Ernie Terrell 'WBA Heavyweight Champion'

Ernie Terrell,

WBA Champion Champion, his reign started on March 5, 1965 when
he defeated Eddie Machen.

Following Cassius Clay's upset victory over Sonny Liston in February 1964, the
WBA wasted little time in 'concocting' a WBA Tournament

In March-1964, the WBA quickly moved to have a 'Tournament' for their version the Championhip.

Believing that the Sonny Liston - Cassius Clay bout was a 'fabrication' and
a hoax perpetuated on the public, the WBA put together a proposed
Elimimation Tournament, with

#1 Doug Jones
#2 Floyd Patterson
#3 Ernie Terrell
#4 Cleveland Williams
#5 Eddie Machen

On paper, it looked intriguing, with competitive bouts that the public would enjoy.

#1 Doug Jones would get a 'First Round Bye'.
#2 Floyd Patterson would fight #4 Cleveland Williams
#3 Ernie Terrell would fight #5 Eddie Machen.

Each fighter was to received $75,000 - in Nationally Televised 12-Round Bouts.

While the Eliminator would be taking place -

Others fighters included in 'Mini-Eliminators' would be -
* George Chuvalo
* Henry Cooper
* Billy Daniels
* Zora Folley
* Tony Alongi
* Karl Mildenberger
* Gregorio Peralta

 

June 1964

WBA President, Ed Lassman

'I'm completely against the Cassius Clay - Sonny Liston rematch.'

Reasons;
1) The WBA does not like rematch clauses in a contract.
2) Sonny Liston has obvious underworld connections.
3) Liston has a piece of the promotion.
4) Every state boxing commission will 'not' sanction this bout, except '2'.

We will 'sanction' a bout with Champion - Cassius Clay and #1 Challenger - Doug Jones.

#1 Doug Jones and #8 Tony Alongi will face each other in Madison Square Garden on August 14th,
and the winner will be next for the Champion. I would prefer for the bout to be held in November, and
in the Northeast.

 

In August 1964 - Independent Promoter - Al Bolan, tried to 'sneak' around the WBA.

Al Bolan was trying to match-up, #2 WBA-ranked Floyd Patterson with #1 WBA-ranked Doug Jones (6' 0" 190 lbs.)
for a 'vacant' New York State Heavyweight Championship.

But Doug Jones, who was supposed to fight Tony Alongi on August 14, 1964 - got 'upset' by last-minute replacement
Billy Daniels (a fighter he easily defeated earlier).

After August 15, 1964 - the WBA had to reset the ratings.

Then the WBA and Madison Square Garden tried desperately to get #3 Ernie Terrell vs #4 Cleveland Williams
for the 'vacant' Championship, a Nationally Televised fight with both boys getting $75,000.

 

Hookie,

The first tournament (put together in March 1964) was before the WBA 'opened for
business'.

In July 1964 - Floyd Patterson defeated Eddie Machen (in Part I).

In August 1964, at a WBA meeting in Norfolk, Virgina they devised the 'vacant'
Championship Bout, hoping to put Floyd with Doug Jones in Madison Square Garden
for the Championship for October 1964.

But, Doug Jones would lose (on August 14, 1964 to Billy Daniels), knocking him out of
the tournament.

The machinations of the WBA Championship were already in gear.
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Cleveland Williams, who had a tune-up (KO 7) over Sonny Banks in July 1964, then
was scheduled to fight Billy Daniels (who had upset Doug Jones) in September 1964 as
part of the Elimination Tournament.

Cleveland won a 10-Round Decision over Billy Daniels, and was next schdeuled to fight
Ernie Terrell, but he was injured 'shot' in a dispute with a police officer on November 29, 1964.

 

December 1964

With Cleveland Williams out-of action, and Floyd Patterson off in his own direction,
Ernie Terrell the #1 WBA Heavyweight - did not have an opponent to fight for the
'vacant' Championship in December.

