Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

[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.