Jimmy Ellis

Itas too bad that the cruiserweight division wasn't around in the 60as and 70as. Many wonderful boxers scaled under 190 pounds and offered creditable shows against bigger guys. Doug Jones is an example as he came near upsetting Cassius Clay in 1963. Doug had lost in 1962 to Harold Johnson for the light heavyweight title. In 1965, he dropped to Ernie Terrell for WBA Heavyweight crown. Back then there clearly was no middle ground. If over175 pounds were weighed by you, heavyweights were fought by you, period. William Foster, who was simply among the greatest light heavyweights of all time, had trouble moving up to heavyweight. Smith, Terrell, and Zora Foley well beat him in heavyweight times. After winning the light heavyweight crown in 1968, he failed in attempts to defeat Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. How would he have fared at 190 pounds? Iam sure if you took all of the prime fighters who weighed between 175 pounds and 190 pounds since 1960; most authorities would charge Holyfield number one. How would a Holyfield have coped with Floyd Pattersonas hand speed? How about Bob Fosteras reach and damaging value? Could he have defeated Jimmy Elllis? Have a look at Jimmyas record, when you laugh. He began as a in 1961 and through 1964 he lost five times to Holly Mims, Henry Hank, Rubin Carter, Don Fuller and George Benton. All prime middleweight competitors. By the time he blasted out Johnny Persol in a single round in 1967, he had developed into a heavyweight. He grabbed the WBA reduction event by whipping Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonevena and Jerry Quarry. Jimmy twice had the iron jawed Bonevena on the fabric, some thing Joe Frazier could not do in 25 rounds of fighting. Against Frazier, Ellis weighed in over 200 pounds. He seemed flabby and after a few units became sluggish. The next year Jimmy met his long time friend Muhammad Ali. Jimmy was in great form at 189 pounds. His muscles were small and he seemed fit. Unfortunately, Ali was too large. He used Jimmy down and stopped him in round a dozen. I really believe the Jimmy Ellis of the Ali fight would have given any 190 pounder since 1960 a run for his or her money, including Evander Holyfield. Ellis was a smooth boxer with sharp reactions. He had a good left hand and a sly right. He also had plenty of courage. How many competitors may have reached their feet before the count of five after catching Joe Frazieras complete move left lift flush on the jaw? Jimmy is one of many most neglected heavyweight champions of the final four decades. This might be due simply because he boxed in the Ali-Frazier age. Iave usually wondered what the outcome was had Bob Foster pushed Ellis for the WBA title. Since may be a dream fit to operate via a computer. << Back to main