Thread: Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

Leon Spinks

"The Road To Muhammad Ali"

No sooner than Leon Spinks' exciting rampage thru the Light-Heavyweight Division {81 Kg}
at the Summer Olympics {July 1976} where he won a Gold Medal, the road was being set
for the Missouri fighter.

Leon, still a Corporal with the United States Marines in July 1976 {Age; 23 years, 0 months}
agreed to sign a Fight Contract with St. Louis businessman > Mitt Barnes.

In August 1976, Leon signed a deal that gave Mitt Barnes 30% of his Gross Earnings in
the Ring, and with a 'rider' for 12 {one-year} options.

Mitt Barnes had been an advisor for Leon since 1969, when Leon was a 'wild' 16-Year-Old.

As of August 26, 1976 >

Leon still had 11-Months to go on his hitch for the United States Marines, where he was stationed
at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Leon had wanted to fulfill his goal of making Sargeant, before being discharged, and then turning
Professional as a Heavyweight boxer.

Leon Spinks >
"I'm still a Marine. I didn't let the Gold Medal go to my head. I'm still up early in the Moring going thru
Marine training. When I get a furlough I head to Des Moines, Iowa to visit my Wife and her Mother -
Ms. Carrie Bush."

Leon Spinks gave me many many exciting and entertaining memories from the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Leon Spinks was on the American boxing team with Sugar Ray Leonard Howard Smith and many many other fighters including Michael spinks.

Leon Spinks did only five men on planet earth able to do. Joe Frazier, can Norton, Larry Holmes, and Trevor BB.

Leon Spinks

As soon as Leon won the 'Gold Medal' at the 1976 Olympics {July 1976}, many
Fight Promoters were lining up to lock Leon up in a Fight Contract.

But, Leon wanted to continue in the U.S. Marines and serve until July 1977 to
earn the rank of Sargeant.

Butch Lewis, who was a Vice President with Top Rank {Bob Arum} tried to secure
a Fight Contract with Leon.

The Plan >

To line up a 10-Round bout between Cuban Heavyweight - Teofilio Stevenson and Leon,
and to be set-up at a 'Neutral-Site' with the bout to be broadcast by CBS-TV.

The bout was to be held in Kingston, Jamaica.

Top Rank said that they would pay the Cuban Government $1,000,000 as a 'special fee',
so that Teofilio Stevenson could maintain his Amateur status, as no money would go to him
directly.

The deal, was to ask the U.S. Military for a 'special provision' to allow for Leon to fight
while still serving as a U.S. Marine at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Leon was to be paid 'handsomely' for his Professional Debut in a 10-Round Bout, and would
receive a Fight Purse of $125,000.

The U.S. Military did approve the request. But Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba said he was
not interested in the match.

It's amazing that he was such a military man and then his life went splat.

Originally Posted by ykdadamaja

It's amazing that he was such a military man and then his life went splat.

So True

In the United States Marines, Leon was a Corporal in 1976, and was working his way up to Sargeant.

Those who knew him at Camp Lejeune, said Leon was a good guy who didn't have a mean bone
in his body.

But, once he got his Honorable Discharge on December 23, 1976 > he became irresponsible.

Some say that Leon never really left the 'rough' Projects of Pruitt-Igoe in East St. Louis and
returned to bad behavior once he left the U.S. Marines.

Slim: "Leon I looked good in my Dress Blues"
Leon: "Shit, I looked better in my Dress Blues"
Slim: Say man...I looked dynamite in my Dress Blues"
Leon: Sheeeeiittt.. I was the Greatest in my Dress Blues"
Slim: " Say Leon, let's have another drink."


Darnit, boxers are the greatest to hang out with.

December 24, 1976

Fight Promoter - Butch Lewis signed Leon to a 6-Fight Contract with Top Rank as the
Promoter, and for all the bouts to telecast by CBS-TV.

The contract called for Leon to receive a total of $65,000 for '6-Bouts'.

Mitt Barnes was Leon's Manager, and he would receive 30% of each Fight Purse.

Butch Lewis negotiated a deal for Leon to make his Professional Debut on Saturday -
January 15, 1977 in Las Vegas.

At the time, Leon had just been 'Honorably Discharged' by the U.S. Marines on
December 23, 1976.

Leon then headed back home to St. Louis, Missouri and then to Des Moines, Iowa to
be with his Wife, and at her Mother's home to spend time to celebrate his
Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Marines as well as the Christmas Holiday.

