Jimmy Ellis vs. Johnny Persol

Jimmy Ellis 190 lbs beat Johnny Persol 179 lbs by KO at 2:44 in round 1 of 10

• Date: 1967-03-22
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Barney Smith

From The Associated Press:

Jimmy Ellis, a light heavyweight contender and sparring partner of Cassius Clay, scored a sensational first-round technical knockout over heavyweight contender Johnny Persol of New York in the semifinal to the Clay-Zora Folley heavyweight title fight Wednesday night. The 190½-pound Ellis, ranked fifth among the light heavies, dropped the 27-year-old New Yorker twice and was declared the winner at 2:44 of the scheduled 10-rounder at Madison Square Garden. The fight had just hit the two-minute mark when Ellis caught the 179-pound Persol with a jarring left hook to the jaw. Persol shook his head and reeled back to the ropes. Ellis charged after his stricken foe and nailed him with another jolting left hook followed by a right that dropped Persol to the canvas. He staggered up at eight. Ellis charged in again and nailed his foe with two more jolting left hooks and a chopping right that dropped Persol to his knees on the canvas.