Ernie Terrell
Ernie Terrell | |
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Statistics | |
Rated at | Heavyweight |
Height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) |
Reach | 82 in (208 cm) |
Nationality | American |
Born |
Belzoni, Mississippi, U.S. | April 4, 1939
Died |
December 16, 2014 75) Evergreen Park, Illinois, U.S. | (aged
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 55 |
Wins | 46 |
Wins by KO | 21 |
Losses | 9 |
Ernie Terrell (April 4, 1939 – December 16, 2014) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1957 to 1973. He was the first WBA (previously named the NBA) heavyweight champion, having held the title from 1965 to 1967, and was one of the taller heavyweights of his era, at a height of 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m). Terrell was the older brother of The Supremes' early 1970s lead singer Jean Terrell. In the 1960s, Jean sang with his group Ernie Terrell & the Heavyweights.[1]
Professional career
In his early career, Terrell defeated some good contenders, including Cleveland Williams (Terrell won the rematch by decision after losing to Williams in their first fight by knockout), Zora Folley, and future Light Heavyweight champion Bob Foster. But he's best remembered for his challenge to World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali, on February 6, 1967—a bout in which he was badly beaten.
Ali was scheduled to fight WBA champion Ernie Terrell (the WBA stripped Ali of his title after his agreement to fight a rematch with Liston) on March 29, but Terrell backed out and Ali won a 15-round decision against substitute opponent George Chuvalo. World Boxing Association matched Terrell and Eddie Machen for the vacant crown. Terrell defeated Machen to win the belt on March 5, 1965. He held it until February 6, 1967 when he lost to Muhammad Ali. During this time, most in the boxing world continued to recognize Ali as the legitimate champion, since he had not lost his championship in a boxing match. The WBA's rival, the World Boxing Council, had also continued to recognize Ali as champion.
During his reign as WBA Champion, Terrell defended the title twice, beating Doug Jones and George Chuvalo.
In February 1967, Ali and Terrell met to end the debate about who was the legitimate heavyweight champion. Before the bout, Terrell repeatedly called Ali by his birth name. He said later that he had known Clay for years in the amateurs and hadn't gotten used to calling him another name. Ali took offense to this, and vowed he would punish Terrell. For his part, Ali further stoked the prefight ill will by labeling Terrell "an Uncle Tom nigger who is going to get his ass whupped."[2]
Ali won a lopsided 15-round decision, reclaiming the undisputed championship. The Daily Telegraph wrote that the resulting fight was "the nastiest display of Ali's celebrated ring career", recounting how he seized Terrell in a headlock and dragged Terrell's eye along the top rope, and declared, "The fight will be remembered for Ali's constant taunts of 'what's my name?' to an opponent he was apparently content not merely to defeat, but also to belittle and humiliate."[2] The fight is recounted by the film Ali starring Will Smith.
Terrell lost an upset 12-round decision later in 1967 in the WBA Heavyweight Tournament which was organized after Ali was stripped of his title in April 1967. He left the sport for three years following the loss, but returned in 1970, winning seven consecutive fights before losing to Chuck Wepner by decision.
In 55 professional fights, Terrell earned a record of 46 wins (21 by knockout), nine losses and no draws. After retiring from boxing in 1973 following a knockout loss to Jeff Merritt, he began a career as a record producer in Chicago, in the city where he had attended Farragut Career Academy.
Terrell ran unsuccessfully for alderman of Chicago's 34th ward in 1987. He finished second in the primary but lost to Lemuel Austin in a runoff. Terrell died on December 16, 2014 in a hospital at Evergreen Park, Illinois. He had been suffering from dementia.[3]
Professional boxing record
Professional record summary | ||
55 fights | 46 wins | 9 losses |
By knockout | 21 | 2 |
By decision | 25 | 7 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
55 | Loss | 46–9 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (10), 2:42 | Sep 10, 1973 | ![]() |
|
54 | Loss | 46–8 | ![]() |
PTS | 12 | Jun 23, 1973 | ![]() |
For vacant National Americas heavyweight title |
53 | Win | 46–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (10), 2:28 | Feb 19, 1973 | ![]() |
|
52 | Win | 45–7 | ![]() |
KO | 6 (10) | Oct 23, 1972 | ![]() |
|
51 | Win | 44–7 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Jul 24, 1971 | ![]() |
|
50 | Win | 43–7 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | May 10, 1971 | ![]() |
|
49 | Win | 42–7 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Apr 28, 1971 | ![]() |
|
