Just watched this fight in its entirety for the first time. It was fairly competitive through seven rounds and then it just got to become outrageously one-sided, to the point where Terrell probably didn't land even so much as a jab in the last 5-6 rounds. There is some controversy surrounding the fight itself with Ernie claiming that Ali intentionally fouled him causing his left eye to swell. Likewise, Ali is to be heard shouting, "What's my name?" on a few occasions, which didn't go down to well with the media at all at the time. Terrell seemed like a really capable and solid contender to me. He was a very big man and would be even in today's Heavyweight division, and he seemed to have a strong and fast left stick when he used it. He proved his heart and ability to absorb a punch in this fight, especially considering he looked to be out of it as early as the seventh round courtesy of an Ali left hook. 1. Was Muhammad Ali allowed to be so dominant as a result of an intentional foul? 2. Where does this performance rank among Ali's best? 3. Would Ernie Terrell have any success in today's Heavyweight division?
1. Was Muhammad Ali allowed to be so dominant as a result of an intentional foul? No, there was a lot of bad will going into this fight due to Terrell's refusal to call Ali, well, Ali. Patterson did the same. Ali said he would punish Terrell as he had Patterson. Ali was fired up for a great performance, and certainly provided. 2. Where does this performance rank among Ali's best? Well up there, Terrell was very capable. 3. Would Ernie Terrell have any success in today's Heavyweight division? Interesting question. There's a huge drop off after the Klits, and to an extent maybe Haye. He had some serious height which sure wouldn't hurt in this era. Easily top 10, possibly top 5 or better.
1. No. Ernie had nothing for Ali all night, and only had just enough through 6 to keep Ali off. 2. Highly. Top 5 performance, in my opinion. People who say Ali struggles so much with greater size and a great jab that he has trouble winning h2h matchups against them, I say, observe this fight. 3. Yes, a fair amount. Awkward, big, great jab, good=Fair amount of success.
Don't think so. Ernie claimed he was 'thumbed' but if that happened, it probably wasn't intentional. More likely, Terrell thought he was thumbed on account of Ali breaking his orbital bone. This would have affected his vision for the remainder of the fight. The broken orbital was much more like the result of a punch than a thumb. Up there. Terrell had a very respectable resume coming into this fight. That he was never the same afterwards was probably due, at least in part, to the brutal beating he took at Ali's hands, especially in the later rounds. There was bad blood between them before the fight on account of Terrell's refusal to call Ali by his new name. Terrell later claimed that he thought this was pre-fight hype, but clearly Ali did not see it that way. Yes. A prime Terrell would be the best of the bunch outside of the Klitschkos right now. He would give current Vitali a serious challenge and might beat either Kllitschko, though I'd favour prime Vitali and current Wlad over him. But not by much. He'd mop the floor with the rest.
I was thinking about a Lewis vs Terrell-thread recently. Am not really too much of a fan of the hypothetical match-ups, but this is an interesting one for stylistical reasons. I can really see Terrells jab causing Lewis some trouble.
Ali's most under rated win imo. Very good win, I'd only rank Terrell behind Frazier, Foreman, Liston, perhaps Patterson on Ali's resume. I don't see any big difference between him and Norton, Quarry, etc. honestly.
I think Ernie Terrell was a good quality contender and would be competetive today, yes. That's a fine win for Ali, and it's also a top perfromance in my opinion.
It depends on whether you take Terrell at his word, I think its the third round where you can view the clinch on the ropes away from the ref's vision where Ernie told me in 1973 that Ali held his head and put his thumb directly into his eye. Terrell wasn't mistaking what he said happened with a punch and a punch didn't happen in that clinch, so it comes down to whether you believe him or not. Being critised as making excuses Ernie in recent years puts it diplomatically in saying he can't say if Ali did it on purpose, but he was clear on saying it was set up to injure him when he spoke to me.
I see the Terrell fight as pretty solid proof a closer to prime Ali would have handled Norton way easier than a post-exile one was able to, and that this fact is frequently ignored. Terrell was as strong as Ken, but he was longer, just as awkward, and his jab was just as good.
No, he was allowed to be so dominant because Terrell was slightly intimidated and hesitant at imposing his usual ugly fight from the opening bell. Arguably #1. Hard to say, since his comparative size advantage was crucial to the success he had, and he wouldn't necessarily have that today.
1. Nothing to do with an 'intentional' foul, no harm to terrell. Ali was extra up for this fight after Terrell acting the bollox with the name-calling, or should i say, his refusal to call him by his chosen name. He did have a bad eye at the end but i doubt it was a deliberate thumb, maybe ernie was trying to save face a little? 2. Its certainly up there with his best 60s performances. 3. I think he could do well in todays climate. Big guy,good chin, good enough boxing abilitry and not a bad banger, why not? If the likes of Haye and Ruiz, amongst others, can win titles, then Terrell can too
Could Ernie Terrell have beaten Ken Norton, in 1971/1972. Or handled Joe Frazier in 1969. Or Floyd Patterson and/or Jerry Quarry 1968. Ernie Terrell was one of those fighters who looked so good in 1963/1964/1965/1966. His fight with Doug Jones in 1966 was kind of a 'stinkeroo' then faded away, only to come back and look great in 1971/1972.
Ali was a better figher than Ernie in all areas. Terrell had to fight a bunch of smaller fighters in his day.....and some "stink" fights occurred at key points in his career.
I saw Ernie beat Zora Folley a top tenner> he beat Bobby Foster on sheer size .He also beat the German Gerhard Zech who later gave Liston trouble.He beat # 1 Doug Jones when he was not faded.I believ e this fight gave Ali his rightfull place as a great. Ernie had all the tools except the punch. When Thad spencer beat him he gave up. Really I would put Ernie in the top 3 today,he was really good.
Ernest Terrell at 6' 6" tall and 200 pounds was a decent boxer who lacked power... He'd go nowhere as a heavyweight today... Ali tormented that sum ***** with ease as the fight progressed... Ali showed he was in a class by himself.... WORD! MR.BILL