Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

[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
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~ 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.