Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Ellis, billed as The Inevitable Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on July 26, 1971, for the NABF heavyweight championship.
Background This was Ali's first boxing match after the Fight of the Century against Joe Frazier in March 1971.
A problem arose before the fight as both Ali and Ellis shared the same trainer, Angelo Dundee. Dundee had been Ali's trainer since his second professional fight, and was also Ellis' manager. It would be decided that Dundee would be in Ellis' corner, with Dundee stating "You gotta understand — I manage Ellis 100 per cent. With Ali, I'm just an employee.". However, Ali claimed that Dundee chose Ellis because he would make more money from managing him than training Ali. Ali got Harry Wiley as his trainer, who had helped train and manage Sugar Ray Robinson. Also of note is that Ali's assistant trainer, Drew Bundini Brown, had forgotten to pack Ali's trunks, as such, Ali would wear a pair of over-sized white trunks for the bout.
The fight
Ellis made a good account of himself for the first three rounds, but in the fourth, a straight right by Ali buckled Ellis' legs. From there-on, Ellis would begin to take a beating, with Ali circling, jabbing, and occasionally planting his feet and throwing combinations to Ellis' head. Another straight right from Ali wobbled Ellis in the twelfth, Ali took his opportunity to pound on Ellis, and eventually won the bout through a technical knockout when the referee stopped the fight.
Undercard Confirmed bouts:
Broadcasting Country Broadcaster ABS-CBN BBC
References