Following his minor upset win over Jerry Quarry in wining the WBA Heavyweight Crown, and follow up defense with a controversial decision over Floyd Patterson, Jimmy ran into a streak of bad luck. He was scheduled to fight Joe Frazier in a unification bout in 1969, but cancelled, and Jerry Quarry filled-in. Scheduled bouts with Joe Frazier, Robert Cleroux, Henry Cooper, Gregorio Peralta and Al Jones all fell through.
matt, Jimmy Ellis was scheduled to fight Joe Frazier in early-1969. Jerry Quarry filled-in. Robert Cleroux was scheduled, but he lost to journeyman Billy Joiner. Bob Foster wanted to fight Jimmy, but not enough money was presented. It was supposed to be held in the Bahama's.
I often wondered about that inactive year of Jimmy's..he didn't do himself any good with that long a layoff.
I think a more active Ellis might have given Frazier a better run for his money, than the one who was dormant for 17 months. Bob Cleroux was supposed to challenge him, but ruined the day by losing to a journeyman, which ultimately ended his career.
In all fairness, in that September 14, 1968 WBA Championship Bout with Floyd Patterson, he did suffer a broken nose, and a broken thumb. Not an easy trip to Sweden. Then comebacking Robert Cleroux was in-line for a shot, and blew it by losing to the Cincinatti Spoiler,,,,,,,,, Billy Joiner.
I believe the Peralta fight went belly up from lack of interest in Argentina where it was to be staged and the proposed Cooper fight fell apart because the BBB of C refused to allow Cooper to fight him as they were not recognising the WBA. Cooper returned his Londsdale belt in protest. Brian London went ahead with the Patterson fight in defiance of the board and was fined. If I was Cooper I would have done the same as London. How many opportunites come a fighter's way like that? Scartissue
You would think with all the problems, someone would have simply put a Ellis vs. Patterson II fight together for 1969, or even Ellis vs. Liston. Or a Canada bout with Georeg Chuvalo, after George TKO'd Jerry Quarry in 69'.
Saturday, 1) Jimmy Ellis did sign to fight 'Smokin' Joe Frazier on March 10, 1969. At Madison Square Garden, New York. Jimmy did pull out of the fight. Fight purse $150,000. 2) Jimmy Ellis agreed to fight the winner of the Zora Folley vs. Al Jones II Fight. Zora Folley and Al Jones had fought to a 10-Round Draw in 1968. Folley vs. Jones II was set for an April 1969 date. The winner would get a shot at the WBA Title and Jimmy Ellis in June, and set for Louisville, Kentucky. The Folley vs. Jones bout was cancelled, and with it a Title shot. Jimmy Ellis was to receive $150,000 plus 15% of the 'live gate', and the challenger $75,000. ABC-TV wanted the fight, and was willing to put up a good portion of the fight purse, providing they got the next title fight, from whoever won. 3) Jimmy Ellis and Bob Foster verbally agreed to fight in early-December 1969. In the Bahama's, and set for Saturday, December 13, 1969. Jimmy Ellis to receive $145,000 and Bob Foster to receive $90,000. The promoter could not come up with the pre-fight purse guarantee's.
Patterson I believe did not care for a rematch with Ellis. He lost interest in boxing for a while after the tough loss.
You are right greata. it wasnt so much that he didnt want a rematch. It was that he was tired of what he percieved as the politics of boxing. patterson who was generally humble to a fault was pretty vocal in his disgust over the ellis decision and felt that he had been jobbed. i think losing that fight took a lot of the wind out of his sails.
