Jimmy Ellis vs. Tony Doyle ~ March 2, 1971

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ March 2, 1971

The Auditorium ~ Miami Beach, Florida

Jimmy Ellis vs. Tony Doyle

Jimmy Ellis, the former WBA Heavyweight Champion was making his 2nd comeback bout
after getting 'demolish' {TKO 5} by Smokin' Joe Frazier in the World Heavyweight Championship bout back on February 16, 1970.

Following that loss, Jimmy had retired. But Jimmy returned to help his good friend Muhammad Ali
in his own return to the Ring. Jimmy was Muhammad's primary sparring partner during the second-half of 1970 and early part of 1971.

Jimmy Ellis >
"When I fought Joe Frazier I came in at 201 lbs. I came in heavier so I could slug with him. But I'm not a slugger, I'm a boxer/puncher.
When I fought Peruvian - Roberto Davila {November 10, 1970}, I came in at 189 1/2 lbs. I was much faster and quicker. Speed-boxing
is much better than slugging for me."

"I've worked out a lot with Muhammad, and I've helped that kid out {Jeff Merrit} as well. I've put in over 200 Rounds of sparring, and
I'm sharp. I want to show everybody that without a doubt, I deserve to be the next fighter to get the winner of the Frazier-Ali bout next week."

[Bill Paxtom]

Tale of the Tape

James Ellis
Nickname... 'The Cobra' ~ 'Jimmy'
Age........... 31 years, 0 Months
Height ...... 6' 1 1/2"
Reach........ 76"
Weight....... 198 1/4 lbs.
Record....... 28-6-0 {13 KO's}
WBA.......... #2
Ring.......... #4
Style.......... Boxer/Puncher

General >
Jimmy is a solid boxer, with good hand speed and swift footwork. He has very good power in his right-hand,
and he is capable of taking an opponent out with one-punch. He has very good boxing skills to compliment
his Ring Generalship. He has a sharp left-hand, and is a very good counter-puncher. Always comes into a
bout in shape, and is well-schooled.

Defensively, Jimmy is solid {Grade B+}, and he has a sturdy chin. He is durable {Grade B+}, and has performed
well in rugged bouts.

Intangible >
Jimmy has a tendency to over-punch, and has gotten arm-weary in several long-distance bouts. Sometimes he gets
too 'right-hand happy', and leaves himself open to counters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anthony Doyle
Nickname... 'Irish' ~ 'Tony' ~ 'The Salt Lake City Flash' ~ 'Young Jack Dempsey'
Age........... 26 years, 7 months
Height....... 6' 4"
Reach........ 80"
Weight....... 207 lbs.
Record....... 36-8-1 {19 KO's}
WBA.......... #10
Ring........... #16
Style........... Boxer

General >
Tony is a typical stand-up Boxer, and likes to use his Height {6' 4"} and Reach {80"} to pile up points. He has a
good left-hand {stiff jab} and a sneaky right-hand counter. Hand speed is Average {Grade B}. Boxing skills are
generally good. A willing fighter who will slug on occasion.

Defensively, Tony is a notch below Average {Grade B-}. He does have a good chin, and he can take a good punch
and has proven his durability.

Intangible >
Tony can be out-worked, and he has a tendency to wait too long to counter. Not a physically strong fighter. Lacks
a good punch.

[brocktonblockbust]

"stand-up" boxer is a stretch Bill. Remeber 'jelly rolls' can't 'stand-up'

[Bill Paxtom]

Anthony 'Tony' Doyle

Salt Lake City, Utah

A hell of an Amateur Heavyweight Boxer, winning numerous Titles.

As a teenager, Tony {Age; 18 years, 7 months} defeated Joe Frazier {3-2} on March 8, 1963 in Utica, New York in the Semi-Finals
at the 1963 National AAU Tournament.

At the time, Tony was a tall {6' 3 1/2"} and skinny 195 lb. 'rail'. A pure boxer with a typical straight-up stance, and a classic left-jab.

Tony Doyle >
"I beat Joe with one-hand. I gave him my left jab all night long. He was strong, but he was raw and not refined yet."

Big things were expected from this Southwest Mountain Region Heavyweight when he turned professional in July 1963. But 'Irish Tony'
stumbled a bit in a few bouts, but got to 18-4-2 {11 KO's} by September 1967.

A much anticipated rematch with Joe Frazier was set for October 17, 1967 and in Joe's hometown of Philadelphia at the new Spectrum.

