Muhammad Ali vs. Ernie Terrell, billed as The Battle of Champions, was a professional boxing match contested on February 6, 1967, for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

The shift came in the seventh round, when Ali landed a left hook that sent Terrell to the ropes, and launched a flurry of blows seeking a knockout.

and calling him "Tom", but ceased to speak to him after that point, not even saying a word to him when the match ended and both boxers went back to their respective corners.

[8][9][10][11] Ali himself denied this, and stated he simply was not capable of knocking Terrell out despite throwing hundreds of shots at his head.

Nat Fleischer in the Ring Magazine was critical of Ali's inability to gain a stoppage, unfavorably comparing him to Rocky Marciano and Joe Louis, who he insisted would have had no problem knocking Terrell out.

[12] In an interview with The Independent, Terrell claimed he had made an honest mistake referring to Ali by his birth name.

[13] Confirmed bouts:[14] The fight was broadcast live through paid closed-circuit television at select venues/theaters across the United States.