May 10, 1971 ~ Boxing Triple Bill Extravaganza

[Bill Paxtom]

Ernie Terrell vs Luis Pires

International Amphitheatre ~ Chicago, Illinois

Attendance...... { 630 }
Gate Receipts....{ $4100 }

Pre-Fight Skinny

Ernie Terrell was listed as a {4-1} Betting-Favorite over the tough 'Brazilian Brawler' Luis Pires. It was expected that
Ernie would use his 'telephone-pole' left-jab to pile up the points, and to drop in long range right-hands from the
outside during the middle-Rounds.

Luis Pires only chance to win, would be to smother Ernie and work his body with hooks and inside brawling during
the middle-Rounds, and to try and wear him down so Luis could out-muscle the tall bean-pole later in the bout.
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Fight Overview

Big Ernie let his long left-jab do the talking during the 1st-Round. Ernie utilized his 4" Height and 5" Reach advantage
to perfection, as he kept Luis on the outside and at the end of his left-hand.

In Round 2, Ernie landed a 'pile-driver' right-hand to Luis face that nearly closed his left-eye. Ernie added in continuous
left-jabs to Luis' face as he kept him outside.

Ernie stepped it up in Round 3, and continued with 'rapid' left-hands as he was setting up Luis for a long right-hand lead.
Then at the {2:00 Mark} Ernie unloaded with a jarring right-hand lead on Luis' head. Luis was stunned and Ernie unloaded
several more hard right-hands. Luis was in trouble late, as Ernie slammed away. Ernie tried to put Luis away, but came
just up short.

The tough 32 year-old Brazilian showed that he was game, and could take a punch.

Ernie went back to his long left-hand in Round 4, and speared Luis with continuous jabs to the face, as he piled up the
points. Luis was unable to close the distance, as Ernie was firing hard left-hands to stave off Luis' forward attacks.

A game Luis came out charging in Round 5, and scored with a few decent body punches as he got in close and forced
Ernie backwards and into the Ropes. While there, Luis slammed in several good body blows to the ribs.

Luis kept the pressure up in Round 6, and again worked in close and scored with heavy hooks to Ernie's body. When
they fought inside and tight, it was Luis who got the better of the exchanges. Luis was able to open up a slight
cut over Ernie's right-eye when he landed a whipping left-hook while inside.

In Round 7, Ernie went back to left-hands from the outside, and he scored with continuous left-jabs as Luis was unable
to get back inside. Ernie stayed steady with the left-jab, and had Luis a little groggy late in the Round.

In Round 8, both fighters exchanged in close-quarters at Center-Ring during the first-half of the Round. Luis was a bit
stronger on the inside, where he did his best work. In the second-half of the Round, Ernie moved outside and was better, as
he let his left-jab do the talking.

In Round 9, Ernie stayed back outside, and scored with several jarring right-hands early. Ernie then slammed Luis with
a hard right-hand to the mouth which drew blood. Ernie had Luis 'wobbly' during the middle of the session, but he could
not drop his 'groggy' opponent. Luis slowly got back into the Round at the {2:20 Mark}, and made an aggressive attack
over the last 30-Seconds as Ernie looked arm-weary at the Rounds end.

In Round 10, with the bout 'well-in-hand', Ernie resorted to 'jabbing-and-grabbing' as Luis tried to slam in a KO Punch.
Luis tried but could not get in an effective blow, as Ernie grabbed him and tied him up each time that he got in close.
Ernie scored with some solid pole-poking left-jabs over the second-half of the Round as Luis tired down the stretch.

Scorecards
* 48-43
* 50-44
* 48-43

The Associated Press scored it 48-42 for Ernie Terrell.

After Bout Comments >

Ernie Terrell>
"I won big. I hurt him badly in Round 3, and he knew that I knew it. But Luis is durable and strong, and he held on.
You can see why nobody wants to fight him."

"Some of the Boxing Press will still say that I was not impressive. That's OK, I know that I'm not 'dashing'. I just
have to keep winning, and hopefully I will get a Title Bout by the end of this Year. Though I'd like it sooner than later."

"I used this bout as a Pre-Fight Tune-up for Floyd Patterson and Jerry Quarry. I want both of them, before I take
on Joe Frazier."