James “Jimmy” Ellis was born on February 24, 1940, in Louisville to Walter Ellis, a pastor, and Elizabeth, in a family of ten siblings. Raised in a deeply Christian household, young Jimmy was an active member of the church choir and held a deep affection for his hometown, embracing the identity of a proud country boy.

As a teenager, Ellis worked at a cement-finishing factory. However, it was a significant event in his teenage years that changed the course of his life. Watching his close friend, Donnie Hill, lose to Cassius Clay in the "Tomorrow’s Champions" amateur tournament in 1957, Ellis found himself inspired to take up boxing. Reflecting on that moment years later, he said, "I watched it and I thought that I could do a better job."

Jimmy Ellis sought out Joe Martin, a white Southern police officer who had introduced a young Cassius Clay to the world of boxing. Martin, known for his knack for identifying boxing talent, had trained both Clay and Ellis, who eventually became star pupils. Despite their close bond, Ellis had to contend with racial tensions in the streets, earning a reputation as a tough fighter. While he didn't seek trouble, he didn't back away from it either.

In the amateur ranks, Ellis displayed his pugilistic talent, winning 59 of 66 fights. He came tantalizingly close to making the 1960 Olympic team, losing to the eventual gold medalist, Wilbert McClure.

Clay, who would later become known as Muhammad Ali, had already risen to stardom after winning a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Olympic Games. Meanwhile, Ellis represented Chicago in Golden Gloves, losing in a middleweight final to Leotis Martin, a loss he would later avenge in his professional career.

Jimmy Ellis embarked on his professional career in 1960 as a middleweight, securing a victory in his debut by stopping Arley Seifer in Freedom Hall, Louisville. He followed up with four consecutive wins but hit a bump when he lost a decision to journeyman Holly Mims. Ellis avenged the loss with a rematch six months later.

In 1962, Ellis moved up to face the seventh-ranked middleweight contender, Henry Hank. Despite his best efforts to employ a boxing strategy, Hank, with his extensive experience of 73 fights, relentlessly attacked Ellis with punishing body shots. By the fourth round, Hank shifted his focus to head shots, and Ellis bled profusely for the rest of the bout. Despite the tough circumstances, Ellis showed remarkable resilience but ultimately lost a hard-fought 10-round decision. Ellis went on to win three consecutive fights before facing ranked contender Rubin Carter at Madison Square Garden, where he faced another loss.

By 1964, Ellis had amassed a record of 15 wins and 5 losses. His boxing career seemed to have reached a plateau after close defeats to Don Fullmer and George Benton. While he considered quitting the sport, his wife, Mary, had a different idea. She wrote a letter to Angelo Dundee, Ali's manager, asking him to train and manage Ellis, who gave his approval with a P.S. that said "H-e-e-e-e-l-p."

Angelo Dundee responded with intrigue, inviting Ellis to the Fifth Street Gym in Miami, where Ali was training. Despite the opportunity, Ellis faced a significant risk by leaving his full-time job as a concrete finisher, which provided steady income for his family. However, with Mary's unwavering support, he decided to pursue the chance to revive his career.

When he arrived in Miami, Ellis weighed around 150 pounds and suffered from chronic tonsillitis, making it essential for him to regain his health and add some weight. Dundee believed that Ellis had talent and started fine-tuning him. Jimmy Ellis made his debut on May 25, 1965, on the undercard of the Ali vs. Liston rematch.

Under Dundee's guidance, Ellis enjoyed a five-year undefeated streak starting from 1965, with a string of impressive first-round knockouts. In 1967, he moved up to the light heavyweight division, raising eyebrows with his knockout win over Jimmy Persol, his third consecutive first-round victory. Despite Dundee's preference for Ellis to fight as a light heavyweight, Ellis had his sights set on the heavyweight division. He aimed to make a name for himself beyond being Ali's sparring partner and to earn substantial income.

When the World Boxing Association stripped Ali of his heavyweight title for refusing induction into the U.S. Army, Ellis joined a do-or-die tournament featuring other contenders such as Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, George Chuvalo, Karl Mildenberger, Thad Spencer, Jerry Quarry, and Joe Frazier to replace the dethroned Ali. Frazier declined the invitation, and Leotis Martin took his place.

Facing his old amateur rival Leotis Martin as a heavy underdog in Houston in 1967, Jimmy Ellis wasn't favored to win. However, he surprised many by utilizing his footwork and hand speed to control the fight. His jabs and hooks effectively damaged Martin's face, leading to a cut and, eventually, a stoppage in the ninth round.

In his next bout, Ellis faced Oscar Bonavena, an opponent 14 pounds heavier. Against expectations, Ellis floored Bonavena in the third round, and his impressive performance continued. With a victory over Bonavena, Ellis moved one step closer to claiming the WBA heavyweight championship.

His last obstacle to the heavyweight title was Jerry Quarry, who had lost only once in 27 fights. Ellis was again an underdog, but he outclassed Quarry over 15 rounds, winning by unanimous decision through his impeccable jab and well-placed shots.

Jimmy Ellis became the WBA heavyweight champion, though some called him a paper champion. He defended his title against former champion Floyd Patterson, a fight that ended in controversy. Ellis exited the ring with a broken nose and a cut over his right eye, sparking disagreement among viewers about the decision.

In a pivotal fight, Ellis faced Joe Frazier in 1970 in New York. He started well but was overwhelmed by Frazier's power, particularly the left hook that sent him to the canvas twice in the fourth round. Dundee stopped the fight before the fifth round, marking a tough loss for Ellis.

Despite this setback, Jimmy Ellis continued to fight, winning three consecutive bouts, including a decision over the durable George Chuvalo. However, he faced Muhammad Ali in 1971, and Ali emerged victorious with a stoppage in the 12th round, further solidifying his comeback after his loss to Frazier. The loss to Ali was a devastating moment for Ellis.

Ellis continued his career, participating in 16 more fights, but he experienced five losses, including a knockout by Ernie Shavers. Eventually, an eye injury during sparring forced his retirement at the age of 34. Sadly, his eye later stopped working completely.

The years in the ring took a toll on Jimmy Ellis, and he suffered from pugilistic dementia for a significant period before his passing in 2014. Throughout his career, Ellis remained in the shadow of Muhammad Ali, but his legacy includes encounters with top heavyweights of his era, including Floyd Patterson, Jerry Quarry, George Chuvalo, Leotis Martin, Billy Daniels, and Tony Davila. His career serves as a reminder that it's not a piece of paper that wins fights but the undeniable ability and resilience of a fighter.