Ernie Terrell had a fabulous Jab in his prime

In reviewing this match with Cosell, Ali actually gave him credit for his defensive guard and courage. I never heard him claim that he could have knocked Terrell out. Ernie was 27 years old, and in his prime. This was no aging or undersized fringe contender.

Interesting that he calls Ali both "Cassius" and "Muhammad" in his musical taunting. Terrell didn't take the hard line about calling him by his birth name that Patterson and Frazier did.

 

Yes he had a very good jab and was a very good wrestler too in the boxing ring. Not saying his holding and tactics were as bad as John Ruiz but Terrell wasn't a squeaky clean fighter. I believe he lucked out big time against George Chuvalo, who should have been given the decision in that fight.

 

Did Terrell ever fight Eddie Machen? Their styles were a bit similar.

 

Terrell UD 15 Machen

April 4, 1965 in Chicago.

 

The Virgil Hill of the 60's heavies.The Ring magazine had a big profile on Terrell's coming match with Ali, Ernie was perceived as being the better jabber. He was a solid fighter as his record shows.
Anyone who denigrates Cleve Williams power,as some did recently on here, should take a look at how many times Ernie was kod,only Williams and Jeff Merritt, in Terrell's last fight managed it,Ernie had a good chin.

 

It was a dreadfully boring fight as Terrell pretty much neutralized a basically already neutral Machen over 15 rounds by using his long left jab (Terrell, IMO, had a great left jab) and grabbing at every opportunity..causing Machen to echo Sonny Liston by complaining about Ernie's compulsive holding. I'm a fan of both men really..they were kinda like the Jimmy Youngs of their time...though no one did negative as well as Jimmy Young (I'm a big fan of his too).

 

His jab is probably top 15 of all time, maybe top 10

 

During Ernie's last comeback in the '70's he was working out in our gym in Minnesota and we talked about the Ali bout. We went into the ring and he showed me how in the 1st round Ali turned him into the ropes away from the ref and dug his thumb hard up into his eye, basically ending the bout competively. Ernie said he could see nothing but blurs for the entire 15 rounds leaving him no option but to cover up. As mentioned Ernie's jab was hard, and it was probably better then Ali's but he has no chance to employ it after the eye injury.

 

Top 10 Heavyweight Jabs IMO

#1. Larry Holmes
#2. Sonny Liston
#3. Joe Louis
#4. Muhammad Ali
#5. Ray Mercer
#6. Lennox Lewis
#7. George Foreman
#8. Riddick Bowe
#9. Wladimir Klitschko
#10. Ernie Terrell

 

#5 Ray Mercer???????? Pinklon Thomas had a better jab easily.

 

no ray mercer had a great jab. He always snapped it out there and caused cuts. He even outjabbed Lewis, which says something. the few jabs that he landed on Wladimir Klitschko show how damaging his jabs can be: wlad's whole face was covered with marks. This was also an ancient mercer.
So I think he has a good jab.

 

For years the magazines and newspapers claimed that Ali carried Terrell. The perception -- incorrect in my opinion -- is that Ali could have ended the bout anytime he wanted to.

 

Yes, I feel it was incorrect too..Terrell should have been credited for at least being tough and having some defensive skills..Ali did all that he could to him...and a ko wasn't gonna come no matter what. Terrell was pretty much an underrated guy.