Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ March 20, 1977

Exposition Center ~ Louisville, Kentucky

Television Broadcast ~ CBS-TV

Promoter > Bill King {Mayor's Sports Commission}

Leon Spinks ~ 2-0-0 {2 KO's} ~ 195 lbs. ~ 6' 1" ~ {Age; 23 years, 8 months}
vs.
Jerry McIntyre ~ 5-2-0 {2 KO's} ~ 232 lbs. ~ 6' 2" ~ {Age; 24 years, 8 months}

Fight Purses
* Leon Spinks ....... { $10,000 } + Travel Expenses and amenities.
* Jerry McIntyre ......... { $900} + One Round-Trip airline ticket from Dallas, Texas to Louisville, Kentucky and amenities.
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'The Skinny'

Leon had been training with 'veteran Heavyweight - Roy 'Tiger' Williams at
Joe Frazier's Gym in Philadelphia for the past 2-Weeks in preparation for this bout.

As of Thursday ~ February 17th, there was no opponent yet for Leon's 3rd-Bout.

Late Thursday, Promoter - Bill King found Jerry McIntyre, a big Heavyweight out of
Kileen, Texas who was both available and willing to travel North to Kentucky.

McIntyre, had a listed record of 5-2-0 {4 KO's}, but had been stopped {KO'd} in the
1st-Round in both of his losses.

His '5' wins were over 'no-nothing' Preliminary fighters.

Barry Frank {President of CBS Sports} was 'skeptical' at first in putting this opponent
on Television against Leon, but there were no other Heavyweights available that were
approved by Butch Lewis and Top Rank.

The '1st' opponent offered-up was Rodell Dupree, who was turned down by the
Spinks Camp.

Other Bouts On The Fight Card
* Howard Davis Jr. vs. Rick Craney
* Gerry Cooney vs., Jose Rosario
* Roy 'Tiger' Williams vs. Harold Carter
* Lee Canalito vs. Bill 'TNT' Jackson