1.
SV Ali in white trunks Ellis in dark trunks in sparring session(3 shots)
0.40

2.
CU Ellis (SOF) laid over GV of sparring session
1.23

3.
GV Fighters sparring (2 shots)
1.58


QUESTION: "Do you enjoy sparring with the heavyweight champion?"



ELLIS: Yeah man, when I'm boxing with him, I know I'm boxing with best, and I get a lot of experience handling a lot of things in the boxing ring.



QUESTION: Actually it's like going to school for you and you're really with the top man there.



ELLIS: Yeah, well you know. You gotta start some kind of way so this is my start and when I'm boxing with him I just try and remember everything I can learn because maybe one day it will be out there.



QUESTION: Do you ever have hopes really of fighting the heavy-weight champion?



ELLIS: Well, I thought of that you know, (INDISTINCT)....



QUESTION: You probably know more about Muhammad Ali's styles and habits than anybody else?



ELLIS: Yeah, I think I know quite a bit about him."




Initials SGM/1235 SGM/1208


SPORT: BOXING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Former world boxing champion Muhammad Ali, also known as Cassius Clay, will meet a former sparring partner, Jimmy Ellis in the ring next week. The twelve round bout will take place in the Houston Astrodome in Texas next Monday night. It will be the first fight for Ali since he was beaten by Joe Frazier last March in a world title fight. Ali and Ellis sparred together in 1967...at that time Ellis had a high regard for Ali.

SYNOPSIS: Jimmy Ellis, in the light shirt and dark trunks, was one of Muhammad Ali's favourite sparring partners before Ali was forced to retire because of draft deferment. Ellis weighed about 195 pounds, was fast and took his instructions from Angelo Dundee who is now training him for a fight against Ali in Texas on Monday night. Ali said recently that neither of them pulled punches during workouts and that Ellis hit him as much as he hit Ellis. In 1967, during the sparring sessions Ellis was asked about his dreams for the future...

Later Ellis beat Oscar Bonnevena. Floyd Patterson and Jerry Quarry and won the World Boxing Association title. Both Ellis and Ali have lost only once in their careers....both to Joe Frazier. Ellis went five rounds with Frazier. Ellis went five rounds with Frazier while Ali went 15. Ali is known to have strong regard for Ellis...probably as a result of the sparring sessions.