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
Super Bowl XVI (49ers vs. Bengals): An Ultimate Recount of the Game
Today we have Super Bowl XVI, which was held on January 24, 1982, in
Ray Durbin: Founder of Row One Brand Sports Gifts
Row One Brand is an American sports brand based out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
1973 Miami Dolphins (Better Than The Undefeated 72′ Team?)
The ’72–73 Miami Dolphins may have had the best two-year run in NFL history
Super Bowl V: A Goal-Line Stand Lost In Time
Most pro football historians who study the past Super Bowls will tell you that
Remembering The Great NFL Running Backs of the 1970s
Younger NFL fans can’t imagine how many great running backs played in the 1970s.
Hank Luisetti Popularized the Jump Shot
The development of the one-handed jump shot takes us back to the 1930s. Back
The Story of Ernie Nevers’ First Pro Football Game
Fans of football history usually find the name of Ernie Nevers to be a
The Creation of the Shot Clock (A Brief History)
We have two related stories today. The first is about the lowest scoring game