Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[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 }

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~ 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."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ November 4, 1977

~ Leon Spinks To Fight Italian Champion - Alfio Righetti ~

Leon Spinks > is set to fight a 10-Round Elimination Bout with Italian Champion - Alfio Righetti on
Friday Night, November 18th at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Spinks with a record of 5-0-1 {5 KO's} has been listed as a {3-1} Betting-Favorite.

Spinks {Age; 24 years, 4 months} has been promised a Championship Bout with Muhammad Ali
in February 1978 if he can defeat the 'undefeated' Italian.

Leon will receive a Fight Purse of { $30,000 } for this bout which will be televised on CBS-TV.
Spinks will also receive up-front Training Expenses of { $3000 }, as well as Travel Expenses and
amenities.

The Italian - Alfio Righetti > {Age; 25 years, 2 months} is a 6' 3" tall, lanky boxer. Alfio is undefeated
with a record of 27-0-0 with {14 KO's}. The Italian Champion has posted a string of victories of unkown
fighters but is a Ring Hero in his Country.

Alfio will receive a Fight Purse of { $10,000 } from CBS-TV, but will also receive { $80,000 } for the
ancillary fee for the Italian Television Broadcast rights.

Alfio also has a { $90,000 } 'option' with Top Rank, for a bout in Europe.

Alfio is a policeman in the small Adriatic Sea-Coast town of Rimini. The Italian has been a Professional
since May 1974 {3 1 2/ years} and had a good amateur career where he posted a record of 43-3. He
has never been floored or stopped in any of his bouts.
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Wednesday ~ November 9, 1977 {New York, New York}

~ A Boxer Who Can Beat Leon Spinks ~

Alfio Righetti, the Italian heavywieght Champion arrived here in new York today. The undefeated boxer
will spend 1-day here and will spar at Gleason's Gym to show off his boxing skills, before taking a
flight to Las Vegas.

The 6' 3" boxer/counter-puncher is not a big-hitter, but he is very accurate with his fast left-jabs and
counter right-hand leads.

When asked what his style is, the Italian responded with > "I'm a fast boxer with good movement and a
tight defense."

Asked about what his best punches are, Alfio added > "Lots of left-jabs, and a right-hand lead."

Alfio Righetti >
"The key to winning is to stay calm and be patient. I pick my spots to punch, and I capitalize on my
opponent's mistakes. Of course my best attribute is counter-punching."

[Bill Paxtom]

Friday ~ November 18, 1977

Caesar's Palace ~ Las Vegas, Nevada

Television Broadcast > CBS-TV

Leon Spinks ~ 5-0-1 {5 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 201 lbs. ~ Reach; 76" ~ {Age; 24 years, 4 months}
#15 WBA ~ #14 WBC
vs.
Alfio Righetti ~ 27-0-0 {14 KO's} ~ 6' 3" ~ 217 lbs. ~ Reach; 80" ~ {Age; 25 years, 2 months}
#9 WBA ~ #9 WBC
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

~ The Skinny ~

Betting-Favorite > Leon Spinks {3-1}

Originally, Leon Spinks had signed on August 12th to face Alfio Righetti on September 13th at
the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on the undercard of the Carlos Palomino vs.
Everaldo Costa Acevedo 'WBC Welterweight Championship' bout.

The bout was to be televised by CBS-TV as well.

Alfio, has been the #9 WBC-ranked Heavyweight since June 1977.

Alfio, and his country-mate Lorenzo Zanon were both being discussed as opponents for World Champion
Muhammad Ali as early as January 1977, but both were not ranked in the WBC Top 10.

But, Alfio moved into the picture on March 3, 1977 when he defeated {W Dec 12} 'veteran' Dante Cane
to capture the Italian Heavyweight Championship.

On June 2, 1977 - Fight Promoter signed Alfio to face Muhammad Ali in mid-July for the Championship.

But, the financial backing fell apart, and that was the end of that.