Irish News, Features & Sport

When people think of a former World Heavyweight Champion they think of the greats like Muhammad Ali , Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Max Schmeling and the list goes on. One name you won’t hear though is that of Jimmy Ellis.

Ellis , a native of Louisville,  Kentucky, started boxing as an amateur after watching a friend box the one and only Muhammad Ali on a televised amateur show called “Tomorrow’s Champions”. After watching his friend ( Donnie Hall) lose, Jimmy Ellis thought he had what it took to be a fighter. He followed his friend to Louisville’s Columbia Boxing Gym where he started his amateur career under the coaching of a police officer called Joe Martin. Ellis was no doubt a talent, notching up a very impressive amateur record winning 59 of his 66 fights. He fought Ali twice as an amateur, losing the first and winning the second. He was a Golden Gloves Champion and no doubt was a big prospect as he turned pro in 1961. Continue reading →