At the time, Joe was as 'Hot-as-a-Pistol', and was 17-0-0 {15 KO's} and ranked as the #2 WBA Heavyweight.

Joe did not disappoint, and flattened Tony by a TKO 2. It was the 1st-time that Tony had ever been stopped.

Tony Doyle >
"They gave me $10,000 to come to Philadelphia. I knew it was going to be tough, because I hadn't fought in 5-Months and I was
worried as my Wife was pregnant with twins. But the fight purse {$10,000) was too good to pass up. Unfortunately for me, I never
got going and Joe ripped me apart."

But Tony rebounded, and won his next 11-Straight {8 KO's} over the next 2-years. By September 1969, Tony was 29-5-2 {19 KO's} and
ranked as the #11 WBA Heavyweight.

Tony Doyle >
"I was one-bout away from a fight with WBA Champion - Jimmy Ellis. He was willing to come out to Los Angeles to fight me in November 1969.
All I had to do, was beat Manuel Ramos at The Olympic Auditorium {September 11, 1969}. It should have been a 'Piece-of-Cake'. I was coming
of a good win {KO 8} over Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln only 2-Weeks earlier. And Manuel Ramos had not fought in nearly 1-Year, since getting
stopped {TKO 5} by George Chuvalo on September 26, 1968."

"I came out fast, and took it to him. I built up a 3-Point lead after 5-Rounds. I figured that my fast-pace and his long lay-off would effect him
down the stretch, and he would tire. But he came on strong over the last 4-Rounds and edged me by a close 10-Round Decision. That loss hurt."

[Bill Paxtom]

Anthony 'Tony' Doyle

After getting 'upset' by Manuel Ramos on September 11, 1969 - the loss ended Tony's 11-Bout / 2-Year winning streak, which
also 'squashed' his hopes of fighting Jimmy Ellis in November 1969 for the WBA Heavyweight Championship.

Tony Doyle >
"After that loss, I took 3 1/2 months off and thought about quitting. Then on January 3, 1970 ~ I signed a contract to fight
in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom for Joseph Kellman Promotions.

* January 21, 1970 ...... W Dec 10 ~ Charles Singleton ~ 15-2-1 {9 KO's}
Charles was a pretty good 23 year-old Club-Fighting Heavyweight from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I fought him in Chicago,
and it was a good scrap. We both whacked each other pretty good. I won a clear-cut Decision. Charles retired after our bout and
never fought again.

* February 16, 1970 .... W Dec 10 ~ Getulio Bueno ~ 13-0-1 {13 KOs}
It was on the Closed-Circuit broadcast of the 'Joe Frazier ~ Jimmy Ellis' Heavyweight Championship Bout at Madison Square Garden.
Getulio was an unbeaten 23 year-old Argentinian Heavyweight who they were building up. He was only 193 lbs., but he had a
wicked punch. They wanted to put him in with me in Chicago as a 'test' before stepping him up. But I gave him a boxing lesson
over the first 5-Rounds and then cruised over the second-half of the bout. He could take a good punch, and kept trying to wing
throughout the whole bout. He was a tough kid.

* April 4, 1970 ........... W Dec 10 ~ Frank 'Snakebite' Nibblet ~ 15-36-11 {8 KO's}
I took a 'fill-in fight' in Missoula, Montana. Frank was a 31 year-old Light-Heavyweight fighter from California. But despite his losing
record, Frank was pretty tough for a 180 lb. guy. He was a 10-year veteran, and had only been stopped 'twice' in 62-Bouts. Though
he was billed as a 'Cannon-Fodder', he was a decent fighter. He was a good guy to take on when you wanted a good hard work-out.
They liked rough brawls out there in Montana, and Frank and I gave them one to cheer about.

"Then 3-weeks later, I was back in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom. It was to be my most important fight, as I was to take on
Roberto Davila. Roberto was the Peruvian Heavyweight Champion. He was a 29 year-old fighter, with a lot of experience. His
record was 38-17-0 {30 KO's}. He was a muscular guy at 6' 2", and solid at 205 lbs. Only 6-Months earlier {October 31, 1969} he had
taken George Foreman the distance {8-Rounds} in a grueling fight. What was important, was that the winner of our fight was to
get to fight Sonny Liston at the Chicago Amphitheatre in June 1970."

* April 27, 1970 ......... W Split Dec 10 ~ Roberto Davila ~ 38-17-0 {30 KO's}

[brocktonblockbust]

the 'Aragon' Ballroom used to 'be' a great place until 'certain' investors 'tried' to close it down.