Ernie Terrell, a towering figure at 6 feet 7 inches tall, held the distinction of being considered the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the world by the World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1965. This was after the WBA stripped Muhammad Ali of his title following his rematch against Sonny Liston. Terrell's impressive amateur boxing background, which included winning a Golden Gloves title, laid the foundation for his successful professional career.
Turning pro in 1957 under the management of "Big" Julie Isaacson, Terrell weighed in at a lanky 198 pounds and was known for his effective long jab and clutching style. His rise to becoming a rated heavyweight contender was marked by victories over top-10 opponents, including Amos "Big Train" Lincoln, Cleveland "Big Cat" Williams, Zora Folley, and Bob Foster.
As the number two contender in the world, Terrell was matched against 4th-rated Eddie Machen for the vacant WBA World Heavyweight Title. He successfully defended his title against George Chuvallo and Doug Jones before facing off against Muhammad Ali in 1967. Unfortunately, Terrell lost the 15-round decision to Ali, and subsequently suffered defeats at the hands of Thad Spencer and Manuel Ramos, leading him to retire from boxing to pursue a singing career.
However, in 1971, Terrell made a comeback, winning six consecutive fights, including an upset knockout victory over 4th-ranked Jose Luis Garcia. Although he lost a disputed 12-round decision to Chuck Wepner in 1973, Terrell's boxing career came to a close after being knocked out in one round by Jeff "Candy Slim" Merritt on September 10, 1973, in New York City.
Following his retirement from boxing, Terrell went on to become a highly successful promoter in Chicago, cementing his legacy as a formidable figure in the world of professional boxing.
