Does anyone remember Jeff Merritt?

johnmaff,

Your French is pardoned.

In March 1974, 'Candy Slim' got blasted out in (47 seconds) by the feather-fisted Henry Clark,
out in Oakland, California.
The first thing Don King did to 'Candy Slim' after they got off the airplane in
Cleveland, was take away Jeff's new car.
A 1973 Buick Riviera, with 'Candy Slim' lettered on the door panels.

He left Jeff with no car, no money, and stuck in Cleveland.
What a way to go!

Only 6 months earlier, after his One Round 'demolishion' of Ernie Terrell, Don King was claiming
'Candy Slim' was an 'heir to the heavyweight throne'

 

Sneaky-Pete,

Here's an easier road to follow for Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt;
He was based out of New York.
Was 9-1-0 (6 KO's) through August 1969.
After beating Henry Clark (8/18/69) in Madison Square Garden, Jeff's current mamanger got an offer from a Miami Syndicate. Jeff's manager was looking to unload it, mainly because of all the problems surrounding Jeff's personal life.
The Syndicate (which included; David Popsfsky, Miami-based comedian Henny Youngman, New York-based businessman
Norman King and radio personality William B. Williams) bought out his existing contract, and offered Jeff a new one.

In September 1969, he signed a 5-year contract w/options, with the Miami Syndicate.
It was to be $150/week, plus a new car (1970 Buick Riviera), and included
training expenses and access to a boxing training facility, a manager, and all fight and training transportation expenses.
The Syndicate would get 50% of Jeff's fight purse.
Jeff agreed to the deal, but had 'legal' matters to deal with, which kept him out of boxing for over 6 months,
from September 1969 until February 1970.

In February 1970, Jeff relocated to Miami, and got his new 1970 Buick Riviera.
2 months later, 'Candy Slim' with a record of 10-1-0 (7 KO's) and a #16 Ranking, had his first fight with the Miami Syndicate.
On 3/31/70, a professionally-promoted 'Southeastern Heavyweight Championship' fight was held at
the Miami Beach Auditorium. (attendance; 2064)
The fight was on Florida Television, with 'Candy Slim' versus Johnny 'Big John' Hudgkins.
Jeff Merritt 'demolished' Hudgkins in 2 Rounds.


Jeff would have (2) more Miami fights;
5/19/70; KO 4 Eddie Vick
6/2/70; KO 2 Charlie Polite

Here's where the 'Candy Slim' legend is born.
Ali knew his 'boxing exile' was soon to be over.
He was getting prepared for his comeback.
Ali needed some 'quick and young' sparring partners for training at the
'famous' 5th Street Gym in Miami.
Sometime, in late-June 1970,, Jeff went their to work out.
He was asked to spar with Ali.
This is where the 'so-called' spirited 5-round sparring sessions took place.

 

Sneaky-Pete,

Following 'Candy Slims' (3) quick fights for the Miami Syndicate in 1970,
Jeff also worked as a sparring partner for Ali, July 1970.
He was paid $50/Day.

The problem was, that Jeff wanted to keep that money for himself, and still collect
the $150/Week from his contract with the Miami Syndicate.
That's where the first of his problems began.
Jeff thought, that being around Ali would benefit his career.
The Syndicate had money invested, and didn't want Jeff to get used up as
a full-time sparring partner.
They had plans to keep him fighting at least once a month, and build up his career.
With him working as a sparring partner, they were not in control.

The Miami Group had scheduled a fight for Jeff in mid-July 70' at the Auditorium in Miami,
but Jeff pulled out of it, claiming illness (but it was the Heroin).
The Miami Syndicate gave Jeff an ultimatum 'it's either one or the other' (boxing or 'smack'),
but not both.
When 'push came to shove', Jeff jumped over to spar with Ali, to get extra cash.
The Syndicate said it was a breach of contract, and froze Jeff out.

Soon after, Jeff got in trouble with the 'law' again.
He was back in 'jail' in August 1970 (drug and burglary related charges)
He did not fight in the ring again for 10 months, until May 18, 1971.

