Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

[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."

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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.
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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.

[Master]

Did you know Ali beat Shavers?

[Bill Paxtom]

Did you know Ali beat Shavers?

Did you know, that Earnie Shavers '1st' retired on January 17, 1974.

Yes, I believe Muhammad Ali won the 15-Round Decision over Earnie Shavers in 1977, but got his brain dislodged in the process.

Agree.......

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ March 5, 1974

Oakland, California

Jeff Merritt responds to his shocking '47-Second' 1st Round Knockout loss to Henry Clark.

"No excuses. Henry caught me 'cold'. It was a hard left-hook that 1st put me down, and I saw 'stars'.
I never saw the punch coming. After I got up, I had no idea of where I was. I was fighting on instinct
alone."

"Well, I beat him once, and he beat me once, We're '1-and-1'. Maybe we can have one more fight to settle
the score. I guess I could ask for another bout, and I'll even fight here in Oakland again. What are the
rules here in California. Do I have to sit out for 60-Days before I fight again. I'll come back in May,
as long as the promoter {Joe Gagliardi} puts up another fair fight purse."

"I guess I'll go back to Cleveland, and re-group. I still want to fight. I guess I'll just have to work harder
to make it back up into the Top 10 again."

Jeff Merritt was supposed to receive a $10,000 Fight Purse for his bout with Henry Clark. It was
reported, that Don King {Manager} gave Jeff substantially less.

According to Jeff's friends, the main concern for Jeff was to hurry up and get back to his 1972 Buick Riviera
in Cleveland with 'Candy' license plates, and cruise for Chicks while shoving 'candy' up his nose and shooting
'smack' {Heroin} in his arm.

[Bill Paxtom]

1974

'The Lost Year For Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt'

After the disaster loss {L KO 1} to Henry Clark in just 47-Seconds in Oakland on March 4, 1974.

Don King was able to get Jeff another bout lined up in California. This time it was set for Thursday,
May 16th and in San Jose at the Civic Auditorium against 'Trial-Horse' - Roy 'Cookie' Wallace.

Babe Griffin {Fight Promoter} was interested in getting Jeff some 'action' on the West Coast despite
the shocking loss to Henry Clark. Babe had a few 'safe' bouts lined up for Jeff, something that
Don King had recommended.

Jeff, was in Cleveland {half-training and half-partying in late-April and early-May} for his upcoming
May 16th bout in San Jose, California.

Jeff was supposed to head out to San Jose on Monday, May 13th with Trainer - Richie Giachetti.
But on Monday, Jeff never showed up to Don King's office to get his Airline Tickets, itinerary and
expense money.

Jeff was again, missing-in-action and nowhere to be found in Cleveland.

In a rush, Don King got Earnie Shavers out of temporary retirement to fill in for the 'missing' Jeff Merritt.

Earnie {at 210 lbs.} and with only minor training, headed out to San Jose as the placement fighter. No
problem for Earnie, as he blasted Cookie Wallace out in just 2:11 of Round 1.