyweight boxing knowledge begins here. From my heart to yours, enjoy “A Timeline of the 1950s Heavyweight Boxing Division”. Written, narrated, and produced by TheCharlesJackson, author of the Boxing Encyclopedia.