When he came back in the spring of 71', he was back in Florida.
He came to an agreement with the Miami Syndicate, and agreed to
abide by their previous contract.
Starting on May 18, 1971, at Convention Hall, In Miami,
he KO'd a pathetic George Dulaire with a record of (9-18-4) in One Round.
3 more fights and 2 KO's later, Jeff was 18-1-0 (13 KO's), and #16 ranked.
But the competition in front of him was horribe, to 'say the least'.

His fifth fight of 1971, was at the Houston Astrodome, on July 26, 1971.
He was one of the preliminary fights, on the Ali-Ellis undercard.
He was hoping for a fight against a quality guy, but his management still wanted him to
develop more, and they were 'skeptical' about putting him in the ring with a good fighter.
His legs were not completely their yet, after his 11-month lay-off.

His management turned down numerous mid-level fighters, including faded veterans Thad Spencer
and Manuel Ramos. The 29 year-old Ramos was (25-17-3), and in the midst of a horrible downslide,
he was 1-7-1 in his last (9) fights.
Merritt's management team, also turned down Terry Daniels, the 25 year-old heavyweight prospect
from Beamont, Texas. Daniels a 'popular' local kid, was guaranteed a slot on the fight card.
A small-heavyweight at 195 lbs., he had built up a record of 25-3-1 (23 KO's), against 'a slew of nobodies'.
Amazingly, Terry Daniels was willing to take on a dangerous Jeff Merritt.
When Merritt's team declined, Daniels agreed to take on Manuel Ramos on the Ali-Ellis undercard.
Daniels won a solid 10-round decision.
6 months later, in January 1972, Daniels got a title shot (though unsuccessful) verse Joe Frazier.

At the last minute (2-days before the fight), Jeff's 'management team' finally agreed on one Al Banks.
With a record of 9-12-0 (3 KO's), he was the best 'safe' opponent they could find.
Banks was 3-10-0 in his last 13 fights, including 7 Knock-out losses.
Of course the promoters sent flyers around stating that Al Banks had a record of 19-6-0 (12 KO's),
and labeling him as 'one dangerous journeyman' with a 'rock-granite jaw'.
Of course, 'Candy Slim' obliged, and destroyed Banks by Knock-out in the 2nd round,
with a crushing 'left-hook'.

Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt was paid $1000 for that fight. It was his biggest 'payday' to date.
A month later, Jeff got in trouble with the 'law' again (drug and burglary related)
He was in 'jail' from September 71' until March 72'.

 

scartissue,

See if you can get the NY Daily News archives from 9/12/73.
Ernie was on one knee, and sagging into the ropes.
That may have been 'after' the fight was stopped.
Arthur Mercante waived the fight over, without giving a count.

What I meant about 'flat out' stopping Ernie, is that Jeff Merritt was the only one to stop him.
Ernie's knock-out loss to Cleveland Williams was due to cuts.

Kepp on posting,,,,,,,,,,,good stuff.

 

More on 'Candy Slims' life;

Following his 10-month 'hiatus'.
'Candy Slim' returned to Miami in March 1972, for another try.
It would be his 'third' attempt on fulfilling his obligations to his 'management team'.
The Miami Syndicate still owned his contract.
Still willing to fulfill his contract obligation, Jeff agreed to some
quick fights over 'easy stiff's'.
He trained for 6 weeks, and got in half-way decent shape.
On May 12, 1972 he KO'd Carl Baker in 2 rounds, in Kingston, Jamaica.
4-days later he was back in Miami Beach.
On May 16, 1972, he KO'd Junior Grant in 2 rounds.

The management team had scheduled a fight for Jeff on May 26, 1972,
in Miami, but he cancelled out, 'claiming illness'.
He was supposed to be in the gym training for a June 12, 1972 bout,
but he never came in to train, 'still claiming illness'.
On June 12, he never showed up for the fight, costing his promoters 'several' thousand dollars.
3 days later, he showed up, looking for 'cash', but the management team had already made a decision.
They charged Jeff for losses and expenses, and would take it out of his future purse fee's.
He was a 'mess'.

