Terrence Alli: Remembering a Tough As Nails Former Word Title Challenger

Terrence Alii, 52-15-2, 21 KO’s was a perennial contender in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions for nearly two decades. In the late 1980’s and early 90’s, Alli was one of the most entertaining fighters in the lightweight ranks. Alli was a quick, pressure fighter who threw punches from all angles, and utilized adequate defensive skills to offset his foe’s strengths. He was always a tough opponent for anyone in the ring who was a non-stopping punching machine that often made his opponents fight for all three minutes of each round.

Born in Guyana on June 26,1960, Terrence Alli, began his professional career in December of 1979, after only putting boxing gloves on for the first time at the age of 18. The young man got off to a relatively slow start, but was able to manage eleven victories in his first fourteen fights. However, Terrence was able to reel off 13 wins in his next fourteen bouts against other up-and-coming fighters. After knocking off some of the other top prospects, including Melvin Paul and Frankie Newton, Alli was able to secure his first world title shot.

At the age of twenty-four, Terrence challenged the twenty-seven-year-old, defending champion Harry Arroyo on January 2,1985 for his IBF World Lightweight title. Alli, who forced the action from the opening bell, dropped the champion in the second round with a straight right hand. Maybe too aggressive at times throughout his career, Alli kept up his aggression late in the fight when it appeared that he may have been winning. Stunned by a big right hand from Arroyo early in 11th round, the young contender staggered back into the neutral corner and was eventually dropped by a flurry of punches. Moments later, after the referee allowed the action to continue, Alli was badly hurt by more follow up punches, prompting the stoppage.

Not to be denied in his quest for a championship, Alli won the vacant USBA Lightweight title against Miguel Santana on September 27,1986 by unanimous decision. After another string of victories, including a win over Jeff Bumpus, Alli looked again for another world title opportunity.

Terrence Alli, unafraid to travel anywhere in the world, fought Jose Luis Ramirez for the vacant WBC World Lightweight title in Saint-Tropez, Var, France. Alli gave Ramirez all the he could handle for twelve hard fought rounds before losing by unanimous decision. The judges had the fight close with the Mexican winning the brawl by scores of 115-113 (twice) and 114-113.

Not willing to give up hopes of securing another chance for a world title, Alli defeated young rising contenders such as Miguel Santana, Darryl Tyson, David Theo, Santos Cardona, and Othal Dixon. However, some of his momentum was thwarted after losing a tough unanimous decision to Roger Mayweather on July 15, 1990.

As resilient as any other fighter in the sport, Alli rebounded and defeated John Wesley Meekins by unanimous decision to win NABF Super Lightweight belt.

Perhaps one of the biggest highlights of his career, Alli traveled to Rochester in upstate New York and upsetting the Charles Murray in his hometown. The undefeated future world champion and rising star Murray was handed his first professional loss by split-decision in a thrilling twelve round battle for the NABF Super Lightweight crown.

Capitalizing a series of victories again, Terrence challenged the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez (who entered the fight undefeated in 86 bouts) for the WBC World Super Lightweight title on May 8, 1993. The brave and confident Alli stood toe-to-toe with the champion, swapping punches in the early going. Chavez caught Alli late in the 5th round with a big left hook and staggered the challenger badly. Chavez dropped Terrence in the opening seconds of the sixth- round and was pounding the overwhelmed Alli when the referee waved off the fight. The ending did not come without some controversy as it appeared that Alli was still fighting back at the time of the stoppage.

After the loss to Chavez, Terrence would never surface as a top contender again in his career. Alli would face an undefeated Derrell Coley for the vacant NABF Welterweight title on July 5,1994 and suffer a eleventh round TKO loss.

Trying to remain relevant, Alli faced Tim Shocks for the IBA Super Welterweight title on February 12, 1997 and suffered a knockout loss. In the second-to-last fight of his career, Alli would lose again, this time to Quirino Garcia (who had a losing record) for the WBC International Super Welterweight title by unanimous decision on July 4,1997.

This non-stop fighting machine from Guyana would end his boxing career losing eight of his last nine fights. Terrence Alli was a formidable opponent for all of the top fighters of his generation. Never able to secure a world title championship, Alli gave everything he had against the best. He fought a total of seventy bouts, winning fifty fights, but was unfortunate to come up just short in his three world title opportunities.