On This Day: An ‘Uncle Tom’ Tussle- Ali VS Terrell

While there was one Earnie (Shavers) who physically hurt Muhammad Ali, there was another who dealt some emotional damage to ‘The Greatest’.

This was Earnie Terrell who challenged Ali for his WBC belt on this day in 1967. The winner of this showdown would also take the WBA title that Terrell won almost two years prior.

Leading up to the fight, Ali was quickly building the untouchable, unique legacy that he has left behind today, but Terrell couldn’t have cared less. The 6’6 WBA Champion was vocal about how he was not afraid of his upcoming opponent and took matters to a more personal level, referring to Ali by his former name ‘Cassius Clay’.

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This incited anger from Ali that fans had not seen before, understandably given the distaste that the Louisville-native had for his old, ‘slave name’.

In a 1966 New Year’s Eve broadcast, the pair had a verbal altercation as Terrell once again called the proud Muslim by his birth name which provoked the WBC Champion to label Terrell as an ‘Uncle Tom’ before the broadcast studios echoed with a slap that Ali landed.

I’m not sure there is a much better way to create anticipation for a heavyweight bout than this, especially when both men are genuine in their action towards one another.

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So, on this day 54 years ago, the talking was done, and it was time to dance (quite literally for Ali with his rhythmic style of fighting). Some believe this time period was when ‘The Greatest’ was at his prime and this fight provides a valid example.

Ali battered the bigger man who fell victim to his lightning-fast flurries. Terrell resisted Ali’s dominance and came into the fight a few times but by the 8^th round, the then-25-year-old was comfortably ahead and produced one of his most powerful moments. Piecing up a bruised Terrell, Ali kept yelling at the challenger ‘What’s my name?’ making his opponent regret that calling him ‘Cassius Clay’ ever crossed his mind.

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Terrell looked on his way out multiple times through the 15 rounds but Ali failed to materialize a knockout. This did, and to this day still does, form controversy as some believed the first three-time heavyweight champ opted against finishing Terrell and instead decided to make him suffer for longer as punishment for his disrespect before the fight.

This has never been confirmed but what is definite is that the winner inside the Houston Astrodome on this day was one of the best boxers in the history of the sport and he had no other name than Muhammad Ali.

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