We erected a statue of a West End advocate and icon, on the street named for him.
Ezzard Charles is a Cincinnati legend. More than a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Ezzard Charles was a West End resident, entrepreneur, renowned jazz enthusiast, and a brilliant Renaissance man. He was permanently recognized with a bronze statue and plaza commemorating both his life and legacy in the former, Laurel Park, which was recently renamed in his honor. The park, located in the heart of the West End, was revitalized through efforts of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation, Cincinnati Parks and the generosity of many donors, including strong support from Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses and the West End Community.
Who was Ezzard Charles?
Known as the Cincinnati Cobra, Ezzard Charles was a professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion from 1949 – 1951. A long time Cincinnatian, he was also an entrepreneur, a musician, a multilinguist, and a good-will ambassador to the West End community, where he lived at the height of his boxing career. The statue is to be erected within Ezzard Charles Park in the West End of Cincinnati.
More than a statue
More than a statue, this project has ignited the community and partnerships across the city. Each October, the Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses host the annual Ezz Fest celebration, which features live jazz music, free food for the neighborhood, and family activities. MadTree Brewing, who also supports the Fall Releaf program, joined the project and donated more than 100 trees to the park and surrounding neighborhood.
The Ezzard Charles Statue in Ezzard Charles Park
Through the generosity of the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation—as well as several other community partners—the bronze statue and plaza commemorating the life and legacy of Cincinnati’s World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Ezzard Charles, was erected in the heart of the West End.
The statue is now located within Ezzard Charles Park along Ezzard Charles Drive in the West End of Cincinnati. Local artist John Hebenstreit, known for the Black Brigade monument in Smale Riverfront Park, began sculpting the 13-foot statue of Ezzard Charles in 2017. The work of the Ezz Committee—consisting of two former Haile fellows, designer Jason Snell & videographer Kailah Ware, as well as architect Jaipal Singh, writer James Cunningham, and Hebenstreit—supports the concept originated by CPF Board member and pop-artist, Andrew VanSickle.
The Ezzard Charles statue project prompted a revitalization of Ezzard Charles Park, including the sculpture, the planting of over 100 new trees, the installation of benches, wayfinding signage, a progressive web application and an accessible plaza for all to enjoy.
THANK YOU TO THE EZZARD CHARLES STATUE DONORS:
Heavyweight Champion
Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Foundation
Kolar Design
Knockdown
CHAATRIK Architecture & Urban Design
Cincinnati Park Board
Cincinnati Parks Foundation Emerging Leaders
Ernst & Young LLP
FC Cincinnati Foundation
Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial
John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Charitable Trusts
MadTree Brewing Co.
Montgomery Inn
Perfetti van Melle USA
Prus Construction
Mike Ruehlman, Goodfire Design
Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum
Jab
Artswave
LaRosa's Inc.
The Maschmeier Boys & Girls
Jim Messner
Dr. O'Dell & Marchelle Owens
SRYSIS Inc.
Punch
Andrew & Shanna Barton
Harry & Natalie Cappel
CET
Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Public Library
Adam & Rebecca Coleman
C. Thomas & Fay Danner Dupuis
The E.W. Scripps Company
Fifth Third Bank
GE Foundation
GoVibrant
Thomas & Holly Hankinson
Mark Jeffreys
Scott Kohlhepp
Macy's
Scott Oyler
Rosemary & Mark Schlachter
Tim & Gail Seifert
Taft Law
Robert Thornton
Brian L. Tiffany & Jerry Ewers
West End Community Council
EZZARD CHARLES PROJECT COMMITTEE
Jim Cunningham
Bill Dettloff
John Hebenstreit
Kelly Kolar
Steve Ramos
Jaipal Singh
Jason Snell
Kailah Ware
Andrew Van Sickle
EZZARD CHARLES STATUE DEDICATION COMMITTEE
Tia Brown
Jennifer Buchholz
Carrie Carothers
Katherine Gould
Rico Grant
Duane Harmon, Sr
John Hebenstreit
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney
The Mallory Family
Emma Norbut
Dr. O’Dell Moreno Owens
Claire Pollock
Stephan Pryor
Sue Ellen Stuebing
Linda Lee Thomas
Andrew Van Sickle
Dan Vogelpohl
Lisa Sensale Yazdian
Alexis Kidd Zaffer