Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

[Bill Paxtom]

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."

[Bill Paxtom]

Jeff Merritt vs. Henry Clark 'II' {Scheduled for Monday ~ March 4, 1974}

Jeff and Henry had met {4 1/2 years} earlier, back in August 18, 1969 at Madison Square Garden.

At the time, Jeff {Age; 22 years, 7 months} was 10-1-0 {7 KO's}.

Henry {Age; 24 years, 5 months} with a record of 17-5-3 {4 KO's} was brought in as a 'stiff test' for Jeff,
as Henry had never been knocked off his feet, 'ever'.

Henry had already been ranked as high as #5 by the WBA in July 1968, before losing by {L TKO 7} to
former Champion ~ Sonny Liston in July 1968.

The 1st-bout between Jeff and Henry was competitive, but Jeff won a 'solid' 8-Round Unanimous Decision.

At the Friday Night ~ March 1st, 1974 Press Conference

Henry Clark >
"Our 1st-bout was close, and Jeff won a disputed 8-Round Split-Decision at Madison Square Garden. Jeff was living
in New York City, and he was their guy. That win was 'tainted'. Anywhere else, and it would have been a Draw."

Jeff Merritt >
"Split-Decision my ass. I won every Round of that fight. I've never been involved in a Split-Decision in my life. Every
fight that I've had that has been a Decision, has been a convincing one in my favor. I practically chased you {Henry} out
of the Ring in the 1st and 2nd Rounds."

"I was so good in that fight in August 1969, that I scared the 'shit' out of Floyd Patterson {who was supposed to fight me in October 1969},
into staying retired for another 12-Months {1-Year}."

[roberto duran legend]

You are basically telling us the book

[Bill Paxtom]

Oakland, California

Friday Night ~ March 1, 1974

Jeff Merritt vs. Henry Clark 'II' ~ Press Conference

Jeff Merrit>
"In our 1st-fight, I was only a 22 year-old kid with 11-fights under my belt. And I still beat the Crap out of him."

"I nailed Henry with a left-hook to the jaw in the 1st-Round, and he back-pedaled so fast, I thought he was going
to back up all the way back to San Francisco."

"I chased him all over the Ring in the 2nd-Round after I nailed him with right-cross to the jaw. His legs wobbled like
Jelly on a hot piece of toast."

"Unfortunately, I cracked a bone in my right-wrist in the 3rd-Round, and I couldn't use that hand for the rest of the fight,
so I just jabbed the Hell out of him throughout the rest of the night with my left-hand. He won maybe one round
{the 6th-Round}, after I had the fight in the bag."

[Bill Paxtom]

Jeff Merritt vs. Henry Clark

On Henry Clark,

The 29 year-old San Francisco veteran with a record of 28-8-3 {8 KO's} was ranked as the #18 Heavyweight.

Henry had been part of George Foreman's sparring team. Henry had spent 5-Weeks in Houston, Texas - {January and February}
before coming back to the Pleasanton, California Camp on February 24th. Henry was helping George prepare for his upcoming
March 26, 1974 Title Defense against Ken Norton.

Henry Clark >
"I go 4-Rounds with George every day. We have 'Wars' in the Gym, and he can't put me down. So if anybody thinks that I'm afraid
of getting back into the Ring with Jeff Merritt, they have a screw loose."

"Nobody hits harder than George. Now Jeff is a good fighter, and he is a sharp puncher. But, he's not in George's league as power goes.
George has superior physical strength and can break your forearm with a punch. Jeff may be a little sharper puncher, but that's about it."

"Why did I take this fight. It's getting late in my career, and I need a big win to get a Title fight. After I beat Jeff on Monday Night, I'll be
next in the line for a Championship Bout, or a major $$$ fight."

"I haven't been in the Ring in nearly 9-Months {Last bout; June 26, 1973} but I've been in the Gym 5-days a week over that stretch.
I'm in shape and ready to go. As a matter of fact, I feel a little light at 215 lbs."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Archie Moore chimes in >

"They've asked me if Jeff Merritt is a great fighter, or a well promoted fighter. Well, he's better than he was. When I first came in to
Cleveland to help him in March 1973, he was out-of-shape. But after 3-Months {by June 1973} of working with me, he was in great
shape and punching hard."

"He's getting better. He can hit, and is a big puncher. Yes, he busted Earnie Shavers jaw in July 1973, and that has made Jeff a
'Gym Session Legend'. But there are questions about his desire. We'll see Monday Night, as Henry is a good 'Bay Area Fighter' who
doesn't scare easily. He'll fight back hard after he gets hit, even though he's not a big banger."

