WBA unification tournament featuring: WBA champion WBA interim champion WBA regular champion WBA interim regular champion
The WBA Heavyweight Title was awarded to Ernie Terrell, based on his 15 round decision victory over Eddie Machen on March 5 1965 because Muhammad Ali chose to give ex champion Sonny Liston a rematch that eventually occurred on May 25 1965. Cleveland Williams had been previously selected as an opponent for Terrell, but as fate has it, Williams had been shot by a Texas State Trooper on Nov 30 1964, Williams had to endure several life sparing surgeries until his only title bout against champion Ali on Nov 14 1966. Ernie had title defenses against such challengers as George Chuvalo, and Doug Jones. Then on Feb 6 1967, Ali won a very one sided 15 round decision over Terrell to reclaim the WBA version of the title. Ali had just one mandatory title defense of that title, a TKO 7 of challenger Zora Folley in Madison Square Garden on March 22 1967. Ali was scheduled to meet challengers Floyd Patterson in April 1967, then Oscar Bonavena on May 27 1967 in Tokyo, Japan. But as the story goes, Ali refused Military Induction on April 28 1967, Ali was stripped of his title and boxing license. The WBA held a tournament to determine Ali's eventual successor in 1967, Jimmy Ellis defeated Leotis Martin, TKO 9, Oscar Bonavena defeated Karl Mildenberger by unanimous decision, Jerry Quarry defeated Floyd Patterson in their second meeting by decision. Jimmy Ellis defeated Oscar Bonavena in Dec 1967, by unanimous decision. Jerry Quarry stopped Thad Spencer, TKO 12 on Feb 3 1968. On April 23 1968, Jimmy Ellis won a close 15 round decision over Jerry Quarry to claim the WBA title. Then on Sept 14 1968 in Stockholm Sweden, Jimmy Ellis defeated Floyd Patterson by a controversial 15 round decision. On Feb 16 1970, 5 state champion Joe Frazier stopped Jimmy Ellis by TKO 5 in Madison Square Garden to win the undisputed title, he defended his title against challengers Bob Foster, Nov 18 1970, Muhammad Ali, March 8 1971, Terry Daniels, Jan 15 1972 and Ron Stander, May 25 1972 before being dethroned by George Foreman on January 22 1973, TKO 2.
