Ernie Terrell

Boxing · Deceased

46-9-0RECORD

21WINS BY KO / TKO

25WINS BY DECISION

55PRO FIGHTS

Profile

Full name	Ernest Terrell
Nickname	Not added yet
Date of birth	4 Apr 1939
Died	16 Dec 2014
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Inverness, Mississippi, United States
Based in	Not added yet
Weight classes	Heavyweight
Trainers	Not added yet
Height	198 cm (6′6″)
Reach	208 cm (82″)
Stance	Orthodox
Years active	1957–1973
Status	Deceased
Pro debut	15 May 1957
Last fight	Loss vs Jeff Merritt, 10 Sep 1973

Details on this page were compiled from public information on 11 Oct 2026 (the record is as of that date). Is this you? Claim this profile to correct anything and add your photo and bio. Claim this profile

Titles and honours

WBA heavyweight champion (1965–1967)

Background

Ernie Terrell was an American heavyweight who held the WBA heavyweight title from 1965 until losing it to Muhammad Ali in 1967. He fought professionally from 1957 to 1973, mostly in Chicago early in his career.

Fight history

55 professional fights. Newest first.

Result	Opponent	Method	Round	Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	Jeff Merritt	TKO	1	2:42	10 Sep 1973	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Loss	Chuck Wepner	Decision (points)	12		23 Jun 1973	Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.	For vacant National Americas heavyweight title
Win	Bill Drover	TKO	1	2:28	19 Feb 1973	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win	Jose Luis Garcia	KO	6		23 Oct 1972	Caracas, Venezuela
Win	Roberto Davila	Decision (unanimous)	10		24 Jul 1971	Playboy Club, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, U.S.
Win	Luis Faustino Pires	Decision (unanimous)	10		10 May 1971	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Vic Brown	Decision (unanimous)	10		28 Apr 1971	Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Win	John Hudgins	TKO	1	1:58	3 Apr 1971	Playboy Club, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, U.S.
Win	Sonny Moore	Decision (unanimous)	10		15 Dec 1970	The Eagles Club, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Loss	Manuel Ramos	Decision (unanimous)	10		14 Oct 1967	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Loss	Thad Spencer	Decision (unanimous)	12		5 Aug 1967	Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S.
Loss	Muhammad Ali	Decision (unanimous)	15		6 Feb 1967	Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S.	Lost WBA heavyweight title; For WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles
Win	Doug Jones	Decision (unanimous)	15		28 Jun 1966	Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.	Retained WBA heavyweight title
Win	George Chuvalo	Decision (unanimous)	15		1 Nov 1965	Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Retained WBA heavyweight title
Win	Eddie Machen	Decision (unanimous)	15		5 Mar 1965	International Amphitheatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Won vacant WBA heavyweight title
Win	Henry Wallitsch	TKO (corner retirement)	6	0:01	23 Oct 1964	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Win	Bob Foster	TKO	7	0:58	10 Jul 1964	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Win	Jefferson Davis	Decision (unanimous)	10		17 Jun 1964	Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Win	Gerhard Zech	Decision (unanimous)	10		6 Mar 1964	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Win	Zora Folley	Decision (unanimous)	10		27 Jul 1963	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Win	Cleveland Williams	Decision (split)	10		13 Apr 1963	Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win	Herb Siler	TKO	3		7 Mar 1963	Little River Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S.
Win	Young Jack Johnson	Decision (unanimous)	10		5 Jan 1963	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Win	Young Jack Johnson	Decision (unanimous)	10		14 Dec 1962	Chicago Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Reiniero Rey Lopez	KO	3	2:15	25 Sep 1962	Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Eddie Jackson	TKO	2	2:54	24 Aug 1962	Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Win	Amos Lincoln	Decision (unanimous)	6		9 Jun 1962	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
Loss	Cleveland Williams	TKO	7	1:43	3 Apr 1962	Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
Win	Herb Siler	Decision (points)	10		28 Feb 1962	Exhibition Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
Win	Ernie Cab	TKO (corner retirement)	3	0:01	4 Dec 1961	Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Win	Chuck Garrett	Decision (unanimous)	10		15 May 1961	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Willie Coleman	KO	1		17 Apr 1961	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Ernie Cab	TKO	8		6 Feb 1961	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Loss	Wayne Bethea	Decision (split)	10		5 Dec 1960	Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Joe Hemphill	Decision (unanimous)	8		20 Jul 1960	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Won Illinois heavyweight title
Win	Frankie Daniels	KO	7		18 May 1960	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Lee Williams	Decision (unanimous)	10		30 Mar 1960	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Clay Thomas	KO	1		6 Jan 1960	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Chuck Garrett	Decision (points)	6		11 Nov 1959	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Tunney Hunsaker	Decision (points)	8		24 Jul 1959	Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Loss	Johnny Gray	Decision (split)	8		25 Feb 1959	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Willie Coleman	Decision (points)	8		14 Jan 1959	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Sid Peaks	Decision (unanimous)	8		3 Nov 1958	Joe Louis Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	John Hobart	KO	1		7 Oct 1958	East Chicago, Indiana, U.S.
Win	Joe Hemphill	TKO	1		24 Sep 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Billy Pickett	KO	2		1 Jul 1958	Midwest Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Loss	Johnny Gray	Decision (split)	8		30 Apr 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Johnny Harper	TKO	1		11 Mar 1958	Midwest Gym, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Emil Brtko	TKO	2		4 Feb 1958	Joe Louis Gym, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Calvin Butler	Decision (split)	6		8 Jan 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Ted Poole	TKO	1		30 Oct 1957	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Neal Welch	Decision (unanimous)	6		21 Aug 1957	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Ray Griggs	KO	1		24 Jul 1957	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Andy Bond	TKO	1		26 Jun 1957	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Win	Norman Bolden	Decision (unanimous)	4		15 May 1957	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Pro debut

Record source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).