Ernie Terrell vs. the current top 10

Terrell is a better fighter than he is given credit for today in many circles, and I think he would do well in today`s heavyweight scene considering the current crop of fighters we have.

Without going into too much detail I think he would beat most of the names on that list although he would lose to a few of them as well, but I do shudder at the thought of a Waldo vs Ernie fight taking place.

The clinching stats for one would be off the charts and would set a world record for clinches in a fight I`m sure, not to mention make for an absolutely dreadful contest while it lasts as a result.

If people back in Ernie`s day referred to him as "The Octopus" because of his long arms and habit of tying up his opponents, I ask myself what nickname they would have given Wlad for his use of excessive clinching which makes Ernie`s pale in comparison by a significant margin?

I wonder....

 

Terrell who has the distinction of being the first WBA alphabet champion was a solid fighter. He looks rather slow vs Ali, but looked much better vs. Spencer.

Terell wasn't a big puncher and played spoiler type of tactics. His chin was solid. He jabbed and clinched, without having a lot of power to make the other guy respect him.

I would say he would be likely win 5 matches vs. the top ten you listed, and get blow out by Wlad. I put the guys I think he would beat in green, however if Chagaev was in his prime, I'd pick him.

 

I think he would lose to most, probably beat Helenius and Fury, tho.

I am not sure what, if anything, Chag has left. At his peak, he would take Terrell in comprehensive fashion.

 

I think he would have had a fair shot against anybody outside the Klitschko family.

He could certainly be manouvered to a title fight.

 

That's how I see it. Adamek is old now...I'd go with a near prime or prime Terrell to beat him.

This era is not that bad. Terrell was likely say the 5th or 6th best in the 1960's behind Liston, Ali, Patterson, And Frazier. He would be about the 5th or 6th best today.

 

Terrell was a good fighter overshadowed by other good fighters and a few great fighters. His style was sometimes boring.

6'6" with an 82" reach. He didn't weigh as much as some think he should have, but he had a big frame... kinda like Al Cole who used to make 190Lbs at 6'5".

Anyway, he was far from exciting but he did beat Cleveland Williams W10 (avenging an earlier KO defeat), Zora Folley W10, Bob Foster KO7, Eddie Machen W15 (to win the vacant WBA HW Title), George Chuvalo W15, and Doug Jones W15 among others. From mid '62 - mid '66 he went 15-0 (5) overall and 3-0 in WBA HW World Title Fights. He was only stopped twice in 55 pro fights... once by Williams (LKOby7) in early '62, before Terrell peaked... and once in his last pro fight in late '73.

Terrell vs. the current top HWs? He'd win some and lose some. Vs. either Klitschko he gets beat badly... just like any other HW out there today.