Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[brocktonblockbust]

March 1982, Leon Spinks drove his Cadillac sedan right through the storefront window of a Windixie Supermarket in Mobile, Alabama, high on coke and whiskey with 2 minors in the car with him (2 girls aged 15 and 16)

[Bill Paxtom]

March 1982, Leon Spinks drove his Cadillac sedan right through the storefront window of a Windixie Supermarket in Mobile, Alabama, high on coke and whiskey with 2 minors in the car with him (2 girls aged 15 and 16)

Among Many Other Driving Mishaps,

June 1978 >

Leon wrecked his new 1978 Corvette while driving in upstate New York. The Spinks
'publicity machine' squashed the Police Report and Press Release.

Leon was driving around the back-roads up in The Catskills, and drove off the road and
hit a tree.

Leon knocked out his front teeth {which were just fixed}, as well as completely wrecking
the Corvette, which was only 3-Weeks old.

Leon was 'drunk', after polishing off a 6-Pack of Budweiser, and a tall-glass 'Alabama Slammer'
at Grossinger's Hotel late in the Afternoon.

[Bill Paxtom]

Leon Spinks vs. Scott LeDoux

Round 9 >

0:02 > Both meet at Center-Ring.
0:04 > Leon takes the aggressive-role, and firs out a left-jab that is short.
0:05 > Scott moves to the back Ropes.
0:06 > Leon is short with another left-jab.

0:08 > Scott counters with a stiff 'left-right' to the body.
0:10 > Leon scores with a 'slapping' right-hand to Scott's face.
0:12 > The fighters clinch.
0:15 > Scott pushed Leon out to Center-Ring.

0:17 > Leon lands with a 'pecking' left-hand
0:17 > Scott counters with a left-jab.
0:21 > Scott moves to the front Ropes.
0:24 > Leon steps in, and lands with a 'left-right-left'.

0:26 > Scott scores with a 'clubbing' right-hand to the head.
0:28 > Scott comes back with a 'triple-left' to the body.
0:30 > Leon moves back to the right-side Ropes.
0:31 > Scott 'pins' Leon to the Ropes by bulling in.

0:33 > Scott lands a good 'left-right-left-right' combination.
0:35 > Scott scores with a right-hand to Leon's chin.
0:37 > Leon is trying to grab Scott to hold on.
0:40 > Scott lands with a left-hand inside.

0:42 > Scott 'bulls' Leon into the right-side Ropes with his shoulder.
0:44 > Scott lands with a 'right-left' high.
0:46 > Scott scores with '2' left-hands to the body.
0:48 > Scott lands with a straight right-hand to the head.

0:50 > Leon, with his back on the Ropes, lands a hard left-hook into the right-side of Scott's jaw.
0:53 > Scott steps in, and is 'mauling' Leon.
0:58 > Leon scores with a good right-uppercut, and comes back with a hard left-hook to the head.
1:00 > Leon pushes Scott off.

1:03 > The fighters 'clinch' near the back-right Corner.
1:11 > Leon scores with an overhand-right lead to the head.
1:12 > Leon then moves in and 'holds'.
1:14 > Leon backs out.

1:15 > Scott moves out to Center-Ring.
1:18 > Scott lands with '2' left-jabs.
1:20 > Scott pushes Leon to the right Ropes.
1:23 > Scott 'digs in' with '2' lefts to the mid-section.

1:29 > Leon is short with a left-hook aimed at Scott's jaw.
1:34 > Leon fires in with a '4-Punch Flurry', but they are arm-punches and have no zip behind them.
1:37 > Leon is 'tired', and holds.
1:39 > Scott moves to the right-side Ring area.

1:40 > Scott flicks out a left-jab.
1:41 > Scott scores with a left-jab.
1:45 > Scott is 'pawing' with left-hands.
1:48 > Leon steps in, and lands a 'hard' left-hook to Scott's head.

1:52 > Scott backs up to the front Ropes.
1:54 > Scott 'bulls' into Leon.
1:57 > Leon slides to the right-side Ropes.
2:02 > Scott moves in, and mauls Leon.

