Jimmy Ellis (boxer)
| Jimmy Ellis | |
|---|---|
Ellis in 1968
|
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | James Albert Ellis |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
February 24, 1940 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 2014 (aged 74) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 53 |
| Wins | 40 |
| Wins by KO | 24 |
| Losses | 12 |
| Draws | 1 |
James Albert "Jimmy" Ellis (February 24, 1940 – May 6, 2014) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1961 to 1975. He won the vacant WBA heavyweight title in 1968 by defeating Jerry Quarry, making one successful title defense in the same year against Floyd Patterson, before losing to Joe Frazier in 1970.
He was born one of ten children. His father, Walter, was a pastor, and Ellis was brought up as a Christian. As a teenager Ellis worked in a cement finishing factory. He also sang in the local church choir, later joined by his wife Mary. He continued church involvement all his adult life. He also admired Joe Louis.
Ellis got into boxing as a teenager after watching a friend box fellow Louisville youngster Muhammad Ali on a local amateur boxing television show called Tomorrow's Champions. "I had a friend of mine named Donnie Hall, and he fought Ali," Ellis said. "Donnie lost, and I thought I could maybe be a fighter then." Ellis went with Hall to Louisville's Columbia Gym, where the coach was a police officer named Joe Martin.
Ellis won 59 of 66 amateur bouts and was a Golden Gloves champion. He boxed Ali twice as an amateur, with Ali winning the first bout and Ellis winning the second.
Ellis turned professional as a middleweight in 1961. Early in his pro career, he was trained and managed by Bud Bruner. With Bruner, he compiled a record of 15–5 (6 KOs). His five losses were decisions to top Middleweight contenders Holly Mims (whom he defeated in a rematch), Henry Hank, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Don Fullmer, and George Benton. This start probably helped his speed of punch, movement and finesse.
...
Wikipedia