Harold Johnson Memorial Boxing Gym

Ezzard Charles, 1940s and 50s heavyweight champion and all-time great light heavyweight, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a Veterans Administration Hospital in Chicago, Illinois at only 53-years-old in 1975.

Charles' nickname was "The Cincinnati Cobra" for much of his pro career, but early on he was also known as "Ezzard the Wizard." He was fast, skilled and powerful, especially at light heavyweight, where he faced a who's who of his era and defeated most despite never winning the title there. As an amateur, he was a Golden Gloves champion, a National AAU champion and a Diamond Belt winner.

In the last several years of his career, Charles said he started having issues with his legs that were later attributed to what was later more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Charles tragically became bedridden in the last years of his life and died in his sleep.

"To be the greatest, the best, that was my dream," Charles once said.

The iconic Manassa Mauler, Jack Dempsey, who held the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926, died in 1983 of natural causes in his apartment in New York City. He was 87 years old.

The previous year, he was admitted to the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, where a pacemaker was implanted as treatment for a slowed heart beat.

As one of the most popular athletes in history, Dempsey ascended from a starving hobo to a millionaire during his ground-breaking career. He drew record crowds and gate receipts, participating in boxing's first five $1,000,000 gates.

"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't.” Rest in peace, Jack.

'Regret’s a normal part of life, so there’s no point trying to fight it or deny it. You just have to put things into perspective and remember that nothing’s perfect. Perfection isn’t possible. It’s better to focus on the positives rather than the regrets.'

WBC Light-Heavyweight worId champion, John Conteh ceIebrates his 75th birthday today.

Happy Birthday Champ. Many Happy Returns.

'lt annoys me that there are so many people who have never laced up a pair of gloves, have spent no time in a gym talking to fighters or trainers to learn about boxing, offering sanctimonious opinions and pontificating and yet they know nothing about the sport.'

- Joe Calzaghe