Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[Bill Paxtom]

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.