Ezzard Mack Charles, known as the Cincinnati Cobra, was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion, known for his slick defense and precision. Often regarded as the greatest light heavyweight of all time, Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes. Charles retired with a record of 95-25-1. He was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class of 1990.

The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF), located in Canastota, New York, honors boxers, trainers and other contributors to the sport worldwide. Inductees are selected by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America. The IBHOF started as a 1990 initiative by Ed Brophy to honour Canastota's world boxing champions, Carmen Basilio and Basilio's nephew, Billy Backus; the village of Canastota inaugurated the new museum, which showcases boxing's rich history. It is visited by boxing fans from all over the world.