EZZARD CHARLES - FIRST DAY COVER SIGNED - HFSID 35287

EZZARD CHARLES
The former heavyweight champ signs a First Day Cover touting voter registration. A rare signature.
First Day Cover signed: "Ezzard Charles", 6½x3¾. FDC promoting voter registration, postmarked Washington, D.C., August 1, 1964, 5-cent stamp affixed, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE. American boxer Ezzard Charles (1921-1975) was an undefeated amateur boxer (4200), winning the National AAU middleweight crown in 1939. His military service in World War II barred a shot for a pro middleweight crown, and he never got a match for the light heavyweight title after the war, despite beating some of the best boxers in that weight class. He defeated Jersey Joe Walcott to become World Heavyweight Champion in 1949, defending his belt successfully against Walcott, Joe Louis and others before yielding it to Walcott again in 1951. He lost three more title bouts, one to Walcott and two to Rocky Marciano, but the final loss to Walcott is controversial, and he became the only fighter to go the distance against Marciano (1954). His career record of 93-25-1 would have been even better, had he not fought on past his prime, for financial reasons, finally retiring in 1959. He died from ALS, commonly called Lou Gehrig disease. Charles entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Various polls rank him as high as 11th on listings of the greatest boxers of all time. Light surface creases. Slightly toned. Corners slightly worn. Fine condition.