Ernie Terrell vs Eddie Machen

January 1965
'Cassius Clay Scoffs As Ernie Terrell Signs To Fight Eddie Machen'

'Aw, the Hot Dog Man will make more money than these guys' laughed
Heavyweight Champion, Cassius 'Muhammad Ali' Clay, upon hearing of
the signing of Ernie Terrell and Eddie Machen for the
World Boxing Association's version of the Heavyweight Title.

Last year, the WBA stripped the title from Clay, supposedly, because he
entered into a rematch contract with Sonny Liston against the unit's
rules. Although the WBA has no legal hold on boxers, it is generally
recognized as a cooperative sanctioning unit in all states, except
New York and Massachusetts.

Ernie Terrell, 25, 6' 6", 210-pounder, who has never earned more than $7000 for a bout in winning 36 of 40 fights, is rated as the WBA's
Top Contender.
Eddie Machen, 32, is rated #4 by the WBA.
The fight is slated for March 5, 1965, at Chicago's International Amphitheatre.

The combatants will earn about $20,000 each.
Clay asserts, 'This is no Championship and the only way anybody can take my crown is to come and beat me. Sonny Liston is a witness in proving it ain't easy...I don't think the public will stand for this group that's trying to
take something that they didn't give to me.'
'I earned my title in the ring, have no police record, I'm clean, handsome
and don't meddle with nobody. I'm the king and everbody knows it.'

 

January 1965,

Fight Promoter, Irv Schoenwald states, that though the 'title fight' may be
controversial, it will be good for the heavyweight division.

Ernie Terrell, with a record of 36-4-0 (18 KO's) has rightfully earned the #1 Ranking.
He is unbeaten in his last 12-fights, last losing to dangerous Cleveland Williams in 1962.
In that span of 12-0-0, Terrell has defeated 8 Top-10 ranked fighters, including
a rematch with Mr. Williams.

Though 'Tall' Ernie does not possess much punching power, he can box well from long range, and can frustate his shorter opponents with his 'vise grip clutching'.
Promoter Schoenwald stated, 'I would make Clay only a slight-favorite over Ernie.
And against Liston, Ernie would cover him like a brush painting a wall'.
And as for Patterson, Schoenwald pointed out, 'Ernie would shut him out for 10-rounds,
then drop him like a sack of flour'.

 

January 1965,

Eddie Machen, a veteran west-coast fighter, with a record of 47-5-2 (29 KO's).
Though at age 32, and his best days behind him, the cagey veteran may summon
up one more good fight.
In Machens last 12-fights, he has gone 10-1-1 (8 KO's). Only a 10-Round Draw
with Top 5 ranked and heavy-handed Cleveland Williams, and a tough decision loss
to former Champion Floyd Patterson in July 1964 (his last bout).

Promoter Irv Schoenwald stated, 'Eddie has earned a title shot, the guy has been
one of the Top heavyweights for nearly 10-years. How much longer should he wait'
Machen was signed to fight the winner of the Sonny Liston vs. Cassius Clay title fight, held in February 1964 in Miami Beach.

Eddie stated, 'I had a signed deal, and a $10,000 deposit from the Miami Beach fight promoter, to come to Miami Beach, and fight Sonny Liston in April 1964. But Clay won, and the deal flew off the table.'
Machen continued, 'That whole Miami Group, they're all a bunch of thieves. They begged me to come to Miami, and fight on the main undercard, against Marty Marshall, a guy
who hadn't fought in 5-years. Thankfully, the boxing commission would not license him,
because I may have killed him. At least I got to keep my $10,000 deposit, but I would have much rather have had a fight for the title'.

 

March 1965,

Fight Report

'Ernie Terrell won the WBA Heavyweight Championship by beating Eddie Machen.....
and proved that he is no threat to Cassius Clay, Sonny Liston or Floyd Patterson.
Given a right hand, though.......'

In the scuffle between Ernie Terrell and Eddie Machen in Chicago last week, if it proved anything, it was that, after Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston, boxing heavyweights
are lightweights.

Ernie Terrell was embarrassingly inept, and the fight often ludicrous.

 

The 15 Round affair in Chicago
Scorecards,
Referee Bernie Weissman.... 72-67 (8-3-4) Ernie Terrell
Judge Frank Duxler............ 72-66 (9-3-3) Ernie Terrell
Judge Bill Doty.................. 70-67 (8-5-2) Ernie Terrell

The 6' 6'' 199 lb. Ernie Terrell was imitating a bean-pole.
The 6' 0" 192 lb. Eddie Machen was the more skillful fighter, and though doesn't
match up well with Ernie Terrell, he could provide as a better opponent against
Cassius Clay or Sonny Liston, than Terrell.

To put it in better perspective, an Ernie Terrell at 6' 0" would weigh in at about
180 lbs., which equals a very light-punching heavyweight.

 

Going by the Newspaper accounts of this fight, this bout was horrible.
Ernie Terrell showed limited skills, and was in no-way a 'World Class'
fighter.
The only one who got lumped up in the fight, was Terrell who had his
right eye swollen shut by several Machen left hooks.

Ezzard Charles, who was in attendance, said, 'Terrell could be a decent
fighter someday, but I would have to work with him for about a year'.

Joe Louis, on Ernie Terrell, 'He needs work man, that Terrell. I wouldn't
know where to start, as his jab is nothing more than a push, and he
ain't got no right hand. If you duck under his jab, Oh man, his whole body is open for a heavy shot underneath. Sonny Liston would break this
guy in half, in 2 or 3 rounds. And that kid Clay, is twice as fast as
Ernie. I would never put him in the ring with the Champ Clay.'