Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[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.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 7, 1977

Kiel Auditorium ~ St. Louis, Missouri

Television Broadcast ~ CBS-TV

Leon Spinks ~ 3-0-0 {3 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 198 lbs. ~ {Age; 23 years, 10 months}
vs.
Pedro Agosto ~ 28-8-1 {22 KO's} ~ 6' 0" ~ 202 lbs. ~ {Age; 31 years, 8 months}

Scheduled for 8-Rounds.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'The Skinny'

Leon will have his sternest test here. The word is, that the Spinks Camp is over-stepping here by
putting Leon in with an experienced guy like the Puerto Rican - Pedro Agosto.

But, Trainer - Sam Solomon has had Leon sparring with Roy 'Tiger' Williams for the past 4-Weeks,
and Leon has been looking good.

Pedro Agosto is in a 'no-lose' situation. He is coming off a loss {L TKO 4} to former Champion
George Foreman on January 22, 1977.

Fight Purses
* Leon Spinks ..... { $20,000 } + $2000 in 'up front' Training Expenses, Travel Expenses and amenities.
* Pedro Agosto ... { $12,000 } + Travel Expenses from New Jersey to Missouri, and amenities.

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ May 7, 1977

Kiel Auditorium ~ St. Louis, Missouri

~ Leon Spinks Scores Knockout ~

~ Agosto Falls To Leon Spinks ~

[B][/ ~ Leon Spinks KO's Agosto ~B]

Leon Spinks {198 lbs.} spent the first 90-Seconds of the Opening Round lightly-sparring
with the 31 1/2 year-old veteran Pedro Agosto {202 lbs.}.

Leon did 'nail' Pedro with a hard left-hook, but Pedro shook off the punch and forced Leon
backwards to the Ropes at the {1:30 Mark}.

Leon then looked toward his Corner for instructions, and Sam Solomon yelled;
"Work the body Leon, work the body."

Then suddenly, Leon skipped off the Ropes and delivered a right-uppercut, and '2' jolting
left-hooks to Pedro's jaw, followed by a battery-of-punches. Then Leon came back with
a 'vicious' left-hook to the jaw.

Pedro collapsed on his back, and slammed the back of his head on the canvas. Pedro struggled
to his knee's at the 9-Count, but was counted out by Referee - Jim Reddick at 1:55 of Round 1.