Ellis served three years in the United States Army as a paratrooper, making 53 jumps during the Korean War.

On November 28, 1958 Ellis won his first title the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship defeating Bob Geigel.

That same year, Ellis feuded with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers in main events unsuccessfully winning the tile.

On September 10, 1964, he defeated The Destroyer to win the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in Los Angeles.

In 1969, he won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia) where he defeated Skull Murphy and held the title for a week.

In 1973, he defeated Baron Von Raschke for WWA World Heavyweight Championship the Indianapolis version where he held it for nearly a year dropping it to Jimmy Valiant.

On February 21, 1976 he won the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Carlos Colon.