16 Facts About Ernie Terrell

Ernest Terrell was an American professional boxer who competed from 1957 to 1973.

Ernie Terrell unsuccessfully fought the other world heavyweight champion of the era, Muhammad Ali, in a heavyweight title unification contest in 1967, losing by a unanimous decision.

Ernie Terrell was the elder brother of the Supremes' early 1970s lead singer Jean Ernie Terrell.

Ernie Terrell was born on 4 April 1939 in Inverness, Mississippi, and spent his early childhood in Belzoni.

Ernie Terrell was born into a family of ten children, whose father was a Mississippi sharecropper who during Terrell's childhood moved the family north to Chicago when he found employment in the factories there.

Ernie Terrell received his formal education at Farragut School in Chicago.

Ernie Terrell defeated Machen to win the belt on March 5,1965.

On March 29,1966, Ali and Ernie Terrell were scheduled to fight, but Ernie Terrell backed out.

On February 6,1967, Ali and Ernie Terrell finally met to end the debate about who was the legitimate heavyweight champion.

Ernie Terrell said later that he had known "Clay" for years in the amateurs and hadn't gotten used to calling him another name.

Ernie Terrell lost an upset 12-round decision to Thad Spencer later in 1967 in the WBA heavyweight tournament that was organized after Ali was stripped of his title in April 1967.

Ernie Terrell left the sport for three years following the loss, but returned in 1970, winning seven consecutive fights before losing to Chuck Wepner by decision.

In 55 professional fights, Ernie Terrell earned a record of 46 wins, nine losses and no draws.

Ernie Terrell ran unsuccessfully for alderman of Chicago's 34th ward in 1987, finishing second in the primary although lost to Lemuel Austin in a runoff.

Ernie Terrell died at the age of 75 on December 16,2014, in a hospital at Evergreen Park, Illinois, having been afflicted in his final years with dementia.

Ernie Terrell married Maxine Sibley in 1974; the couple raised two children.