Machen normally fought at Civic Auditorium or the Cow Palace in San Francisco. His 1st bout was with fellow 1st-timer Raul Flores, whom he knocked out in the first spherical. He had eleven fights in 1955 plus the 6-ft, 195-pounder received them all, 10 by knockout or technical knockout. He had 8 a lot more wins in 1956 from far better Opposition. In 1957, he won all 5 fights he had, such as two in excess of previous light-weight heavyweight champion Joey Maxim. The Maxim wins built him a rated contender. All-around this time he was deemed by some being the ideal preventing machine.

In April 1958, he satisfied extremely ranked Zora Folley and fought to a attract more than twelve rounds. But he was then knocked out in one round by undefeated potential heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson, in September. Following getting caught flush by an early unforeseen significant proper hand Machen was floored 3 times, the final for many minutes.

Over the comeback path in 1959, Machen posted seven straight wins to return him to contention. In January 1960, he dropped a call to Folley in the Cow Palace. Afterwards that 12 months he fulfilled ring legend and potential champion, Sonny Liston, and Even though he dropped a twelve-spherical choice, fought a sharp hit and shift match a large number of believed was afterwards examined by heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Liston was penalized 3 times for lower blows in that match, an indication of desperation.

1961 started with two wins, then an exceedingly controversial reduction to Harold Johnson by final decision. Again, he arrived back again with three very good wins, including a call more than undefeated Doug Jones. In 1962, Machen had two a lot more wins before he experienced a attract with high-ranked major hitter Cleveland Williams in Houston in July 1962. In 1963 he resumed preventing and scored 4 straight knockouts to complete the year. He fought just twice in 1964, battling his own issues. Just one was a win, another a detailed 12-round reduction to a different previous heavyweight champion, Floyd Patterson in Sweden in July 1964.

Title shot and Late Job[edit]

In 1965, Machen obtained his initially environment title shot when he and 6' six" Ernie Terrell met for your vacated World Boxing Association title that had been stripped from Muhammad Ali. Terrell received the 15-spherical decision. In 1966 he lost a call to German southpaw Karl Mildenberger in Germany, then misplaced an in depth split-choice to strong slugger Manuel Ramos. But he closed that yr with two wins, a person particularly noteworthy more than upcoming contender Jerry Quarry, which was Quarry's first defeat.

Versus Joe Frazier[edit]

In late 1966, Machen fought youthful potential heavyweight winner Joe Frazier and misplaced inside of a tenth-round technological knockout. Downed in the very first eddie machen round, Machen rallied, but Frazier's ongoing force lead to the referee intervening in the last spherical. Frazier was Determined for the acquire as he'd just occur off a tricky battle with Oscar Bonavena.

Retirement[edit]