At the end of June, he got on as a back-up sparring partner for Ali's last week of preparation, for his upcoming
Quarry II fight (6/27/72) in Las Vegas. He also, was a back-up sparring partner for Ali's
7/19/72 Ireland bout with Alvin "Blue" Lewis.

But in August 1972, trouble found 'Candy Slim', and again he was back in jail.

 

Following another 'stint; in jail,
'Candy Slim' found himself outside of the 'boxing circle'.
When he got out of 'jail' in March 73', he was only able to hook up
as a $50/day sparring partner.
No 'Promoter' per say, was willing to take a shot with him.

But strangely enough, Don King was able to get on Jeff's level, as they both
had alot in 'common', and could go 'far' together in the boxing business.
He 'believed' Don King.

In early-June 1973, Jeff moved to Ohio, and was soon part of King's new stable, with
Earnie Shavers and Ray Anderson.
Jeff's job was simple, become Earnie Shavers sparring partner.
Finding sparring partners for Earnie in Ohio was impossible for Don King.
And anyone that was willing to go there and get 'clubbed' to death, wanted big $$$.
Jeff Merritt was desperate and on the cheap, so King 'hooked' him.

Details are somewhat 'sketchy' on the contract that 'Candy Slim' signed with King.
But it was something like $200/week (to work primarily as Shavers sparring partner), and
King got 40% of Jeff's fight purse as manager (if he could get him a fight).
Of course King took out for training expenses, trainers fee's and on-site living expenses.

The 'one problem' with Jeff as a sparring partner, 'he could punch with the best of them'.
And he was told many times, while sparring with Earnie, 'Do not throw heavy punches, your here to help Earnie'.
Shavers, at that time was preparing for a June 16, 1973 bout with former champ Jimmy Ellis in
Madison Square Garden.

In July 1973, Don King got a signed contract for Earnie Shavers to meet Jerry Quarry in Madison Square Garden on September 10, 1973. It was to be the live 'Main Event', in conjunction with the Ali-Norton II (re-match in Inglewood,
California, at The Forum) which was a 'closed circuit' fight to be broadcast at Madison Square Garden.
If Shavers won the fight over Quarry, he would have been 'in-line' for a "Title Shot" with newly crowned champion
'George Foreman' in 1974.

 

Sneaky-Pete,

The story goes that sometime in August 1973, about 3 weeks before the
9/10/73 fight versus Quarry, Shavers and 'Candy Slim' got into a pretty good sparring match 'fight'.

Jeff had been Shavers 'chief' sparring partner for about 4 weeks, since late July.
Earnie had been 'pummeling' Jeff pretty good in the first couple of weeks.
Jeff was pretty rusty, he had just got out of jail, and had not been in the ring 'sparring' since July 72'.
His last fights were in May 1972.
Jeff wasn't 'out-of-shape', but he wasn't 'in-shape' either.
But, he no longer was a 'skinny' 6' 5" 205 lb. kid, he was now a 6' 5" 221 lb. 'banger', that could
'take it as much as he could give it'

Jeff had felt that Earnie had taken advantage of him, in some of the first sparring sessions, in late-July.
Earnie 'banged' up Jeff pretty good, as Jeff's timing was off and his 'stamina' was not there.
In a couple of sessions, Jeff 'stepped back', and called the sparring off.
But after a couple of weeks, Jeff held his own 'defensively'.
In the 'heated' sparring session in late-August, Jeff was battling Earnie pretty tough, when he 'opened up'
on a suprised Shavers.
Earnie was 'stunned briefly', and was expecting 'Candy Slim' to back-off, like most sparring partners do.

Well 'Candy Slim' didn't. Whether he was pissed at Earnie for the earlier beatings, or it was just the
'heat of the moment', Jeff tore into Earnie with several 'vicious' left hooks, leaving him 'knocked out on his feet'.
With the trainers screaming at Jeff to stop, they jumped into the ring.
But the damage was done, Earnie had a 'broken' jaw.
The date was August 20, 1973.

