Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[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."