2:05 > Leon attempts a '3-Punch' flurry, but misses with all his punches.
2:07 > Leon pushes Scott into the front Ropes.
2:10 > Scott catches Leon with a 'right-left' to the head.
2:13 > Scott 'bulls' into Leon, and then 'clinches'.

2:15 > Scott moves out to Center-Ring, and bounces on his toes.
2:16 > Leon is slow to come out, and looks to have 'heavy legs'.
2:21 > Scott 'peppers' Leon with '5' left-jabs.
2:22 > Scott moves to the right-side Ropes.

2:24 > Leon moves in, but is not punching.
2:29 > Scott slides to his left, to the front Ropes.
2:30 > Leon steps in.
2:31 > Scott covers up.

2:31 > Leon throws a 'light' flurry.
2:34 > Scott slides to his left, to the front-left Corner.
2:37 > Leon fires away, but can't break through Scott's defense.
2:42 > Scott is 'resting' in the front-left Corner.
2:49 > Scott 'bull-rushes' into Leon.

2:51 > Scott drives Leon into the front Ropes.
2:52 > Leon fires a fast 'right-left' to the head.
2:53 > Scott backs up.
2:54 > Scott lands with a 'right-left' to the body.
2:57 > Leon lands a light grazing right-hand to Scott's head.
2:58 > Scott digs with a right-hand to the body.
3:00 > 'Bell'

Round 9 ........... Scott LeDoux {5-4}

[Bill Paxtom]

Leon Spinks vs. Scott LeDoux

Round 10 >

0:00 > Both 'touch gloves' at Center-Ring.
0:02 > Scott fires in a fast 'right-left' to the body.
0:04 > Leon 'misses' with a left-right.
0:06 > Scott backs up to the back Ropes.

0:08 > Scott fires in with '2' left-hands.
0:09 > Leon counters with a straight-right to the head.
0:11 > Scott comes back with '2' left-hands to the mid-section.
0:12 > Leon scores with a left to the body, and a right to the head.

0:14 > Scott lands with a hard right-hand to Leon's left ribs.
0:16 > Scott moves to the left-side of the Ring.
0:17 > Both fighters are in close.
0:19 > Leon moves to the back Ropes.

0:23 > Scott moves in, and scores with a 'left-right-left'.
0:27 > Leon bounces a 'left-right' off Scott's head.
0:32 > Scott scores with a 'triple' left-hand to the body, and then scores with a 'right-left'.
0:36 > Leon looks weary.

0:38 > Leon tries with a 'right-left' high.
0:40 > Scott moves in, and 'mauls' Leon.
0:44 > Scott is scoring with 'light' body-punches on the inside.
0:47 > Both fighters are now 'visibly tired'.

0:58 > Leon finally gets off the back Ropes, and moves out to Center-Ring.
1:00 > Leon 'misses' with a left-right.
1:02 > Scott slams a left-hand to the mid-section.
1:07 > Leon moves to the back-left Ropes.

1:09 > Leon lands with a 'left-right' to the head.
1:11 > Scott scores with a 'light' left-right to the body.
1:16 > Scott pushes Leon to the right-side Ropes.
1:20 > Scott is 'mauling' Leon on the inside.

1:26 > Leon tries to counter with short uppercuts.
1:31 > Leon scores with a quick 'right-left-right'.
1:33 > Leon scores with another 'fast-flurry'.
1:38 > Leon gets off the Ropes.

1:43 > Both are tired, and not punching.
1:46 > Scott lands with a left-jab.
1:48 > Scott moves to the front Ropes.
1:56 > Scott moves out to Center-Ring.

1:58 > Scott lands with a 'grazing' left-right.
2:00 > Scott 'bulls' Leon into the front-right Corner.
2:02 > Scott 'digs' with light body-punches.
2:06 > Scott scores with a left-right'.

2:08 > Leon 'misses' with a big right-hand.
2:15 > Scott slides over to the right-side Ropes.
2:20 > Leon steps in, and lands with a 'left-right'.
2:22 > Scott pushes Leon out.

2:25 > Scott lands with a series of light left-hands to the body.
2:28 > Scott moves to the back-right Corner.
2:30 > Leon lands with a left-jab.
2:32 > Leon fires in with a 'right-left'.

