Thread: Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

A new book is underway,

About Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt.

A most confused and strange kid, who had the potential to be a Heavyweight Champion.

Mr. Man,

In October 1965, Jeff Merritt {Age; 18 years, 9 months} of Kansas City, Missouri was found guilty of Theft and Armed Robbery. He was sentenced
7-Years for his crime, and his time was to be served in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri.

Prior to be being incarcerated, Jeff had compiled an Amateur Record of 33-1 {29 KO's}.

Jeff had won several 1963-1964-1965 Missouri Amateur Boxing Tournaments.

Supposedly, Jeff had '1' Professional Bout in August 1965 where he was 'paid'. That cannot be confirmed.

While in Prison {1966}, Jeff had numerous bouts. Including winning the Missouri State Prison Championships.

In March 1967, Jeff caused quite a stir when he won the 1967 Missouri Valley AAU Tournament, when he scored a {KO 1} in just 1:03 in the Championship Final.

On Saturday, March 25, 1967 - Jeff won the PAL Championship at the Simonsen Gym in Jefferson City, where he defeated highly regarded William 'Willie' High of
Springfield Central Boxing Club.

Despite being in in the Missouri Prison System, Jeff started to get a lot of press. So much so, that Joe Louis and Sandy Saddler heard about Jeff's accomplishments in July 1967.

The two former Champions visited the Jefferson City, Missouri State Prison on Wednesday, August 23, 1967 to scout Jeff Merritt. In a Boxing Exhibition,
in front of Joe Louis, Sandy Saddler and over 1000 Prison Inmates, Jeff scored '3' 1st-Round Knockouts over '3' Prison Inmate Boxers, in what could be labeled
as complete mismatches.

Both Joe Louis and Sandy Saddler left the Missouri State Prison impressed in what they saw. A fighter who had size {6' 4"} and strength {211 lbs.}, and natural
punching power.

Chief,

Jeff Merritt {Kansas City, Missouri} had an amateur record of 99-1 {78 KO's}.

June 1963 thru November 1967.

He was incarcerated at the Missouri State Prison {Jefferson City} from October 1965 thru December 1967.

Jeff was paroled in December 1967.

The former Heavyweight Champion - Joe Louis was instrumental in helping Jeff Merritt get paroled.

In November 1967, Joe Louis spoke at Jeff's hearing in front of the Missouri State Prison Parole Board,
and stated that he would be a 'so-called caretaker' for Jeff, to help get him on the right track.

Joe Louis was a representative for the National Maritime Union in New York, and they were willing
to 'sponsor' Jeff in his rehabilitation.

The 'plan', was to get Jeff into a strict Boxing Program, with hopes of getting him an opportunity
to fight at the Olympic Trials in 1968, with a goal for the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.

I'd be interested in reading a well researched book about Merritt. I know that Don King insisted on using him as a sparring partner for Shavers before his fight with Quarry. Merritt broke the jaw of Shavers and the fight was postponed.

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

I'd be interested in reading a well researched book about Merritt. I know that Don King insisted on using him as a sparring partner for Shavers before his fight with Quarry. Merritt broke the jaw of Shavers and the fight was postponed.

Actually,

It was Archie Moore {Earnie's new trainer} that was the fool that put Earnie in with Jeff Merritt.

Earnie and Jeff had sparred before, so they knew each other. But things got heated in one session,
and Jeff snapped Earnie's jaw off it's hinge.

Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

I'd be interested in reading a well researched book about Merritt. I know that Don King insisted on using him as a sparring partner for Shavers before his fight with Quarry. Merritt broke the jaw of Shavers and the fight was postponed.

Actually,

It was Archie Moore {Earnie's new trainer} that was the fool that put Earnie in with Jeff Merritt.

Earnie and Jeff had sparred before, so they knew each other. But things got heated in one session,
and Jeff snapped Earnie's jaw off it's hinge.

That's right. Archie didn't quit because King did it; Archie got fired because he did it.

I like reading things like this. Good job

Here is the Skinny,

Don King bought Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt's contract from Chris Dundee in early 1973.

Jeff had been wasting away in Miami Beach, Florida.

Don King wanted to use Jeff as a 'prime' sparring partner for his now growing stable. And he had hopes of getting Jeff a few 'bone up' bouts in 1973.

In June 1973, Earnie Shavers signed to face Jerry Quarry at Madison Square Harden, with a date set for July 25, 1973.

Then, Madsion Square Garden provided Earnie Shavers with a training facility {Grossinger's Country Club} in upstate New York.

Don King then brought in Archie Moore to help 'refine' Earnie for the bout with Jerry Quarry.

On Sunday, July 15, 1973 ~ {10-Days before the bout} Archie Moore had scheduled Earnie to spar 5-Rounds with a preliminary boy.

Unfortunately, the kid didn't show up. But, Jeff Merritt who was there, was in the Gym working out.

Earlier, Don King had told Archie Moore 'under no circumstances' allow Jeff to spar with Earnie. As Jeff was a 'loose cannon' in the Ring, and you weren't quite sure on what he'd do.

Well with no one to spar with Earnie, Archie did the 'unthinkable'.

In Round 1, the two bangers went at it, and Jeff landed several 'Rocket Hooks' offof Earnie's jaw. After the Round was over, Earnie came back to the corner with a bloody mouth.

Archie didn't even remove Earnie's mouth-piece to check out for possible damage. Instead, he let Earnie go out for another round.

Mid-way thru Round 2, Jeff landed a thudding left-hook to Earnie's jaw, followed by a right-cross. Earnie then turned around, and walked back to his corner, and told Archie that
he thought that his jaw was broken.

