Ernie Terrell

Ernie Terrell
Terrell vs. Muhammad Ali in 1967
Statistics
Real name	Ernest Terrell
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Reach	82 in (208 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	(1939-04-04)April 4, 1939 Belzoni, Mississippi
Died	Evergreen Park, Illinois
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	55
Wins	46
Wins by KO	21
Losses	9
Draws	0
No contests	0

Ernie Terrell (April 4, 1939 – December 16, 2014) was an American singer, record producer, and World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight boxing champion. At 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), he was very tall, by the standards of the day. By comparison, Muhammad Ali was 6 ft 3 in, and Joe Frazier was 5 ft 11 in. Terrell was the older brother of The Supremes' early 1970s lead singer Jean Terrell. In the 1960s, she sang with his group, "Ernie Terrell & the Heavyweights".

In his early boxing 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 explained 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."

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." 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 music producer in Chicago, Illinois, the city where he'd attended Farragut Career Academy.

Ernie 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.

Professional boxing record

46 Wins (21 knockouts), 9 Losses (2 knockouts)
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	46–9	Jeff Merritt	TKO	1 (10) 2:4	1973–09–10	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Loss	46–8	Chuck Wepner	PTS	12	1973–06–23	Atlantic City Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey	For vacant National Americas Heavyweight title.
Win	46–7	Bill Drover	TKO	1 (10) 2:28	1973–02–19	The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	45–7	José Luis García	KO	6 (10)	1972–10–23	Caracas, Miranda
Win	44–7	Roberto Davila	UD	10	1971–07–24	Playboy Club Hotel, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Win	43–7	Luis Faustino Pires	UD	10	1971–05–10	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois
Win	42–7	Vic Brown	UD	10	1971–04–28	Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win	41–7	John Hudgins	TKO	1 (10) 1:58	1971–04–03	Playboy Club Hotel, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Win	40–7	Sonny Moore	UD	10	1970–12–15	Eagles Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Loss	39–7	Manuel Ramos	UD	10	1967–10–14	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Loss	39–6	Thad Spencer	UD	12	1967–08–05	Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas	WBA Heavyweight title eliminator.
Loss	39–5	Muhammad Ali	UD	15	1967–02–06	Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas	Lost WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	39–4	Doug Jones	UD	15	1966–06–28	Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas	Retained WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	38–4	George Chuvalo	UD	15	1965–11–01	Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario	Retained WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	37–4	Eddie Machen	UD	15	1965–03–05	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois	Won vacant WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	36–4	Henry Wallitsch	RTD	5 (10)	1964–10–23	St. Louis, Missouri
Win	35–4	Bob Foster	TKO	7 (10) 0:58	1964–07–10	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Win	34–4	Jefferson Davis	UD	10	1964–06–17	Miami Beach Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida
Win	33–4	Gerhard Zech	UD	10	1963–03–06	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Win	32–4	Zora Folley	UD	10	1963–07–27	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Win	31–4	Cleveland Williams	SD	10	1963–04–13	Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	30–4	Herb Siler	TKO	3 (10)	1963–03–07	Little River Auditorium, Miami, Florida
Win	29–4	Young Jack Johnson	UD	10	1963–01–05	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Win	28–4	Young Jack Johnson	UD	10	1962–12–14	Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois
Win	27–4	Reiniero Rey Lopez	KO	3 (?) 2:15	1962–09–25	Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois
Win	26–4	Eddie Jackson	TKO	2 (10) 2:54	1962–08–24	Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Win	25–4	Amos Lincoln	UD	6	1962–06–09	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Loss	24–4	Cleveland Williams	TKO	7 (10) 1:43	1962–04–03	Houston, Texas
Win	24–3	Herb Siler	PTS	10	1962–02–28	Miami Beach Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida
Win	23–3	Ernie Cab	TKO	3 (6)	1961–12–04	Philadelphia Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win	22–3	Chuck Garrett	UD	10	1961–05–15	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win	21–3	Willie Coleman	KO	1 (?)	1961–04–17	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win	20–3	Ernie Cab	TKO	8 (10)	1961–02–06	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Loss	19–3	Wayne Bethea	SD	10	1960–12–05	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Win	19–2	Joe Hemphill	UD	8	1960–07–20	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois	Won Illinois State Heavyweight title.
Win	18–2	Frankie Daniels	KO	7 (10)	1960–05–18	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	17–2	Lee Williams	UD	10	1960–03–30	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	16–2	Clay Thomas	KO	1 (?)	1960–01–06	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	15–2	Chuck Garrett	PTS	6	1959–11–11	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	14–2	Tunney Hunsaker	PTS	8	1959–07–24	Freedom Hall State Fairground, Louisville, Kentucky
Loss	13–2	Johnny Gray	SD	8	1959–02–25	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	13–1	Willie Coleman	PTS	8	1959–01–14	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	12–1	Sid Peaks	UD	8	1958–11–03	Joe Louis Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	11–1	John Hobart	KO	1 (?)	1958–10–07	East Chicago, Indiana
Win	10–1	Joe Hemphill	TKO	1 (6)	1958–09–24	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	9–1	Billy Pickett	KO	2 (8)	1958–07–01	Midwest Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss	8–1	Johnny Gray	SD	8	1958–04–30	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	8–0	Johnny Harper	TKO	1 (8)	1958–03–11	Midwest Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	7–0	Emil Brtko	TKO	2 (8)	1958–02–04	Joe Louis Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	6–0	Calvin Butler	SD	6	1958–01–08	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	5–0	Ted Poole	TKO	1 (6)	1957–10–30	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	4–0	Neal Welch	UD	6	1957–08–21	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	3–0	Ray Griggs	KO	1 (4)	1957–07–24	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	2–0	Andy Bond	TKO	1 (4)	1957–06–26	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win	1–0	Norman Bolden	UD	4	1957–05–15	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois

References

• Konkol, Mark. "Even the champ doesn't feel safe", Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago, October 25, 2009, page 14A.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Ernie Terrell from BoxRec

Achievements
Preceded by Muhammad Ali Stripped	Heavyweight boxing champion (WBA) March 5, 1965 – February 6, 1967	Succeeded by Muhammad Ali
Preceded by Ingemar Johansson	Oldest Living Heavyweight Champion January 30, 2009 – December 16, 2014