Author's note: Upon hearing of Jimmy Ellis’s battle against Pugilistic Dementia, I would like to re-release this article about him.
 

Jimmy Ellis

By Jim Amato

Jimmy Ellis started his career as a middleweight in 1961 and through 1964 he lost five bouts to top middleweight contenders Holly Mims, Henry Hank, Rubin Carter, Don Fuller and George Benton.

By the time he blasted out Johnny Persol in one round in 1967, he had grown into a heavyweight. He swept the WBA elimination tournament by beating Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry. Jimmy twice had the iron jawed Bonavena on the canvas, something Joe Frazier could not do in 25 rounds of fighting.

Against Frazier, Ellis weighed in over 200 pounds. He looked flabby and after a few rounds became sluggish. The following year Jimmy met his long time friend Muhammad Ali. Jimmy was in great shape at 189 pounds. His muscles were tight and he looked fit.

Unfortunately, Ali was too big. He wore Jimmy down and stopped him in round twelve.

Ellis was a slick boxer with sharp reflexes. He had a good left hand and a sneaky right. He also had loads of courage. How many fighters could have gotten to their feet before the count of ten after catching Joe Frazier's full swing left hook flush on the jaw?

Jimmy is one of the most overlooked heavyweight champions of the last four decades. This may be due in part because he boxed in the Ali-Frazier era. I've often wondered what the outcome may have been had Bob Foster challenged Ellis for the WBA title.

Now that might be a dream match to run through a computer.