Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[Bill Paxtom]

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.