Pinklon Thomas v Jimmy Ellis

Ellis easily over lazy 1 handed dope fiend big mouth loser.

 

Pinklon Thomas, easily. Maybe I just need to learn more about Jimmy Ellis. What reason is there to suggest he could possibly be a serious challenge to a top contender like Thomas? (This is not a pointed or rhetorical question; I just don't know much about the guy.)

Was he ever really as near the front rank of his era as Thomas was? I see prime Ellis getting starched by Tyson much sooner than Thomas did, and I see the semi-shot Thomas who fought Tyson (and arguably won two or three rounds) squeaking by shavers to a UD.

 

I’m leaning towards Ellis by narrow decision. Thomas looked unbelievably talented for about a year but it was too brief and I’m not sure he had what it took to beat a good all around boxer like Ellis. In any event I thing it would be a very close fight assuming both guys were at their best

 

Jimmy Ellis served as Muhammad Ali's sparring partner during Ali's career, especially during his prime years, 1964-1967. Jimmy was slick and was a very good boxer with a fast left jab. He was also trained by Angelo Dundee. He had victories over both Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry, as well as a disputed victory over Floyd Patterson. He was a WBA World Heavyweight Champion, after Muhammad Ali was convicted of Draft Evasion in June 1967. He was stopped by eventual champion Joe Frazier, on Feb 16 1970, in round 5. Pinklon was also a champion, he had a very stiff left jab and had good lateral movement. But Thomas did have his personal problems relating to drug addiction. He did go 5 rounds with WBA and WBC World Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson in May 1987, before being stopped. Interesting good fight, Jimmy would stay on the outside with his quick left jab, forcing Pinklon to be the aggressor, while countering everything Thomas throws as Pinklon tires. Jimmy Ellis by a unanimous decision.

 

Pink ud.

 

Ah, thanks; good overview. I'm particularly curious about how the Patterson fight played I out. I think I'll go watch it.

 

I watched it on television when it happened, good fight. Enjoy it.

 

Pinklon did not have a big mouth!

BTW, I sparred one round with Pink in his way post-prime in the early 1990s when he was on a barnstorming comeback tour. I was probably 175-180 and he was about 225. Being a southpaw I kept his jab occupied (my only strategy was to avoid that jab for 3 minutes) and then in the last 20 seconds or so I popped him with a really strong jab in his left eye — it caught his eyelid open so it actually landed on the eyeball.

He blinked several times and his expression changed. I knew hell was coming to breakfast so I loaded up my best left hand and let it go ... and he slipped outside it and hit me with a right to the body that completely took my breath away (I actually have a photo that captured that punch on my fridge). Then he cracked me a right on the jaw just as the bell rang. My jaw had a click in it for like 4-5 weeks after (but never swelled or felt painful) and I was just about ready to see a doctor when it went away.

Pinklon couldn’t have been nicer after. Told me I had a good jab and it was fun. We took a picture together (I’m 5-8, he looks so big next to me, haha, which sits next to the one of him nailing me with that body shot on the fridge.

But back to my point, Morlocks ... I met the man and he is very soft-spoken.

 

cool story thanks

 

Pink was actually in top form and consistent from the time he stepped in as a late substitute and whipped James Tillis until he was beaten by Berbick so there's 3 good years in there Goo.

Totally agree it would be a close fight and both are very good fighters.

 

We watched Thomas - Mike Weaver for a Fight of the Week on this board. Thomas took punches from Weaver that hurt to watch on video and he didn't flinch. Weaver was a big puncher and he landed some big punches on Thomas that Thomas didn't see coming. Most fighters who are known for taking punches usually take big shots because they are defensive and see the punches coming. Thomas took punches from a big puncher that he didn't see.

Best vs. best I'd pick Thomas over Ellis. Ellis was a good, skilled boxer, but Thomas was a decent boxer with a great jab and he was also bigger and stronger.

 

Despite the excellent names on Ellis's record and the fact he was a fast and very skilful Boxer, I can't see him backing Thomas up. I imagine Pinklon walking Ellis down and gradually getting closer and closer to him as the rounds go by getting a stoppage late on.

 

I respect your opinion, but Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry tried to walk him down, but they ended up getting pot shotted in the face all night long, and both could hit. But none the less you have a good post.

 

Fair point Richard. To attempt a counter, Thomas was bigger than Quarry and taller than Bonavena. The extra range may have helped him.