Ted Gullick: A Look Back at a Heavyweight Contender

By Jim Amato

One of the better heavyweights to come out of the Northeast Ohio area in the 70’s was hard punching Ted Gullick. Ted turned professional after an outstanding amateur career. He made his debut in Akron stopping journeyman Mack Harrison in two rounds. One month later Al Hughly went out in the first. One month after that Wild Bill Hardney also exited in one round. Ted made his Cleveland debut on October 29th stopping the usual durable Lee Estes in the first. Ted returned to Cleveland November 29th to halt Fred Askew in the second round. Five months and five knockouts, Gullick was on his way.

Then Ted was then seemingly overmatched against highly regarded light-heavyweight Ray Anderson. On December 11th again in Cleveland, Anderson outboxed Gullick in the early going but as the bout wore on Ted’s heavier punches began to take their toll on Anderson. Many felt the longer the fight went that Ted, who was a novice would tire. Instead it was Anderson who seemed spent. Ted just wore him down and stopped Ray in the ninth round of a huge upset. Gullick was now considered a top prospect and he was even featured in Ring Magazine.

Ted started off in 1970 by halting Ollie Wilson in five rounds. Leo Peterson then went in two. Highly regarded Tommy Hicks followed in four. On March 31st Ted was forced to go ten rounds for the first time outpointing the wily Everett Copeland in Youngstown. Ted bounced back to halt Lee Carr in three rounds. On June 24th veteran Chuck Leslie came to Cleveland and used his vast experience to outbox Ted over ten rounds. One month later Ted suffered another set back losing a decision to fellow prospect Johnny Hudgins in Akron. On August 19th they brought Hudgins back to Cleveland for a rematch, and Ted avenged his loss with a ninth round KO. Ted then closed the year stopping Aaron Eastling in two rounds in Akron.

Ted returned to Cleveland at the start of 1971 and halted Sylvester Dullaire in the fourth. Ted was then put in with the toughest opponent of his career as he met one time title challenger Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams. On April 28th the “Big Cat” who was known for his punching prowess unleashed a whip like left jab that hammered Ted all night. Cleveland walked away with a one sided decision. To make matters worse in his next fight, Ted was surprisingly halted in three rounds by Terry Daniels. The following year Daniels would challenge Joe Frazier for the heavyweight crown. Ted closed out the year in England fighting to a draw with one of their better heavyweights, Billy Aird.

Then on February 1st 1972 Ted met Earnie Shavers in an all Ohio shootout. Many people still talk about this give and take battle which finally ended in Earnie’s favor in the sixth round. On April 10th Ted traveled to Inglewood, CA. to meet unbeaten and highly ranked ex- Olympian George Foreman. Ted was surprisingly effective in the first round and in the first half of round two. Then George turned up the heat and battered Ted to the canvas for the full count late in the second round. Ted’s next bout of note was March 20th 1974 when he faced up and coming Duane Bobick. Ted again went out in two rounds thus finishing him as a legitimate force in the division.