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.

[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.

[brocktonblockbust]

[Bill Paxtom]

Monday ~ March 7, 1977

~ Leon Spinks "I'll Win The Title By The End Of The Year" ~

After only '2-Bouts' and only 13:46 amount of time inside a Professional Ring, Leon Spinks
says that he will win the Heavyweight Championship by the end of the year.

Though we know that Leon can punch, we still don't know if he can fight.

In his Professional Debut on January 5th, Leon battered an over-matched Butcher's Helper
named 'Lightning' Bob Smith by a TKO in 5.

In his other bout {last Saturday Night} in Liverpool, England - Leon blasted out a 'patsy' in
only a Half-a-Round.

Leon, who received a Fight Purse of { $10,000 } for each bout, likes this type of work. But,
he dislikes the business end with Manager's, Lawyer's and Promoters' dipping their hands
in the mix.

Leon Spinks >
"I really don't like the Pro Ranks. I don't like the business of locked-contracts and options.
I just want to fight one bout at a time, and then move on to the next bout. But in this
business, you're always signing deals for the 3-Bouts in advance, or 6-Month contracts
with 3-Bout options."

"If they leave me alone to fight, I can win the Title by the end of the year."

[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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'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

[Bill Paxtom]

Sunday ~ March 20, 1977

Exposition Center ~ Louisville, Kentucky

~ Leon Spinks Smashes McIntyre In 35-Seconds ~

~ Spinks Bombs Out Texan In 35-Seconds ~

Leon Spinks {195 lbs.} made easy work of Texan - Jerry McIntyre {232 lbs.}
in just 35 Seconds of the 1st-Round.

At the Opening Bell, Spinks charged across the Ring and bombarded the unsuspecting
McIntyre with both fists flying.

McIntyre attempted to grab the 23 1/2 year-old Spinks, but his gloves slipped off the
1976 Olympian's shoulders.

With an opening, Leon landed a 'crushing' right-hand into McIntyre's head dropping,
him to the canvas at the 25-Second mark.

10-Seconds later, the Referee counted the big Texan out.

Leon Spinks received a Fight Purse of { $10,000 } for his 3rd win.

Jerry McIntyre received a Fight Purse of { $900 }.

'The Skinny'

Leon had a bout scheduled in Paris, France for mid-April. But in early-April the bout was cancelled.