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Sorry to report that former WBA heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell has passed away. Terrell was a very tall, slender fighter from Chicago who learned how to use his height and reach to disguise average skills and little power.
Terrell fought many of the top heavies of the 1960's. He became the WBA champion by beating Eddie Machen to win a title stripped away from Ali for giving Liston an immediate rematch. When he eventually fought Ali, he was badly beaten in a fight notorious for the hostility of Ali toward Ernie for calling him Clay. Terrell was a solid favorite to win a WBA tournament to replace Ali (after the Army issue) but was upset by journeyman Thad Spencer. After that Terrell quietly faded away.
If I had to come up with a more recent heavyweight to compare Terrell to, it might be Henry Akinwande.
Terrell fought many of the top heavies of the 1960's. He became the WBA champion by beating Eddie Machen to win a title stripped away from Ali for giving Liston an immediate rematch. When he eventually fought Ali, he was badly beaten in a fight notorious for the hostility of Ali toward Ernie for calling him Clay. Terrell was a solid favorite to win a WBA tournament to replace Ali (after the Army issue) but was upset by journeyman Thad Spencer. After that Terrell quietly faded away.
If I had to come up with a more recent heavyweight to compare Terrell to, it might be Henry Akinwande.
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