Roy Williams, Jeff Merritt

[Mr. Ryan]

I hear all the time about how these two guys would've been heavyweight champs today and just didn't get their shots.

Roy Williams was a tough sparring partner for Muhammad Ali. Roy's exit from the camp came when he was pissed about not getting his bout on the Wepner undercard. Williams wanted his 5K so Ali made him fight him for it. They went 10 rounds and they fought to a stalemate. The next day they did it again and Williams still gave as good as he got and was dismissed after collecting the 5K. He went on to lose to Holmes and Shavers (after having him out in the 10th).

Jeff Merritt was just a classic underachiever. He had troubles with drugs forever and never really fulfilled his potential. Merritt KO'ed Ernie Terrell in one and Ron Stander in three, but issues with drugs caused his downward spiral and resulted in him spending the remainder of his days begging in Las Vegas.

Was the heavyweight talent pool so overpopulated that these guys couldn't get in, or did they just not have it?

[Sharkey]

Jeff Merritt was just a classic underachiever. He had troubles with drugs forever and never really fulfilled his potential. Merritt KO'ed Ernie Terrell in one and Ron Stander in three, but issues with drugs caused his downward spiral and resulted in him spending the remainder of his days begging in Las Vegas.

Was the heavyweight talent pool so overpopulated that these guys couldn't get in, or did they just not have it?

Not only did Merritt have a history of drug problems, but he also had a history of landing in the can, as he spent time in prison before (a few years for armed robbery), during, and after his boxing career.

He was quite highly touted for a time, though, as he had some of the most famous names in boxing at the time (like Dundee, Ali, Frazier, Archie Moore, Don King, etc.) all speaking glowingly of his then-prospects for the future, with his powerful left hook especilly getting a lot of attention as already being considered one of (if not 'the') the most powerful punches in the division, which was especially prevailant during the short period of time when he was busting Shavers' jaw in sparring, icing Terrell in one (video of this fight is available, and shows Merritt hurting Terrell with single left hook before knocking him around the ring to force a ref stoppage), or becoming who was reportedly the only fighter to ever knock noted tough guy, Ron Stander, off his feet in a professional boxing match*. That was all in 1973, I believe, and while attempting to add another "name" on his ledger with the Henry Clark fight, Merritt quickly found himself a victim of a left hook against him when Clark sent him sprawling across the ring and then to an eventual & very suprising loss.

*some my look at BoxRec and think that the likes of Coetzee and Kirkman knocked Stander out for a ten count, but don't be fooled by those listings, as that was a corner retirement in the case of the Coetzee fight, and a doctor stoppage in the Kirkman fight due to Stander having his right eye completely closed.

[neverlast]

“candy Slim”; Remember Him?

He began his career in 1964 but it was not until 1973 that he crashed into the heavyweight ratings. In between were periods of inactivity and a multitude of meaningless bouts. He was a murderous, punching prospect that no worthy opponent wanted to chance his career against. By the time he got his “shot” at the big time, he was 21-1 with 16 kayos. He scored seven 1st round kayos and eight 2nd round stoppages. Yet up to this point his claim to fame was being a Muhammad Ali sparring partner. It is a shame that today very few remember Jeff "Candy Slim” Merritt. True, his tenure as a main stream contender was less than a year but oh what a reputation he had. Many at that time considered him the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division, bar none.

Although Jeff had one bout in 1964 his career really began in 1968. In 1969 Jeff established himself as a legitimate prospect with decision wins over Ray Williams, Roger Russel and Henry Clark. Finally on September 10th, 1973, Jeff stepped into the ring to face former W.B.A. heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell. “Big” Ernie had held the W.B.A. title from 1965 to 1967 before losing a unification fight with Ali. He then lost to Thad Spencer in the W.B.A. eight man elimination tourney and followed with a kayo victory over Jose Luis Garcia. Despite a very controversial loss to Chuck Wepner, Ernie was still ranked when he faced Merritt. Less then one round later Ernie was a retired ex-champion as Jeff destroyed him. Jeff followed this with a three round butchering of rugged Ron Stander.

Jeff kept his name in the headlines serving as Earnie Shavers sparring partner while Earnie prepared for his bout with Jerry Quarry. Archie Moore was training Shavers and he allowed Merritt to spar with Earnie. A couple of vicious hooks caused the Quarry bout to be postponed, as Earnie’s jaw was broken. Don King, Earnie’s manager was livid. Archie was dismissed and Quarry’s trainer Gil Clancey said something to the effect that Merritt was the kind of guy you fought for money, not in the gym.

All was going well until March 4th, 1974. Jeff faced old foe Henry Clark. This time Clark abandoned his usual cautious style and took Jeff by surprise. Jeff was now the victim of a one round kayo loss. The defeat put Jeff’s career into a tale spin. It was almost 2 1/2 years before he would fight again. His opponent would be tough fringe contender Stan Ward. For two rounds Jeff outboxed the ponderous Ward, shutting one of his eyes. In round three the half blind Ward connected and again Jeff’s chin betrayed him. The bout was soon stopped and Ward had handed Jeff his ticket to boxing oblivion.

Not only did Merritt have a history of drug problems, but he also had a history of landing in the can, as he spent time in prison before (a few years for armed robbery), during, and after his boxing career.

He was quite highly touted for a time, though, as he had some of the most famous names in boxing at the time (like Dundee, Ali, Frazier, Archie Moore, Don King, etc.) all speaking glowingly of his then-prospects for the future, with his powerful left hook especilly getting a lot of attention as already being considered one of (if not 'the') the most powerful punches in the division, which was especially prevailant during the short period of time when he was busting Shavers' jaw in sparring, icing Terrell in one (video of this fight is available, and shows Merritt hurting Terrell with single left hook before knocking him around the ring to force a ref stoppage), or becoming who was reportedly the only fighter to ever knock noted tough guy, Ron Stander, off his feet in a professional boxing match*. That was all in 1973, I believe, and while attempting to add another "name" on his ledger with the Henry Clark fight, Merritt quickly found himself a victim of a left hook against him when Clark sent him sprawling across the ring and then to an eventual & very suprising loss.

*some my look at BoxRec and think that the likes of Coetzee and Kirkman knocked Stander out for a ten count, but don't be fooled by those listings, as that was a corner retirement in the case of the Coetzee fight, and a doctor stoppage in the Kirkman fight due to Stander having his right eye completely closed.

[Dynamite76]

Mac Foster and Ron Lyle shoud have fought these guys, they would've been great wars.

[Terry A]

Here's a thread we had earlier on Roy Williams...

//krikya360.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=110203