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.

[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"

[Bill Paxtom]

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."

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

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.

[Bill Paxtom]

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.