Late, Earnie was examined by a Doctor at Grossinger's, and it was confirmed that Earnie had suffered a fractured jaw.

Don King fired Archie Moore the next day {Monday ~ July 16, 1973}.

Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt

By April 1972

Jeff was 'broke' and living in poverty in a South Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, with his Wife and 6 year-old child.

Jeff {Age; 25 years, 3 months} had a record of 19-1-0 {14 KO's}, and was supposed to be promoted by Chris Dundee,
but no fights cam Jeff's way.

Jeff's last bout was way back on July 26, 1971 {9-Months} earlier, on the undercard of the Muhammad Ali vs. Jimmy Ellis
bout in Houston at the Astrodome.

In that bout, Jeff received $1000 to put away one Al Banks in a preliminary bout.

For Jeff, the problem was, he was too good. At 6' 4" and 215 lbs., he carried power in both fists and was too dangerous in the
early going of a fight, as evident by his '7' 1st-Round Knockouts, and '5' 2nd-Round Knockouts.

No ranked fighter wanted to take the 'risk' of fighting Jeff for little money.

Angelo Dundee, "Jeff's problem, is that he's good, unranked and dangerous. In boxing, that's a bad mix in
trying to get anybody with a name to fight you."

To survive, Jeff lived off 'hand-outs' of {$5.00 per Day} at the Fifth Street Gym from other fighters, managers and trainers.

Only minor jobs of Dishwashing, working at a Car Wash, and House Painting let Jeff provide some meager offerings for his family.

January 1974

Don King had '2' hard-banging Heavyweights in Earnie Shavers and Jeff Merritt.

But, Earnie had just suffered a {L KO 1} top Jerry Quarry at Madison Square Garden
on December 13, 1973.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On January 24, 1974

Earnie Shavers decided to call it quits, and abruptly ended his career {temporarily}.

It was now up to Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt to make it to the top. Now based in Cleveland, Ohio
Jeff was being trained by Richie Giachetti.

Jeff {Age; 27 years, 0 months} had a record of 23-1-0 {18 KO's}, and was the #5 WBA-ranked heavyweight

Jeff was starting to get a lot of press, and many considered the young Knock-Out Artist a 'comer' in the
Heavyweight Division, and would most likely become a future Champion.

There was already talk of Jeff taking on the 'winner' of the George Foreman - Ken Norton Championship bout,
with a possible date for June 1974.

Tuesday ~ February 12, 1974,

'Manager' Don King signed up his fighter Jeff Merritt to take on West Coast's ~ Henry Clark
out of San Francisco, set for March 4, 1974 at the Coliseum in Oakland.

Don was ranting-and-raving that Jeff was the 'new' excitement in boxing and that his fighter was the 'dreadnought' of the Division.

Don pumped out Press Releases, that Jeff was the next Champion of the World and the future of the
Heavyweight Division.

Don King
"We'll put Henry Clark flat out on his back in front of his family and friends in Oakland. Then after
that, we'll take on either George Foreman or Ken Norton for the Heavyweight Championship in July 1974."

Sunday ~ February 17, 1974

Jeff Merritt was in Cleveland, Ohio preparing for his up coming bout with Henry Clark
set for March 4th.

Henry Clark was down in Houston, Texas - helping George Foreman prepare for his
Heavyweight Championship Title defense against Ken Norton.

The 'verbal sparring' started, as Jeff Merritt promised to lay-out Henry within 3-Rounds.

Jeff Merritt >
"I'll put Henry away, and retire him. He's got nothing in his repertoire to hold me back. I might
just send him floating on his back in the San Francisco Bay."

Henry, said he respected Jeff's power, but stated that Jeff Merritt was not in George Foreman's
league in strength or power.

Henry Clark >
"If I can take George's punches, then I have no fear of Jeff's punches. He''s dreaming if he thinks
he hits as hard as George."

Tale of the Tape

Monday ~ March 4, 1974 {Coliseum Arena ~ Oakland, California}

Promoter; Garden City Boxing Club {Joe Gagliardi}

Jeff Merritt
'Candy Slim'
Age........... 27 years, 2 months
Height....... 6' 4 1/2"
Weight...... 216 lbs.
Record...... 23-1-0 {18 KO's}
Ranking..... #5 WBA ~ #10 Ring Magazine
Manager.... Don King

Henry Clark
'Baby Face'
Age........... 29 years, 0 months
Height....... 6' 3"
Weight...... 215 lbs.
Record...... 28-8-3 {8 KO's}
Ranking..... #18 WBA
Manager.... Joe Herman

Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt

Was working with Richie Giachetti as his chief trainer in 1973 and 1974.

Prior to fighting Henry Clark on March 4, 1974 >

Richie Giachetti >
"Jeff is one of the most vicious punchers that I have ever seen. In sparring, he breaks people.
He doesn't hit as hard as George Foreman, but he is sharper with his punches. He is more
accurate, and quicker."

"Jeff fractured Earnie Shavers jaw {July 1973} and took it off it's hinge with one punch. I have
never seen that before. The kid is over 6' 4", and is real tall-and-lanky. He doesn't give you the
appearance that he is a brutal puncher, but he gets so much leverage in his swings, and that
doubles the power."

"We've had a hard time getting sparring partners for Jeff. He busts everybody up in 1 or 2 Rounds,
and nobody wants to take him on anymore here in Cleveland."

"He'll be tested by Henry Clark, as he has never been off his feet. Henry is tougher than he appears,
and is a tricky sort of boxer who gives you angles. Jeff just has to be patient, and wait for an opening.
Sooner or later, he'll get to Henry."