 

Sneaky-Pete,

Following the Shavers-Merritt sparring session fiasco, Don King (manager of both fighters),
fired Shavers trainer, Archie Moore immediately.
He called Moore, 'the dumbest f**king n**ger alive'.

That fight, would have been the biggest purse ($75,000) of Earnie Shavers career, up to that point.
Also, King's share would have been his biggest fee as a manager up to that point.
Not only was Madison Square Garden promotions pissed, but Jerry Quarry and his manager Gil Clancy
could not believe anyone would put a fighter who had a 'big' payday waiting for them,
in the ring with a 'murderous puncher' like Jeff Merritt, for a sparring session.
Jerry Quarry needed that 'big payday' as much as Earnie Shavers.
Plus, Jerry was convinced he could KO Earnie early.
Earnie's 'straight ahead no-defense style' was tailor-made for Jerry.

Earnie's loss was Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt's gain. Though Don King was 'pissed' at him, he forgave Jeff briefly.
Jeff was scheduled to fight Ernie Terrell (former WBA Champion), on the Quarry-Shavers undercard on 9/10/73,
at Madison Square Garden.
Since the Quarry-Shavers fight was off, the Terrell-Merritt fight was moved up to the Main Event.

For 'Candy Slim' he was un-ranked, due to his inactivity (last fight 5/16/72), as a result of spending time in 'jail'.
He had not fought a 'real-fight' in the ring in 16 months, up to the 9/10/73 scheduled fight.
He was still considered a 'live and dangerous fighter'.
His record was still an impressive 21-1-0 (16 KO's), and he had been in-training/sparring for 10 straight weeks.
He would enter the ring 'in good shape', at a solid 221 lbs.

 

Pete,

Going into the Merritt fight, Ernie Terrell was still a capable fighter.
At 34, he was 'old' not ancient.
Since returning, the 6' 6" Ernie had won (7) straight fights, including a
Knock-out upset win over the dangerous Venezuelan (#6 rated) Jose Luis Garcia.
Garcia was 24-2-1 (17 KO's) and had previously Knocked-out Ken Norton.
What was so impressive, was that Ernie Knocked-out Garcia in his hometown,
Caracas, Venezuela.

Terrell's only set-back, was in his previous fight, where he lost a 'contoversial'
decision to Chuck Wepner, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on 6/23/73.
Many boxing scribes described that as clear-cut 'hometown' decision.
Harold Valan was the 'sole judge' in that fight, and he scored it for Wepner (7-5)
'Ring Magazine' had it for Ernie Terrell (9-3), and called the decision 'disgraceful'.
Ernie wasn't at his best, but he boxed rings around the 'clumsy brawler'.
Despite the loss to Wepner, Ernie Terrell's ranking only dropped one notch to #9.
His record was 46-8-0 (21 KO's)

Going into the fight, it made for a balanced match-up of two tall fighters.
One boxer, one slugger. One old, one young. One rated, one not. One active, one inactive.
Ernie Terrell (227 lbs.) was a slight favorite at fight time.

At the bell, 'Candy Slim' (221 lbs.) tore into a 'dry' Terrell, who was not warmed up yet.
Jeff 'threw caution to the wind' and opened up on the former WBA Champion with a
volley of punches, primarily left hooks.
He backed Terrell up, along the center ropes and ripped away. Ernie was not firing back.
Half-way through the round, Jeff landed a left-hook to the head that buckled Terrell,
and Ernie sagged into the ropes.
Terrell tried to 'tie-up' Jeff, but Jeff just ducked under Ernie's long arms.
Jeff then fired away again, with left-hooks aimed at Ernie's right shoulder,
and short right upper-cuts to the body.
At the 2:20 mark, Jeff stepped back, and measured Ernie, waiting for an opening.
Then Ernie tried to move forward and grab Jeff and 'tie' him up,
but Merritt fired a right upper-cut, as he timed Terrell perfectly, just as he was was moving in.
Ernie just sagged back into the ropes, defenseless.
The referee Arthur Mercante waved the fight over, at 2:42 of the First Round.
Terrell than sagged onto the ropes and went to one knee.
But got right up.
There was 'no' knockdown during the fight.