[Bill Paxtom]

Monday Night ~ March 4, 1974

Jeff 'Candy Clim' Merritt vs. Henry 'Baby Face' Clark

Oakland Coliseum Arena ~ Oakland, California

* Attendance........ 1572
* Gate Receipts.... $11,414

The Fight

Jeff Merritt charged from his corner, and came 3/4 of the way across the Ring, where he met Henry Clark 'head on', who was
coming out of his corner.

Jeff wound up and landed a grazing left-right, as Henry countered with a left-jab and right-hand.

Jeff then wound up again, just as Henry countered and exploded a powerful left-hook that landed on Jeff's exposed chin.

Henry's punch landed 'flush' on Jeff's chin, sending him reeling backwards across Center-Ring and down on his haunhes.

Jeff got up to his feet at the '8-Count' as Referee - Tony Bostich gave him the 'Mandatory Count'.

Jeff was 'dazed and confused' as he got up on wobbly legs. The action continued at the {0:19 Mark}.

Henry came at Jeff with a blaze, and landed a vicious volley of punches that sent Jeff reeling across
the Ring and to the right-side Ropes.

Jeff 'stunned', tried to grab the top Rope-strand with his left hand as he was reeling backwards from
a punch. At that moment, Henry unloaded a vicious right-hand to Jeff's exposed chin.

Jeff then crashed backwards to the canvas in a heap at the {0:37 Mark}.

Referee - Tony Bosnich started the count, and as he got to '10' he called it over as Jeff was just trying
to get up.

'Winner' > Henry Clark by Knockout @ 0:47 of the 1st Round.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Foreman who was in attendance commented >

"That was supposed to be the guy that I was afraid of. They offered me $50,000 back in July 1971 to fight him. I should
have taken it."

"Now Henry moves up to the next slot. After I get rid of Ken Norton on March 26th, we'll see if we can put together a bout
between Henry and myself here in Oakland. With that Knockout tonight, he earned a Championship Bout."

[Bill Paxtom]

Don King

Heavyweight Fighters
* Earnie Shavers
* Jeff Merritt

A 'disaster' for Don King, and his Cleveland-based stable.

Earnie Shavers, the 'KO Artist' otherwise known as 'The Dark Destroyer'. Riding high after his June 18, 1973 'Kaboom' {KO 1}
over Jimmy Ellis at Madison Square Garden, is '1-Bout' away from challenging George Foreman.

Earnie gets his jaw 'de-hinged' by Jeff Merritt in the infamous Sunday Afternoon ~ July 15, 1973 sparring session
at Grossinger's Country Club in upstate, New York, putting Earnie out-of-action for the schedule July 25, 1973 bout
with Jerry Quarry at Madison Square Garden.

Earnie comes back 5-Months later, only to get 'blitzed' {KO'd in 1} by Jerry Quarry on December 13, 1973 at Madison Square Garden.

One-month later, Earnie abruptly retires {temporarily} on January 17, 1974.

Jeff Merritt is now the 'new' boy, following an exciting 1973 campaign, which includes 'fracturing'
Earnie Shavers jaw on July 15th.

Then Jeff scores a 'shocking and stunning' {TKO 1} over Ernie Terrell on September 10th at Madison Square Garden.

Then 'wallopis' Ron Stander by a TKO 3 on November 28th in Cleveland, which included flooring
'The Council Bluff's Butcher' {3-times}, something that had never been done before.

Prior to Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt fighting Henry Clark on March 4, 1974 and at the Oakland Coliseum Arena,
Don King said that he was going to move his Headquarters to the Bay Area, and put San Francisco and Oakland
on the map as the Heavyweight Capitol of the World.

[Beanflicker]

Meh, boxing history is full of guys like this - who had all the natural talent in the world and could have been great, but either couldn't stay out of trouble outside the ring, didn't have the dedication to keep themselves in shape, or in Jeff's case, both.

[Bill Paxtom]

April 1975

The Kansas City Times

Staff Reporter; J.J., Maloney

'Candy Slim Sits Idly By'

Sitting in a Missouri State Prison in Jefferson City, Jeff Merritt can only wait for the cell door
to close.

The Heavyweight that they call 'Candy Slim', the one with the hardest left-hook you ever saw,
and added with a rocket-thrusting sweeping right-hand.

Jeff Merritt,

"I had to sit and watch Muhammad Ali fight Chuck Wepner for the Heavyweight Championship.
For God's Sake, F***ing Chuck Wepner. I beat the living S**t out of him back in January 1969 in
New York during a sparring-session, and also a couple of other sparring-sessions."

"I heard they gave him over $100,000 for a Fight Purse, and $10,000 in training expenses alone.
I mean come on. In one-session I busted Chuck up real bad in only 2-Rounds, and I knocked him off
a fight card at the Felt Forum. He was out-of-action for nearly 3-Months after the beating I gave him."

