Charles of 51 to 54 vs. Terrell of 65 to 67. This might not be as bad as some people think. Once someone told me, Saintpat I think, that Terrell tended to punch it out more against guys he saw as light punchers. I think that is true. I personally don't have a favorite, I think they're chances are equal and I think both decisions would be close and won in an unappealing way. However, these two would trade awesome jabs and do great body work on each other.
Ernie Terrell liked to clinch, grab and wrestle his opponents into pure exhaustion, even Sonny Liston did not like to respond to Ernie as a possible future opponent, Liston used to remark, Terrell Hugs More Than I Hug My Wife. Terrell did have a long left jab. Ezzard Charles was a good boxer, but he would have to safely get in and attempt to counterpunch Big Ernie. Boxers could trouble Terrell as Eddie Machen did in 1965 and Muhammad Ali in 1967. I see a close bout, Charles takes a close decision, he would have a good game plan, avoiding the tangling long arms of Ernie on the inside, keeping the battle in the center of the ring.
Terrell proved to be at least as good as Patterson or Ellis or Quarry, and thats about where I envision Ezz fitting in that era. Terrell was probably a slight cut above the guys mentioned, at least in effect. He dealt with top boxers and bangers. Most likely he clinches and spoils his way to an ugly close decision thats hard to score and harder to watch.
Jerry Quarry came out later than Ernie Terrell's prime, maybe Jerry should have fought Ernie instead of Thad Spencer fighting Terrell in the WBA Tournament in 1967. Floyd Patterson was not interested in Terrell's illegitimate WBA title in 1965, he was after the real prize, Muhammad Ali. Jimmy Ellis would have been too crafty for Ernie.
Yeah I can see this being a pick em fight. Without any real certainty ill go with Charles by a close decision but Terrells height and reach would make it a hard night
I do like the way Thad Spencer fought Ernie Terrell early on in the WBA Tournament of 1967, he even spilled Ernie a couple of times. I really would have liked to have seen Terrell fight Oscar Bonavena, instead of Oscar fighting Karl Mildenberger first.
Im just talking results against top guys, namely Ali. I cant be held accountable for what I say when I have been drinking hahaa
Yeah I don’t think Terrell ever really learned to use his size to the best of his advantage and never really set down on his punches either. Seems that he had the potential to be a better fighter
I agree. I actually think Terrell was never better than when he was the Octopus. That is, inside, fists flailing. Sad we never saw more of that.
