So this is the type of bout that really attracts me to this challenge.
I have heard all about Charles of course but really know very little of substance.Marshall to me is a total mystery.
First off the footage is poor and the sound non excistent but what originally seems a largely negative viewing experience quickly becomes fascinating.This era is so distinct in boxing,the busy smoke filled halls and the basic almost primeval feel of the sport at its most pure.I can see why there’s such an attraction to studying the old timers.
Charles has a nice style,Marshall is more untidy and it seems to me a lot of the early clinching comes about because of his urge to force the pace and make it a rough fight rather than a boxing match (I could be wrong here,I mean I am struggling to tell who is who FFS

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Charles attempts to pick his punches and box in mid range but swings in hard hooks and goes to the body well when asserting his authority.
A quick google/boxrec tells me Marshall beat Ezzard Charles (their first meeting,he dropped Charles 8 times),Charles Burley,Freddie Mills,Jake Lamotta,Joey Maxim,Holman Williams and many more on the way to his eventual 70-25-4 record.A year on from this he would meet Charles for a third time but succumb to a 2nd round KO.
He never officially fought for a world title but did win the ‘duration’ world light heavyweight title,his peak years were whilst the Second World War.
Marshall like Charles is an IBHOF inductee.
Charles also lost 25 times in this incredibly tough era,most of those in the last few years of his pro career when he was past his best.
He racked up a 95-25-1 record and even casuals like me know the basics on him.Possibly the greatest light heavyweight of all time,won and defended the world heavyweight title nine times and is considered one of the greatest boxers to have ever laced them up.His resume is quite simply ridiculously deep when viewed through the eyes of a modern day fan.
Great stuff