Leon was no longer a slim 178 lb. {81 Kg} Amateur Light-Heavyweight from July 1976,
as his weight bloated to 200+ lbs.

Leon was supposed to go to Wilmington, Delaware to Butch Lewis' home on December 27th,
to train and prepare for his bout in 2 1/2 Weeks.

But, Leon had disappeared, and without letting Butch Lewis know where he went.

Finally on December 31st {New Year's Eve}, Butch was able to track Leon down in Des Moines, Iowa.

No way! Leon was a marine! Did he lose all that discipline.

Leon Spinks

A Corporal in the United States Marines.

Honorable Discharge {December 1976}

Nicknamed > "The Wild Bull of Camp Lejeune"

Professional Debut

Saturday ~ January 15, 1977

The Aladdin Hotel ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

Television Broadcast ....... CBS-TV

"Fight Bill Posting"

Leon Spinks ~ 0-0-0 {0 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 196 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 6 months}
vs.
Bob Smith ~ 20-2-2 {13 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 185 lbs. ~ {Age; 24 years, 5 months}

Fight Purses
* Leon Spinks ..... { $10,000 } + Travel Expenses and amenities.
* Bob Smith ............ { $800 } + One 'Round-Trip' airline ticket from New York to Las Vegas, and amenities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'The Skinny'

Leon Spinks >
Leon Spinks, who was Honorably Discharged from the United States Marines in December 1976
is now 18 lbs. heavier than he was when he won the Gold Medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics
in July in the Light-Heavyweight Division {178 lbs.}.

Leon's amateur record is listed at 178-7 {133 KO's}, including numerous Titles, including;
* {2} All-Military
* {3} National AAU
* 1975 Pan Am Games {Silver Medal}
* 1976 Olympics {Gold Medal}

Leon is being handled by Butch Lewis, and is Trained by Sam Solomon. Leon has only trained for
11-Days {in Wilmington, Delaware} for this bout.

Mitt Barnes of St. Louis, Missori is Leon's {Manager}.

Originally, Leon was only offered { $5000 } for his Professional Debut. But Leon turned it down.

Leon will receive a fight purse of { $10,000 } for his Professional Debut in this scheduled 6-Round bout.

As of January 11th {Monday} and opponent for Leon has not been selected.

Bob Smith >
'Lightning' Bob Smith is a southpaw Light-Heavyweight, who usually fights at 180 to 185 lbs.

Bob, who is a 'Butcher's Helper' in Brooklyn, New York is contacted on Tuesday Morning, only {4-days} before
this bout. He is told that he will be Leon Spinks' opponent for his Professional Debut.

Bob arrives in Ls Vegas on Friday Morning, and will only have 1-Day to prepare and get accilimated in Las Vegas.

Bob {who weighs 185 lbs.} is told that the 'Fight Contract Weight' will be 180 lbs. > Bob said, that he
could easily lose 5 lbs. in One-Day out in Las Vegas by working out.

'Lightning' Bob Smith claims he has won 22 of 25 bouts.. Another posting has his record at 6-1-1 {5 KO's}
in his previous '8-Bouts' dating back to April 1976.

Bob does have 'one' good win, which was a {Dec 8} over Rochelle Norris on August 19, 1976 in Queens, New York.

Bob Smith will receive a Fight Purse of ...... { $800 }.

Bob Smith >
"I came here at 185 lbs. But don't worry. I can make 180 lbs. easy. As for fighting Leon, this will be easy. He's a
rank Amateur who fights crazy. He needs to spend some time at Joe Frazier's Gym in Philadelphia like me. That
is where you learn on how to fight. Not in the Ring on Television."

"I only had 3-Days notice for this bout, but I'm in shape. My record, well I've won 22 of 25, and scored
13 KO's. I could hit pretty good until I got married in September 1974. Then, I only had 1-Bout in almost
2-Years. When I came back, I had lost my punch. But I've gone {6-1-1} since April 1976."

Saturday ~ January 15, 1977

~ Leon Spinks Cleans Up In Debut ~

~ Leon Spinks Puts Out Lightning ~

Leon Spinks over-whelmed New York's 'Lightning' Bob Smith, scoring a TKO @ 0:20 of Round 5
in his Professional Debut at The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.

