Ex-heavyweight champ Jimmy Ellis dead at 74

[Tuan_Jim]

Sad news. Louisville's Jimmy Ellis, a slick boxing stylist who went from classy middleweight to heavyweight champion of the world, has died at 74.

Wins over Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry, George Chuvalo and a debatable one over Floyd Patterson. Lost to Smokin' Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Later developed Tony Tubbs and orchestrated his win over Greg Page.

A classy, polished boxer, great to watch, and well worth a look if you haven't seen him before.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/25395352/home ... dies-at-74

[reggaereggae]

I read pro boxers have a life expectancy 7-10 years less than non pro boxers

[expe]

I read pro boxers have a life expectancy 7-10 years less than non pro boxers

That sounds likely, but it has to be balanced against the backgrounds fighters come from. A large number of fighters come from tough backgrounds and don't make enough in the ring to get out after they retire and those that do have a habit of wasting their money and going bankrupt. It's likely that boxers do have a shortened life expectancy compared to those who don't, but live the exact same life, getting punched in the head certainly isn't good for you, however I doubt it's as much as 10 years, more likely to be 2-3 years. It's difficult to work out the exact amount of time it takes off life expectancy, because you would need to take 2 people at birth, have them live the same lifestyles, with the same people, but have one box.

[Datsue]

RIP champ.

[spudder56]

RIP champ.

X2

[Old bones Ian]

Its amazing to look at his record and think he lost 3 fights in 1964 to very good boxers Rubin Carter, Don Fullmer and George Benton, all at middleweight. Then went on to win the WBA Heavyweight crown 4 years later, in a run of upsets really, he wasn't fancied to get to the final of the 8 man contest for the WBA crown let alone win it.
Stopping Leotis Martin and outpointing the very strong Bonavena showed Ellis was for real at heavyweight. He went into the final against Quarry an underdog though, for whatever reason Quarry got his tactics wrong against Ellis, and decided to try and outbox a boxer. In a fight without to many highlights (although compared to todays heavies it was a good fight) Ellis came away with a split but deserved decision.
After his narrow win over Patterson, he had a 15 month layoff due to a cut eye and a fight with Cooper being called off before facing Frazier, this probably didn't help Ellis, as in that time Frazier had grown into more of a wrecking ball at world level, and just beat up Ellis for 4 rounds, Frazier floored Ellis in the 4th heavily. Watching the fight its amazing Ellis got back up, but he was stopped by Dundee in the corner after that round finished.

Dundee also decided to be in Ellis's corner when he fought Ali, the 2 boxers were friends from years ago in Louisville, and Ellis had sparred 100's of rounds with Ali. In the end it didn't help Ellis who was mercifully stopped in 12 rounds.

Ellis should be remembered for being a brave guy who didn't duck anyone, a middleweight who took his chance and became a heavyweight champion.

RIP champ

[orbtastic]

Ali outlives another former foe.

[thepocketrocket]

Sounds like death was a release for him

[bennie]

Jimmy never pushed on as WBA champion as defences fell through for one reason or another, and he stood no chance against the 1970 model of Joe Frazier, who was a complete monster around that time. Nevertheless, he had proved he was a lot more than Ali's sparring partner, particularly in taming the crazy Oscar Bonavena over 12 rounds, dropping Bonavena twice en route. Ellis was a good fighter and a good man. I don't think anyone disliked him.

[chinny]

Its amazing to look at his record and think he lost 3 fights in 1964 to very good boxers Rubin Carter, Don Fullmer and George Benton, all at middleweight. Then went on to win the WBA Heavyweight crown 4 years later, in a run of upsets really, he wasn't fancied to get to the final of the 8 man contest for the WBA crown let alone win it.
Stopping Leotis Martin and outpointing the very strong Bonavena showed Ellis was for real at heavyweight. He went into the final against Quarry an underdog though, for whatever reason Quarry got his tactics wrong against Ellis, and decided to try and outbox a boxer. In a fight without to many highlights (although compared to todays heavies it was a good fight) Ellis came away with a split but deserved decision.
After his narrow win over Patterson, he had a 15 month layoff due to a cut eye and a fight with Cooper being called off before facing Frazier, this probably didn't help Ellis, as in that time Frazier had grown into more of a wrecking ball at world level, and just beat up Ellis for 4 rounds, Frazier floored Ellis in the 4th heavily. Watching the fight its amazing Ellis got back up, but he was stopped by Dundee in the corner after that round finished.

Dundee also decided to be in Ellis's corner when he fought Ali, the 2 boxers were friends from years ago in Louisville, and Ellis had sparred 100's of rounds with Ali. In the end it didn't help Ellis who was mercifully stopped in 12 rounds.

Ellis should be remembered for being a brave guy who didn't duck anyone, a middleweight who took his chance and became a heavyweight champion.

RIP champ

Nice tribute there Ian