Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

1974

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

Don King was royally 'pissed-off' at Jeff for disappearing for his May 16th bout.

Don had worked out a Boxing Schedule for Jeff, which included '3' real easy monthly bouts;
starting off with Roy 'Cookie' Wallace on May 16th in San Jose, California.

Then following bouts in California for;
* June vs. Charlie 'Devil' Green
* July vs. Charlie James

None of the above bouts ever took place, as Jeff was acting bizarre with his flighty behavior.

In the interim, Don King shipped Jeff off to the Deer Lake Training Camp in Pennsylvania so Jeff could provide his
services as a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali, while he was prepping for his September 25th {original date} bout
with George Foreman set for Kinshasa, Zaire.

Muhammad had opened Camp at Deer Lake in early-June, and had planned to work out there thru the end of August,
before heading to Africa on September 4th.

In June and July, Jeff was there with Roy 'Tiger' Williams and Larry Holmes.

[Bill Paxtom]

1974

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

At the Deer Lake Traing Camp, Jeff was starting to get back into the 'groove' again, and by the middle of July he was nearly
firing 'on-all-cylinders'.

Jeff had lumped up Muhmmad Ali in a sparring-session, and had also tore into both Roy 'Tiger' Williams and Larry Holmes.

Jeff would usually have '2' good days, then disappear for '1'.

On July 16th, Don King called and told Jeff that he got a fight purse offer of {$2000} for a bout scheduled for Tuesday, July 30th
and set for The Auditorium in Miami Beach.

The opponent was a not too difficult Miami Heavyweight in Johnny Summerville. Don told Jeff that it was good 'stepping stone'
bout to get back on the right track.

Jeff accepted.

But again Jeff 'played shenanigans' and pulled out. On Friday, July 26th {only 4-Days} before the bout Jeff claimed that he
had an arm-injury.

After about a week, Jeff was back at the Deer Park Training Camp looking for work again as a sparring-partner.

While Jeff was a 'terror' in sparring-sessions, there were questions about his heart and/or desire to engage in a real 'legitimate' fight.