Spinks {196 lbs.} came out with 'blazing' both fists blazing in the Opening Round, as he battered
Bob Smith {185 lbs.} around the Ring.

Smith appeared to re-group late, and made an effort to stall Leon's attack, but was 'rocked' at the end of
the Round by a hard 'left-right' combination to the head.

A the end of the Round, Smith 'staggered' back to his Corner.

In Round 2, Leon continued with his aggressive-attack, but Smith was fighting back with slashing left-hands.

In Round 3, Leon continued to slam away with hard-punches as Smith was beginning to show wear. Leon
'rattled' Smith several times with hard hooks to the head and was all over the New York fighter. Late in the
Round, Leon landed 'hard' right-hook to the head, and Smith crashed to the canvas. Smith was up at the
'6-Count' and finished out the Round.

In Round 4, Leon opened up with an all-out assault, and had Smith reeling from the blows. But the New Yorker
fought back with both hands and appeared to have slowed Leon down.

Then late in the Round, Leon landed a 'pair' of hard right-hooks to the head, and then slammed in a follow-up
left. Smith then slumped in a Corner. This time, Smith 'struggled' to get up at the '8-Count', but was saved by the Bell.

Coming out for Round 5, Leon went 'full-force' and battered Smith with a hard-flurry, knocking his mouthpiece ajar.

Referee - Richard Green jumped in and halted the bout at {0:20} of Round 5.

Saturday Night ~ March 5, 1977

The Stadium ~ Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom

Main Event > WBC Light-Heavyweight Championship > John Conteh vs. Len Hutchins

'Semi Main Event'

Television Broadcast ~ CBS-TV

Leon Spinks ~ 1-0-0 {1 KO} ~ 200 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 8 months}
vs.
Peter Freeman ~ 13-8-0 {10 KO's} ~ 196 lbs. ~ {Age; 26 years, 4 months}

Fight Purses
* Leon Spinks ...... { $7500 } + Travel Expenses from Philadelphia to London, and amenties.
* Peter Freeman .....{ $900 } + Expenses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[I][/'The Skinny'I]

Leon Spinks will have his 2nd Professional bout in the United Kingdom. Leon is now at 200 lbs., and
is using his brother Michael as his 'Main' sparring-partner.

Originally, Leon was supposed to face British Heavyweight - Eddie Fenton.

As a replacement, Peter Freeman is brought in. Freeman is the Central Area Heavyweight Champion
from Bolton, Lancashire.

The British Heavyweight has gone 4-7-0 in his last '11-Bouts', and does not appear to be a danger for
Leon.

Saturday ~ March 5, 1977

The Stadium ~ Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom

~ Spinks Wins In One ~

~ Leon Spinks Clobbers Freeman In Liverpool ~

American - Leon Spinks {200 lbs.} took little time in hammering British Heavyweight
Peter Freeman to the canvas.

Spinks came out at the Opening Bell with both hands blazing, as he battered Peter Freeman
{Central Area Heavyweight Champion} at Center-Ring.

After tagging the over-matched Brit with a series of combinations, Spinks unloaded a 'big'
right-hook to the jaw that dropped Freeman {196 lbs.} to the canvas.

Referee - Wally Thon counted out Freeman at 1:26 of the First Round.

Monday ~ March 7, 1977

~ Leon Spinks "I'll Win The Title By The End Of The Year" ~

After only '2-Bouts' and only 13:46 amount of time inside a Professional Ring, Leon Spinks
says that he will win the Heavyweight Championship by the end of the year.

Though we know that Leon can punch, we still don't know if he can fight.

In his Professional Debut on January 5th, Leon battered an over-matched Butcher's Helper
named 'Lightning' Bob Smith by a TKO in 5.

In his other bout {last Saturday Night} in Liverpool, England - Leon blasted out a 'patsy' in
only a Half-a-Round.

Leon, who received a Fight Purse of { $10,000 } for each bout, likes this type of work. But,
he dislikes the business end with Manager's, Lawyer's and Promoters' dipping their hands
in the mix.

Leon Spinks >
"I really don't like the Pro Ranks. I don't like the business of locked-contracts and options.
I just want to fight one bout at a time, and then move on to the next bout. But in this
business, you're always signing deals for the 3-Bouts in advance, or 6-Month contracts
with 3-Bout options."

"If they leave me alone to fight, I can win the Title by the end of the year."