48 | Win | 41–7 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (10), 1:58 | Apr 3, 1971 | ![]() |
|
47 | Win | 40–7 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Dec 15, 1970 | ![]() |
|
46 | Loss | 39–7 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Oct 14, 1967 | ![]() |
|
45 | Loss | 39–6 | ![]() |
UD | 12 | Aug 5, 1967 | ![]() |
|
44 | Loss | 39–5 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | Feb 6, 1967 | ![]() |
Lost WBA heavyweight title |
43 | Win | 39–4 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | Jun 28, 1966 | ![]() |
Retained WBA heavyweight title |
42 | Win | 38–4 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | Nov 1, 1965 | ![]() |
Retained WBA heavyweight title |
41 | Win | 37–4 | ![]() |
UD | 15 | Mar 5, 1965 | ![]() |
Won vacant WBA heavyweight title |
40 | Win | 36–4 | ![]() |
RTD | 6 (10), 0:01 | Oct 23, 1964 | ![]() |
|
39 | Win | 35–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (10), 0:58 | Jul 10, 1964 | ![]() |
|
38 | Win | 34–4 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Jun 17, 1964 | ![]() |
|
37 | Win | 33–4 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Mar 6, 1963 | ![]() |
|
36 | Win | 32–4 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Jul 27, 1963 | ![]() |
|
35 | Win | 31–4 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | Apr 13, 1963 | ![]() |
|
34 | Win | 30–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 3 (10) | Mar 7, 1963 | ![]() |
|
33 | Win | 29–4 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Jan 5, 1963 | ![]() |
|
32 | Win | 28–4 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Dec 14, 1962 | ![]() |
|
31 | Win | 27–4 | ![]() |
KO | 3, 2:15 | Sep 25, 1962 | ![]() |
|
30 | Win | 26–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (10), 2:54 | Aug 24, 1962 | ![]() |
|
29 | Win | 25–4 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | Jun 9, 1962 | ![]() |
|
28 | Loss | 24–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 7 (10), 1:43 | Apr 3, 1962 | ![]() |
|
27 | Win | 24–3 | ![]() |
PTS | 10 | Feb 28, 1962 | ![]() |
|
26 | Win | 23–3 | ![]() |
RTD | 3 (6), 0:01 | Dec 4, 1961 | ![]() |
|
25 | Win | 22–3 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | May 15, 1961 | ![]() |
|
24 | Win | 21–3 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (8) | Apr 17, 1961 | ![]() |
|
23 | Win | 20–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 8 (10) | Feb 6, 1961 | ![]() |
|
22 | Loss | 19–3 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | Dec 5, 1960 | ![]() |
|
21 | Win | 19–2 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Jul 20, 1960 | ![]() |
Won Illinois heavyweight title |
20 | Win | 18–2 | ![]() |
KO | 7 (10) | May 18, 1960 | ![]() |
|
19 | Win | 17–2 | ![]() |
UD | 10 | Mar 30, 1960 | ![]() |
|
18 | Win | 16–2 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (6) | Jan 6, 1960 | ![]() |
|
17 | Win | 15–2 | ![]() |
PTS | 6 | Nov 11, 1959 | ![]() |
|
16 | Win | 14–2 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | Jul 24, 1959 | ![]() |
|
15 | Loss | 13–2 | ![]() |
SD | 8 | Feb 25, 1959 | ![]() |
|
14 | Win | 13–1 | ![]() |
PTS | 8 | Jan 14, 1959 | ![]() |
|
13 | Win | 12–1 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | Nov 3, 1958 | ![]() |
|
12 | Win | 11–1 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | Oct 7, 1958 | ![]() |
|
11 | Win | 10–1 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6) | Sep 24, 1958 | ![]() |
|
10 | Win | 9–1 | ![]() |
KO | 2 (8) | Jul 1, 1958 | ![]() |
|
9 | Loss | 8–1 | ![]() |
SD | 8 | Apr 30, 1958 | ![]() |
|
8 | Win | 8–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (8) | Mar 11, 1958 | ![]() |
|
7 | Win | 7–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 2 (8) | Feb 4, 1958 | ![]() |
|
6 | Win | 6–0 | ![]() |
SD | 6 | Jan 8, 1958 | ![]() |
|
5 | Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (6) | Oct 30, 1957 | ![]() |
|
4 | Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
UD | 6 | Aug 21, 1957 | ![]() |
|
3 | Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 (4) | Jul 24, 1957 | ![]() |
|
2 | Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
TKO | 1 (4) | Jun 26, 1957 | ![]() |
|
1 | Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
UD | 4 | May 15, 1957 | ![]() |
Professional debut |
Titles in boxing
World titles | ||
---|---|---|
New title | WBA heavyweight champion March 5, 1965 – February 6, 1967 |
Succeeded by Muhammad Ali |
References
- ↑ Wynn, Ron. "Biography: Jean Terrell". AMG. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- 1 2 "Ernie Terrell - obituary". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
- ↑ "Ali's 'What's My Name?' opponent Terrell dies at 75". Asia.eurosport.com. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
Other sources
- Konkol, Mark. "Even the champ doesn't feel safe", Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, October 25, 2009, page 14A.
External links
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