June 5, 1952 – It is sports television history that occurred on this date! The first national telecast of an athletic event took place when the Jersey Joe Walcott versus Ezzard Charles heavyweight boxing title bout hit the airwaves. The fight went 15 rounds with Walcott retaining his belt by taking the decision over Charles.
Charles was somber after the bout, disappointed he had lost, but his trainer Ray Arcel insinuated that the referee was out to get Ezzard all evening in the close match. Accusations that the ref wiped away gunk placed on a cut over the fighter’s eye and telling him to keep his punches up while not doing the same for the Champ were flowing from Arcel in the dressing room post-fight.
Jersey Joe fought professionally from 1930 through 1953 and held the Heavy Weight title from 1951 to 1952. A late bloomer he set the record for the oldest man to win the title, at the age of 37.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Live Casino Games Complement In-Play Sports Betting During Halftime
In the live sports betting world of speed, momentum matters. Live gamblers on the
Memorable Moments: A Look at the History of the Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup has long been a pinnacle of horse racing, bringing together the
The Bell’s of Saint JR (Relating to Jim Ross)
INTRO: Gregorian chant music as Ariel enters a church confession booth. PRIEST and ARIEL:
The NFL’s Forgotten Gold Medalist!
As usual during the staging of the Summer Olympics, numerous stars are born, discovered,
From Underdogs to Champions: The Patriots’ Super Bowl XXXVI Victory
The New England Patriots victory in Super Bowl XXXVI was a defining moment in
NFL All-Time Coaching Wins: A Top 5 Countdown
It’s NFL trivia time! Who holds the coveted title of the winningest coach in
1976 Olympics Revisited (Weightlifting Medal Winners)
The 1976 Olympics were in Montreal, and the weightlifting started on July 18 and
Three Racing Legends who have achieved 100 Formula One Podiums
After seven decades of Formula One racing, there have been more than a thousand