Mel Turnbow

Big Jake,
Friend of the Northeast Atlantic,

Big Mel "Moe Joe" Turnbow,
6' 3" 205, when in shape.
Spent too much time as a sparring-partner, to develop as a good professional.
Had a good run early.
6-1-0 (1 KO).
Even upset Cody 'The Porcupine' Jones on the Ali-Liston II undercard at
the fatefull night in Lewiston, Maine., 5/25/65.

After a couple of losses, put on about 30 lbs, as he found a career as a
big sparring partner and late-minute replacement fighter.

Biggest ring accomplishment, knocking down Cleveland Williams in a losing effort.
Was part of Williams comeback opponents in 1966.
More sparring-session stories than accomplishments in the ring.

 

Ever wonder how many guys had truly elite power like a Foreman or Shavers but were never good enough to make it count at the right time?

 

Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt
Mac Foster
Roy 'Tiger' Williams
Cody Jones (Had a quicker and harder left hook than Sonny Liston)

 

For these days I've heard the not-too-good Travis Walker is massively powerful.

 

Back in the mid-60's a fighter by the name of
Ron Naha in New Zealand, was knocking guys out in 'smoker bouts'.
Pubs, basement fights and warehouse brawls.
Never fought as an amateur or professional.
6' 4" 225 lbs.
Was supposed to have 130 fights, all knock-outs within 5-minutes.

Did have a 'closed back-room smoker bout' with American heavyweight 6' 5" Ollie Brown,
back in 1965.
Knocked out Brown in less than 1-minute.

Wanted to fight Sonny Liston in New Zealand or Alaska in 1966, for his only professional
fight, if Sonny agreed to 2-minute Rounds.

 

I think Mel Turnbow was reported to have knocked Muhammad Ali down in sparring in the mid-60s, and had a win over him as an amateur too.

 

I knew it was coming ! Another "sparring partner knocks Ali down" tale. I'm not criticising or denying this one,but it's amazing how many come out of the woodwork.

 

I can't say I've heard of many, to be honest.
In fact, this Turnbow one is the only one that comes to mind at the moment, and I'm a bit sketchy on where I read that. Sure it cropped up somewhere recently though.
What other "sparring partner knocks down Ali" tales can you share ?

 

The only written documentation I ever saw was,
A Sports Illustrated writer witnessed Cody Jones staggering Clay twice with big left-hooks in a sparring session, 9-days before the Liston-Clay fight in Miami.

Also, the only real bangers that Ali was in the ring alot with was Roy "Tiger" Williams, and
Jeff "Candy Slim' Merritt.

 

I'm trying to uncover where I read that about Turnbow knocking down Ali.
I can't find it at the moment. I'm 80% sure that' what I read, but that percentage will drop drastically if I don't find it soon, and I'll withdraw that claim !


Turnbow knocked Patterson down twice before the Ali-Patterson fight in '65, but knocking down Floyd is not as impressive as knocking down Ali.

 

In Ali's 1975 autobiography ghost written by Richard Durham (which got some major facts wrong, like identifying Zack Clayton as the referee in Lewiston), he talks about getting injured to the body by Jimmy Ellis in sparring prior to the Liston rematch. The story goes that he was having a private conversation with Sonny years later while they were sitting together waiting to see if their boxing licenses would be reinstated (in California I believe). Muhammad told Liston about how he sustained that injury. Sonny replied that the story came into his camp "like a hot tip on a horse," but that he didn't believe it because he never knew Ellis to hit that hard. Liston followed by saying he would have believed it if Mel Turnbow had been the culprit.

Pure raw power isn't enough. The delivery system also has to be in place. Speed, accuracy, placement, conditioning, technique, etc...there has to be a modicum of skill and talent present. The punch has to get there. Even Shavers was a competent enough boxer to decision Henry Clark behind his jab over ten in their first bout.