Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[Bill Paxtom]

June 10, 1977

~ Leon Spinks May Go To Europe For 2-Bouts ~

Leon Spinks, now with a record of 5-0-0 and '5' Knockouts may take another
venture back to Europe.

Trainer - Sam Solomon said that he would like to match the 1976 Olympic
Light-Heavyweight Gold Medal winner with British Heavyweight - Billy Aird
in late-June, with the bout set at Royal Albert Hall.

The 31 year-old Aird has a record of 18-10-5 {6 KO's}, and would present a
better challenge for the undefeated American than his previous '5' opponents.

Sam Solomon >
"We would like to fight Billy Aird at the end of June, because we have an offer to go
to Germany, for Leon to take on 'The German Beanpole' Bernd August in late-July.

"These '2-Bouts' are exactly what we need for Leon to hone his skills, while
taking on better opposition."

[Bill Paxtom]

August 2, 1977

~ Leon Spinks Signs To Meet Brooklyn's Kevin Isaac ~

Leon Spinks has agreed to meet Kevin Isaac in a Scheduled 8-Round Heavywieght Bout at
The Spectrum in Philadelphia on Tuesday ~ August 23rd.

The 24 year-old Spinks who has won all '5' of his bouts by Knockout, will have his sternest
test to date.

Leon last fought on June 1st in Montreal, Canada - 9-Weeks ago. When Leon walks into
the Ring on August 23rd, it will have been 12-Weeks since his last bout.

Leon now lives in Philadelphia, and trains at Joe Frazier's Gym.

Kevin Isaac {Age; 22 years, 7 months} is younger than Spinks. The Brooklyn-based fighter
won the New York Golden Gloves in 1973 at {Age; 18}, and is a well-schooled Boxer/Puncher.

Isaac has a record of 12-5-1 {6 KO's}, and has been in the Ring with World-Rated Heavyweights
Larry Holmes, Ron Lyle and Stan Ward.

[brocktonblockbust]

Spinks rose up like a meteor.

[Bill Paxtom]

Spinks rose up like a meteor.

~ Leon Spinks ~

Was punching hard early in his career.

Trainer; Sam Solomon
Chief Sparring Partner; Roy 'Tiger' Williams
Gym; Joe Frazier's Gym {Philadelphia, Pennsylvania}

It was Roy 'Tiger' Williams who helped Leon in developing punching-power.

Roy nicknamed Leon > 'The St. Louis Jaguar'
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Regarding the August 23, 1977 bout between > Leon Spinks vs. Kevin Isaac.

Leon suffered damage to his eye in an August 5th sparring-session with 'lanky' Mike Koranicki.
Leon's eye was badly bruised. The eye was originally diagnosed, as just a 'bad bruise'.

But a week later, the eye was still bothering Leon. A specialist examined the eye on Friday ~
August 12th, and it was determined that Leon had suffered '2' small broken bones near the area
of the eye socket.

That bout was then pushed back {7-Weeks} to Sunday ~ October 15th.

[Bill Paxtom]

September 18, 1977

~ Leon Spinks And Kevin Isaac Agree To Bout, Set For October 15th In Las Vegas ~

The 'twice' postponed bout between Leon Spinks and Kevin Isaac have finally agreed on date, and set
for October 15th and to be held at The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.

The bout will be scheduled for 8-Rounds, and will be broadcast by CBS-TV.

Leon Spinks with a record of 5-0-0 {5 KO's} will receive { $20,000 } for his 6th Professional Bout, which
will be his highest Fight Purse to date.

Kevin Isaac, with a record of 12-5-1 {6 KO's} will receive a Fight Purse of { $10,000 }.
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October 1, 1977

~ Kevin Isaac Pulls Out Of Bout With Leon Spinks, Demands A Larger Fight Purse ~

New York Heavyweight - Kevin Isaac has pulled out of his bout with Leon Spinks scheduled for October 15th
in Las Vegas.

Isaac who was to receive { $10,000} for his appearance, demanded another { $5000 } for the scheduled
8-Rounder.

Kevin Isaac >
"I just found out that Leon is getting $20,000 plus an additional { $5000 in expenses}. That's fine, but he
shouldn't get more than 'twice' as much as me. I asked for another $5000. That demand is not out of range,
especially for a CBS-TV bout. Another $5000 is not going to break CBS Sports."
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October 3, 1977

~ Leon Spinks Signs To Fight Scott LeDoux On October 22nd In Las Vegas At The Aladdin Hotel ~

The 24 year-old Spinks, with a record of 5-0-0 {5 KO's} has not fought since June 1st, and this will be far his
toughest test.

Scott LeDoux, a 28 1/2 year-old brawler who goes by the moniker of 'The Minnesota Farm-Boy', is a tough
brawling slugger who will surely give the younger Spinks all that he can handle.

LeDoux has a quality record of 21-6-1 {13 KO's}, and has been in with some rough Hombre's, including
George Foreman who stopped him in 4-Rounds.

LeDoux last fought on July 28, 1977 > where he was stopped by {L TKO 7} to Duane Bobick in a
rough battle in Minnesota.

This bout will scheduled for 8-Rounds, and will be the Co-Main Event along with a bout between Colombian
Heavyweight #10 WBC-ranked Bernardo Mercado vs. Gregory Johnson.

[brocktonblockbust]

October 3, 1977

~ Leon Spinks Signs To Fight Scott LeDoux On October 22nd In Las Vegas At The Aladdin Hotel ~

The 24 year-old Spinks, with a record of 5-0-0 {5 KO's} has not fought since June 1st, and this will be far his
toughest test.

Scott LeDoux, a 28 1/2 year-old brawler who goes by the moniker of 'The Minnesota Farm-Boy', is a tough
brawling slugger who will surely give the younger Spinks all that he can handle.

LeDoux has a quality record of 21-6-1 {13 KO's}, and has been in with some rough Hombre's, including
George Foreman who stopped him in 4-Rounds.

LeDoux last fought on July 28, 1977 > where he was stopped by {L TKO 7} to Duane Bobick in a
rough battle in Minnesota.

Scott LeDoux was nobody's pushover. Power punching right hand punching tough guy he would not back down and would go down with the ship

[Bill Paxtom]

October 4, 1977

Barry Frank > President of CBS Television Sports

~ Leon Spinks Bout With Kevin Isaac Cancelled ~

We would have loved for Leon to fight Brooklyn's - Kevin Isaac here on CBS-TV on October 15th.

It would have been a great match-up between two young Heavyweights. Kevin is experienced
for a young guy {Age; 22 years, 8 months}. And his record of 12-5-1 {6 KO's} is much better
than it appears on paper.

But, back in August he verbally agreed to a { $10,000 } Fight Purse. We were going to give
him '3' Round Trip Airline Tickets so he could bring his Manager and Trainer from New York
to Las Vegas. And he would have all 'expenses' covered for the 5-Days that he was supposed
to be here.

On September 18th, I gave him { $2000 } in up-front Training Expenses. That was his money,
and he could do whatever he wanted with it.

Then on October 3rd, he demands another { $5000} for an 8-Round bout.

He was upset because Leon was getting { $20,000 } plus additional expenses. One contract
has nothing to do with the other.

All I know, is that earlier Kevin had signed a Contract to fight Leon at 'The Spectrum' in Philadelphia
on August 23rd. For that bout, Kevin agreed to a { $7500 Fight Purse }. He was fine with that.
Now we offered him more { $10,000 } and some, and he at first agrees. Now he complains.
I don't get it.