2:36 > Scott moves in close, and the fighters clinch.
2:41 > Referee - Carlos Padilla 'breaks' the clinch.
2:45 > Leon steps back out to Center-Ring.
2:47 > Scott moves out, and paws with '2' left-jabs.

2:50 > Scott slides back to the right-side Ropes.
2:52 > Leon moves in, but is too tired to fire.
2:55 > Leon tires with a 'light' left-right on the inside.
2:58 > Scott is mauling.
3:00 > 'Bell'

Round 10 ........... 'Even' {5-5}

[Bill Paxtom]

Leon Spinks vs. Scott LeDoux

Scorecards

Judge ~ Art Lurie
Leon Spinks ........... 5 - 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 .... 4 - 5 - 5 - 4 - 5 = { 47 } ...... Leon Spinks { 5-3-2 in Rounds }
Scott LeDoux ......... 4 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 4 .... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 = { 45 }

Judge ~ Bill Kipp
Leon Spinks ........... 5 - 5 - 4 - 5 - 4 .... 4 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 5 = { 45 }
Scott LeDoux ......... 4 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 5 .... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 = { 46 } ...... Scott LeDoux { 5-4-1 in Rounds }

Judge ~ Art Lurie
Leon Spinks ........... 5 - 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 .... 4 - 5 - 4 - 4 - 5 = { 46 } ....... Draw { 4-4-2 in Rounds }
Scott LeDoux ......... 4 - 4 - 5 - 4 - 5 .... 5 - 4 - 5 - 5 - 5 = { 46 }

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ Spinks and LeDoux Fight To Draw ~

~ LeDoux Nearly Derails Spinks ~

~ Spinks Held To Draw By Minnesota Strongman LeDoux ~

[Bill Paxtom]

~ LeDoux Holds Spinks To Draw, Outmuscles Olympic Champ ~

~ Rugged LeDoux Felt That He Was Shafted Again ~

~ LeDoux First Roadblock For Spinks, Rugged Brawler Slugs Way To Disputed Draw ~

Scott LeDoux
"I hurt Leon about a half-dozen times. Especially from the 6th Round and on."

"I'm getting shafted again. Leon now gets '2' big money fights, and I get an off-site
bout in Nowhere-Land. That's the way the business is. Some guys are chosen, and
other like me get railroaded."

"I signed for this bout on October 3rd, and had 3-Weeks to get ready. But 1-Week
into Training, I got sick and had a 'bad flu'. I had to take a week off, but I still wanted
this bout."

"I was still a bit weak coming into this bout, and I was maybe at 80% strength. But I
still was in command over the second-half of the bout. Sure I thought that I had won.
Don't you."

"CBS-Sports was fair to me. They gave me $3000 in up-front 'Training Expenses', and I
got a Fight Purse of $25,000. But if they want me to fight Leon again, then I'll ask for
double that amount."

[Bill Paxtom]

October 24, 1977

~ Spinks Draws, But Ali Still On Horizon ~

Leon Spinks

"I can accept the Draw, but I thought that I won. I landed more punches, and I
was the one making the fight throughout the first 5-Rounds."

"He came on from the 6th-Round and on, but I held my own. Scott is a good puncher,
but he never really hurt me. But, he's a veteran and he pulled lot of tricks in there.
He's a smart fighter, and knows how to fight real good inside."

"I can only depend on the Judges to score the bout. I only worry about the work inside
the Ring. But, a 'Draw' hurts nobody."

"This was my first 10-Rounder, and I'm still trying to adjust myself to that pace."

"I was originally supposed to face Kevin Isaac in an 8-Rounder. He was my size, and
it was for 8-Rounds which I felt that I was ready for."

"Then Kevin pulled out, and Scott was brought in as a replacement. I was a bit worried
because of his size {30 lbs. heavier than me}, but I felt that I could handle him in an
8-Rounder."

But, the 'Main Event' between Bernardo Mercado and Greg Johnson was cancelled, and
they bumped our bout from 8-Rounds to 10-Rounds. I wasn't at my best from the 8th
Round and on, because his size and strength made a difference."