"Now he goes 15-Rounds with Ali, and only gets stopped because he was so exhausted he could hardly
stand up. Is this what the Heavyweight Division has come to. It's a damn joke. It's like a circus act."

"Next up, I hear it's Ron Lyle. That guy refused to fight me in 1972. I was even willing to fight him in his
own backyard {Denver, Colorado}. He' so slow, you can time him by a calendar. He nearly got KO'd by
Jimmy Young in Hawaii back in February. And Jimmy can't punch worth nothing."

"Man, I've got to get out of this place and get the Heavyweight Championship away from these clowns,
before they turn this thing into a freak show."

[Master]

If he thought it was a joke in those days he would have laughed his ass off at the current crop of contenders, pretenders and also rans.

[Bill Paxtom]

June 1975

The Kansas City Times

Staff Reporter; Ken Hentgen

'Jeff Merritt To Right His Wrong Ways'

Former World Ranked Heavyweight - Jeff Merrit may soon get a 'special release' from the Missouri State Prison.

After 11-Months behind bars at the Jefferson City facility, Jeff may get his release at the end of this month {June 1976}.

Jeff Merritt,

"I've been clean for 11-Months. No more Drugs. I'm a new man now, and I am no longer 'Candy Slim'. Now just call me plain old 'Jeff'.
I want to fight again. As soon as I get out, I'm heading right into a Boxing Gym to work out. I've got to be in control and stay right.
I'll need about 4-Weeks to get ready for a bout. I'll take on a few 'soft' opponents at first to see where I'm at. Then I'll evaluate my
performances before I take the next step. I'm not going to rush into anything. This could be my last chance."

"I'm still a young man {Age; 28 years, 5 months}. I'm not beat up, and have a lot left to give. I've already talked to a 'promoter' in
Orlando, Florida. He said he would get me a 'few' tune-up bouts at first, to build up my name and get me some 'press' in the newspapers."

"That's the plan for Phase I."

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ June 27, 1976

Jeff Merritt Released From Prison

Heavyweight Boxer claims to be a 'new man'. Vows to focus 100% on being clean, and with plans to
return to boxing.

Nearly 50 of Jeff's family and friends greeted him at the Gate of the State Prison in Jefferson City,
Missouri when he walked out on Saturday Morning {June 26, 1976}.

Jeff Merritt,

"I never want to see this place again. No more Drugs or Bad Thoughts. This last visit cost me
11-Months of my life. I have no one to blame other than myself. I was a bad person. Now I'm
clean, and a new man. No more 'Candy Slim', as he has been put away. Now it's just plain Jeff."

"First thing I want to do is thank all of the people who have stood behind me. My family and friends.
Now I want to make them proud. I want to get back into shape, and return to boxing. I plan
on stepping back into the Ring for a Professional Bout by August {5-Weeks}."

"I have already talked to '3' Fight Promoters. One in {Orlando, Florida}, one in {New York} and
one in {Nassau, Bahamas}. I'm listening to each deal to see which one would be the best for me."

[Beanflicker]

Is there any footage of the guy?

[Bill Paxtom]

Is there any footage of the guy?

Bean-Man

Not on You Tube.

But there is film of several bouts;
> Charlie Harris............. April 11, 1969 ............. Madison Square Garden, New York
> Henry Clark I.............. August 18, 1969 ......... Madison Square Garden, New York
> Johnny Hudgins.......... March 31, 1970 .......... Auditorium, Miami Beach
> Eddie Vick.................. May 19, 1970 ............. Auditorium, Miami Beach
> Al Banks..................... July 26, 1971 ............. Astrodome, Houston
> Ernie Terrell............... September 10, 1973 .... Madison Square Garden, New York
> Ron Stander............... November 28, 1973 ..... Arena ~ Cleveland, Ohio
> Henry Clark II............ March 4, 1974 ............. Coliseum ~ Oakland, California
> Stan Ward................. August 14, 1976 .......... Utica, New York

Highlights of;
> Milton Torres............. June 24, 1968 ............. Madison Square Garden, New York
> Roy 'Tiger 'Williams.... March 3, 1969 ............. The Arena, Philadelphia

Sparring sessions with;
> Forest Ward............. September 1968 ........... New York City
> James McCarter........ September 1968 ........... New York City
> Chuck Wepner.......... September 1968 ........... New York City
> Muhammad Ali ......... June 1971 ................... Fifth Street Gym, Miami Beach
> Jimmy Ellis ............... April thru June 1971..... Fifth Street Gym, Miami Beach
> Jimmy Ellis................ July 1971..................... Houston
> Bob Mashburn .......... July 1976 .................... Grossinger's Country Club, New York

[Master]

I think he wants you to embed the links for him.