Chuck Wepner vs. Ernie Terrell

Chuck Wepner 219 lbs beat Ernie Terrell 223 lbs by PTS in round 12 of 12

• Date: 1973-06-23
• Location: Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
• Referee: Harold Valan 7-5

"Referee Harold Valan's ruling on the 12 round fight stunned the sparse crowd in Convention Hall which had watched Ernie Terrell pound the bleeding, punchless Chuck Wepner through most of the fight, billed in New Jersey as being for the American heavyweight championship. As is customary under N.J. boxing rules, the decision on the fight was made by the referee alone. Known as a cautious fighter, Terrell leaned on Wepner throughout the fight and jabbed away at cuts over Wepner's right eye and left ear. Terrell tired in the late rounds but continued to land the fight's only solid punches. The press corps unanimously scored it for Terrell, with some giving him as many as 10 of the rounds." -Associated Press

• Unofficial Ring magazine scorecard - 9-3 Terrell

Post fight comments

• "Willie Gilzenberg was telling him to change this round, change that round. When I asked Gilzenberg what was going on, he said, 'This guy doesn't know how to add.'" -Sam Solomon, Terrell's trainer, on his claim that he saw Valan consulting with Promoter Willie Gilzenberg while tallying his card.

• "As long as you have people who are cheap in their moral dignity and code of ethics, you will have something that smells like Convention Hall here tonight." -Ernie Terrell

• "There is nothing I can say to anyone right now, but I'll look into it." -Abe J. Greene, New Jersey State Athletic Commissioner, when pressed about the decision

Post hearing results

• On Monday June 25, 1973, New Jersey Athletic Commissioner Abe Greene announced that he was allowing the decision to stand, but because of the controversy surrounding the decision, he was withholding the title of US heavyweight champion from Chuck Wepner and ordering an immediate rematch.

• Wepner's manager Al Braverman stated, "The Commissioner is not a matchmaker. He does not make fights for my man." Braverman went on to claim he already had three fights lined up for his choosing with George Foreman, Joe Frazier or Oscar Bonavena.

• Wepner stated, "There is no way I'll get in the ring with Terrell again. If they want me to meet him they've got to give me my title back."

• George Hamid, Terrell's business advisor, stated after Greene's decision that Terrell was ready to fight at 48 hours notice. He went on to say, "We'll go anywhere, any time and box under any terms as it is the only way this injustice can be rectified."