About Charlie Powell

Born April 4, 1932 in Texas
Died September 1, 2014
Career record: 25 wins (17 KO), 11 defeats (8 KO), 3 draws

One of the best all-around athletes to ever box professionally, Powell was signed to a pro baseball contract by St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck. After playing in 1952, he abandoned his pro baseball career to become a professional football player at 19 years of age, the youngest in NFL history. In his first game with the San Francisco 49ers, he started against the NFL champion Detroit Lions and had multiple sacks against QB Bobby Layne, totaling 67 yards in losses. He played five seasons with the 49ers and two with the Oakland Raiders before becoming a professional boxer. Along the way, he also turned down an offer to tryout for the Harlem Globetrotters. Ring Magazine named him the greatest boxer to ever come out of another sport. Powell currently devotes spare time to working with ex-boxers who are now impoverished, ailing, or generally need assistance.

Charlie Powell Items