Book on Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrritt

[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.

[roberto duran legend]

Hey Bill,or should i say Jeff.

[Bill Paxtom]

Hey Bill,or should i say Jeff.

You seem to be quite 'truculent' today.

[Bill Paxtom]

1974

The Lost Year For Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrit

In early August, the intensity at the Deer Lake Training Camp heated up. Muhammad Ali was improving each day, as his
sparring sessions were better and better.

Both Roy 'Tiger' Williams and Jeff were the main fighters to imitate George Foreman's big swings, and both were instrumental
in helping Muhammad get ready for 'Big George'.

On Saturday, August 3rd, Don King called his fighter {Jeff Merritt} with an offer for a bout in Nassau, Bahamas. The bout was
set for Friday Night, August 16th.

It was a nice $3000 fight purse {plus expenses} to take on the Jamaican Heavyweight Champion - Oliver Wright.

Don King told Jeff that it was a 'nice' comeback bout, and for easy money and against a relatively 'safe opponent'. Jeff said 'yes',
but wanted half of the fight purse {$1500} money up front.

But Don King was reluctant to give Jeff that much money {$1500 cash} up front, as Jeff had a 'problem' {Heroin}, and was notorious
for disappearing.

Don said 'No', and told Jeff that he would give him only $300 {up front}, and with the rest of the money, after the Friday Night bout,
when he got back home from the Bahamas.

But Jeff said no, and demanded the up front money.

[Bill Paxtom]

1974

The Lost Year For Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt

Monday, August 5th

Jeff Merritt continued to have 'words' with Don King over the money issue on the ''possible' August 16th bout in The Bahamas.
But Don King stuck to his 'guns', and said no to the $1500 up front demand.

An upset and pissed-off Jeff finally told Don, 'to stick it'.

That was pretty much the end of the Don King/Jeff Merritt {Manager/Fighter Partnership}.

Jeff went back to his sparring-partner job with Muhammad Ali for next {3} Weeks.

Jeff was expecting to go along with the 'Muhammad Ali Entourage' to Zaire in early-September, and with hopes of getting a bout
on the Fight Card.

But, Jeff was 'shocked' when he was told that he wasn't part of the 'Ali Team' and was not invited to go to Zaire with Roy 'Tiger' Williams
and Larry Holmes.

On Saturday, August 24th - Jeff received his 'final' weekly paycheck {$300} from the Ali Camp, and left to go back home to Cleveland.

Now with No Work, No Manager and No Fights lined up, Jeff was back to his 'bad ways'.

And the word on the street to other Fight Promoters, was to stay away from Jeff Merritt, as he was 'bad news', a drug addict and nothing but trouble,.

[Bill Paxtom]

Camp[I]1974[/I

The Lost Year For Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merritt

Once Jeff was released form the Muhammad Ali Camp {Deer Lake Training Camp} on August 24th, he was pretty much on his own.

Don King was too busy with putting together 'The Rumble in the Jungle', and could care less about 'small potatoes'.
Don put it bluntly to Jeff > "I have bigger fish to fry."

By September 1st, Jeff was trying to offer his services to get on several East Coast Fight Cards. There was a September 10th
Fight Card at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, but there was no 'real money' in the bout, as Jeff was only offered $700 to fight
Joe 'Top Cat' Gholston.

Jeff got in touch of Teddy Brenner of Madison Square Garden, and Jeff 'begged' onto a September 9th Fight Card at The Garden.
But Jeff was too late, as the card was already filled.

Jeff asked about future bouts, but Teddy only replied > "We'll see what we can do for you Jeff, but I can't promise you anything."

There was a possibility of a Fight Card in Orlando, Florida for late-September, with Jeff facing Leon 'The Shadow' Shaw. But 'No Luck'
as that Fight Card was cancelled and pushed back to November 9th.

By the end of September 1974, Jeff was 'running on fumes', and decided to leave Cleveland and drive back home to
Kansas City, Missouri to see his family {Mother} and friends.

'Trouble Will Be Coming Back To Kansas City'