A "Star is Born", or so we think.

 

Mike,

After Jeff Merritt KO'd (#9) Ernie Terrell in the 1st Round at Madison Square Garden, on 9/10/73, he got his first 'Top Ten' ranking.
The Ring rated him #8. His record was 22-1-0 (17 KO's)
Don King was his manager at that time. King bought 'Candy Slim's' contract from
New York-based businessman 'Norman King' sometime around June 1973.

Jeff Merritt's purse for the 'Main Event' fight at Madison Square Garden with Ernie Terrell
was $7000. It was 'by far', the biggest pay-day he ever had.
After 'Kings' cut, 'Candy Slim' walked out with $4200.

After the fight, in the 'press area' that's when 'Don King' made his famous statement;
"Remember the name 'Candy Slim'. He will be champ next year, 1974. Don't bring us mortal men.
We want to fight giants."

A short time later (about 2 weeks), Jeff bought a brand new 1973 Buick Riviera.
The car was lettered with 'Candy Slim' on the upper door panels.

 

Riding 'high' after the Terrell fight, Don King then promised 'Candy Slim' the main event fight
on 11/28/73 at The Arena, in Cleveland, Ohio.
That was the 'first big' promotion King was working on.

Jeff would be facing former 'title' contender Ron Stander.
Don King had been trying to get Stander to come to Cleveland, to fight Earnie Shavers in a re-match.

Stander, was a 'toughman-type' fighter from Omaha, with a record of 24-3-1 (16 KO's).
Not much on style, he was tough. At 5' 11" and 230 lbs., he was there
to be hit. He had never been 'knocked down'.
He was destroyed by Joe Frazier, in 5 rounds, in May 1972, for the 'Heavyweight Championship'.
He took murderous puches, but did not go down.

One important fight on Standers fight resume'. He knocked out Earnie Shavers in 5 Rounds,
back in May 1970, in Omaha, Nebraska.
At the time, both Stander and Earnie were both undefeated 'young prospects'.

 

Following 'Candy Slim's' destruction over Ernie Terrell (9/10/73);
Don King got Jeff work as a sparring partner for Ali, at his
Deer Lake, Pennsylvania camp.

Jeff Merritt was in 'demand' now.
After the Norton fight (9/10/73), Ali was scheduled to take on Rudi Lubbers in 6-weeks, and wanted to stay sharp.
The fight was scheduled for 10/20/73, in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Don King offered up Jeff Merritt as a sparring partner, and who could also use the time to 'hone'
his skills for his upcoming 'Main Event' fight with Ron Stander on November 28, 1973.

King agreed to allow 'Candy Slim' to be an Ali sparring partner for (4) weeks.
King negotiated a deal for $3000, ($750/week).
The money was sent to King, who took out his 40%.
Jeff was left with $1800, or $450/week.
But King had the money, and was supposed to send it back to Ali, to pay Jeff at
the end of each 'sparring week'.

During that time, in late-September, Jeff also hooked up with Larry Holmes.
Holmes was just starting his 'pro' career, and was also a Ali 'sparring partner'.
Holmes was also, to be part of the Merritt-Stander undercard, in Cleveland on November 28, 1973.
Jeff complained bitterly to Holmes about, Don King.
Primarily, about not getting his 'money'.

After Ali left for Jakarta, Jeff stayed at the Deer Lake Camp for an additional 4-weeks,
to stay sharp.
He even sparred with Larry Holmes at that time.
On Saturday, November 17, they broke camp. Jeff headed back to Cleveland.
Jeff Merritt had not been paid in 3 weeks. He was 'virtually broke'.