As a guest on The Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson, the 'statuesque fighter' said;

A) That he wanted to fight Cleveland Williams, George Chuvalo and Floyd Patterson.
B) Sonny Liston was too old to fight, and should be on a pension.
C) Cassius Clay doesn't want to fight anybody but old men.

When Johnny Carson informed Ernie that it might be difficult to fight Cleveland Williams because
of his recent gun-shot wound. Ernie responded that Floyd Patterson who 'chickened-out' of
fighting Cleveland earlier, might fight the one-legged Williams now.

And Ernie said, that his manager got into a big fight with George Chuvalo's manager, so their
proposed fight went 'up-in-smoke'.

Ernie Terrell, 'I guess I'll just go back to Chicago, and play my guitar. I'm not going to make any
money boxing.'

 

January 1965

With the Cassius Clay - Sonny Liston 'rematch' on hold, 11-months
had gone by without a significant Heavyweight bout held in the
United States.

Ernie Terrell, 'The only fight that happened, was the 'Old-Mans' Championship
bout between Patterson and Machen in Sweden. Now Floyd is back hiding out
in Harriman, New York. Clay is down in Miami, sunning himself. Sonny Liston
got arrested again in Denver. And poor Cleveland, he can't even walk.'

 

Stevie G,

Correct,,,,,,,,Ernie was 'dull', and he never really developed better skills after 1964.

In March 1965 he became.........'L-Shaped'.

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March 5, 1965

International Amphitheatre - Chicago, Illinois

25 year-old, 6' 6" - 199 lb. 'toothpick' Ernie Terrell 'jabbed and grabbed' his way
to a Unanimous 15-Round Decision over 32 year-old veteran 6' 0" - 192 lb. Eddie Machen.

'Big Ernie' now 37-4-0, used his left hand like a measuring stick, as he continually
slammed his left fist at the left eye of Eddie Machen, who falls to 47-6-2.

Though sometimes awkward and not fluid, Terrell used an 'effective' left jab, and
tentacle arms to thwart off any offensive attempts from the smooth boxing Machen.
'Fast Eddie' did land an occassional hard right hand over the top, but he was not
effective in getting under the long left of Terrell and scoring with body punches.

Whenever Machen got in close, 'Big Ernie' would just drape himself over Machen,
like a tablecloth covering a kitchen table. By the 11th Round, Machen was visibly
frustrated, and threw his arms up in disgust, as he called to Terrell "Come on, let's fight."

But Terrell, not one to take an 'uncalculated risk', continued with his fight plan, of
left jab, left jab and more left jabs.

Scorecards;
Referee, Bernie Weissman.........72-67 (8-3-4 in Rounds)
Judge, Frank Duxler.................72-66 (9-3-3 in Rounds)
Judge, Bill Doty.......................70-67 (8-5-2 in Rounds)

Ernie Terrell, 'I have to make a defense in 90-days. The WBA gave me a list of George Chuvalo,
Floyd Patterson, Zora Folley and Karl Mildenberger. I'll fight anybody except Patterson. When he
was Champion, he wouldn't fight anybody, so now he's the one outside.'

Julie Isaacson, Terrell's manager, 'Floyd Patterson better not wait by the phone, because he
will not be getting a call. It's A-B-P, Anybody But Patterson.'

Eddie Machen, 'I honestly thought I won. I hurt him, and he never hurt me. Look at his face,
his left eye is a mess. I guess I'll have to fight Chuvalo or Mildenberger next. And when I beat
either of them, then Ernie will have to fight me again.'

 

Ezzard Charles commenting on Ernie Terrell.

Ernie has a very good left hand, and with a little more development he could
have a great one. I'm here for him if he needs help.

He's not ready for Cassius Clay now, but in a year and 3 more fights, he
could be a difficult opponent. I'd like to see him work on the right hand,
as he only uses it as a push punch. You must be a two-handed fighter now,
not a single winger.

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