Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[Bill Paxtom]

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.

[ykdadamaja]

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

[Bill Paxtom]

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.

[SlimTrae]

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.

[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.

[Master]

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

[Bill Paxtom]

Leon Spinks

A Corporal in the United States Marines.

Honorable Discharge {December 1976}

Nicknamed > "The Wild Bull of Camp Lejeune"