How did Leon Spinks get a title shot against Ali?

[Controversial]

Leon Spinks only had 6 wins (5 kos) beating no one note, and a draw against Scott LeDoux. So was he rated in the top 10, if not how was the title shot made? Anyone know what his odds of winning were with the bookies?

[The Great John L]

Ali's cash generating presence ruled the HW division at that time and he was looking for a soft touch after getting hammered by Shavers. And Spinks rode the wave of the '76 US Olympic boxing team with lots of TV exposure. The media hype of his 1st Rd stoppage of Agosto shortly after Agosto made it to the 4th against Foreman and his decision over 27-0 Spaghetti gave him enough of a name to provide Ali with what he thought was going to be an easy touch.

Basically, media frenzy got him the match, although Leon was one of the most exciting am fighters ever. He was non-stop punching and carried a lot of power at LH in the ams and people always want to watch that type of a fighter.

[raylawpc]

Probably the same way Pete Rademacher got his against Patterson. He was the Olympic Heavyweight Champion, and so the fight would generate some interest. But it would probably be an easy pay day for the champ. Worked for Patterson. (Yeah, Floyd got knocked down in the first but otherwise dominated.) But for Ali . . . ooops!

[Bodyshot3]

For sure, not one of Bob Arum's finest moments...but presumably Leon and Ali got paid; better option than finding an invoice in the post from Don King the next morning.

[HomicideHenry]

He was being considered for Ali even before the LeDoux fight, believe it or not.

However, the draw with LeDoux made the match seem all the more plausible.

The Ali camp, and the champion himself knew deep down, that the serious challengers had to be avoided. Ali was dangerously slow, and getting lazier in the training camps and was showing the signs of age and the early triggers of Parkinson's Syndrome (at the time people assumed he was showing the signs of possible pugilistic dementia). But Ali didnt want to let go of the title, and mainly it was because of money--- his wife at the time had fine expensive tastes, and he was neck deep in debt and had to cover his losses.

For a short time, believe it or not (also), it was explored as a possibility of doing a 'rematch' of sorts with a rival Ali had as an amateur. This particular man, whose name escapes me at the moment, had beaten Ali by kayo in the amateurs. But he had never turned pro. The thought process was, to get him a pro license and duplicate what Cus D'Amato did with Patterson (the Rademacher bout). However, all the boxing organisations said this man had to fight someone in the top ten first and win, in order to be ranked to fight for the title. So the idea was scrapped.

After the LeDoux fight, the Spinks camp was visited by Ali's management and the strings were being pulled of having Ali/Spinks. However, he had to at least beat someone in the top ten, in order to do it. Ali's management, Spinks management, somehow or another managed to convince the weakest link in the top ten chain (Alfio Righetti) to fight Spinks--- with the promise the winner would get Ali for the title. Alfio took it, and unfortunately for him was soundly beaten.

The rest, as they say is history.

[raylawpc]

He was being considered for Ali even before the LeDoux fight, believe it or not.

However, the draw with LeDoux made the match seem all the more plausible.

The Ali camp, and the champion himself knew deep down, that the serious challengers had to be avoided. Ali was dangerously slow, and getting lazier in the training camps and was showing the signs of age and the early triggers of Parkinson's Syndrome (at the time people assumed he was showing the signs of possible pugilistic dementia). But Ali didnt want to let go of the title, and mainly it was because of money--- his wife at the time had fine expensive tastes, and he was neck deep in debt and had to cover his losses.

For a short time, believe it or not (also), it was explored as a possibility of doing a 'rematch' of sorts with a rival Ali had as an amateur. This particular man, whose name escapes me at the moment, had beaten Ali by kayo in the amateurs. But he had never turned pro. The thought process was, to get him a pro license and duplicate what Cus D'Amato did with Patterson (the Rademacher bout). However, all the boxing organisations said this man had to fight someone in the top ten first and win, in order to be ranked to fight for the title. So the idea was scrapped.

After the LeDoux fight, the Spinks camp was visited by Ali's management and the strings were being pulled of having Ali/Spinks. However, he had to at least beat someone in the top ten, in order to do it. Ali's management, Spinks management, somehow or another managed to convince the weakest link in the top ten chain (Alfio Righetti) to fight Spinks--- with the promise the winner would get Ali for the title. Alfio took it, and unfortunately for him was soundly beaten.

The rest, as they say is history.

You are thinking about Kent Green, who beat Clay in 1957 - two round stoppage. They boxed an exhibition in 1977 (I think I got the year correctly). Green was unable to kayo Ali this time around . . .

[zojo]

He was being considered for Ali even before the LeDoux fight, believe it or not.

However, the draw with LeDoux made the match seem all the more plausible.

The Ali camp, and the champion himself knew deep down, that the serious challengers had to be avoided. Ali was dangerously slow, and getting lazier in the training camps and was showing the signs of age and the early triggers of Parkinson's Syndrome (at the time people assumed he was showing the signs of possible pugilistic dementia). But Ali didnt want to let go of the title, and mainly it was because of money--- his wife at the time had fine expensive tastes, and he was neck deep in debt and had to cover his losses.

For a short time, believe it or not (also), it was explored as a possibility of doing a 'rematch' of sorts with a rival Ali had as an amateur. This particular man, whose name escapes me at the moment, had beaten Ali by kayo in the amateurs. But he had never turned pro. The thought process was, to get him a pro license and duplicate what Cus D'Amato did with Patterson (the Rademacher bout). However, all the boxing organisations said this man had to fight someone in the top ten first and win, in order to be ranked to fight for the title. So the idea was scrapped.

After the LeDoux fight, the Spinks camp was visited by Ali's management and the strings were being pulled of having Ali/Spinks. However, he had to at least beat someone in the top ten, in order to do it. Ali's management, Spinks management, somehow or another managed to convince the weakest link in the top ten chain (Alfio Righetti) to fight Spinks--- with the promise the winner would get Ali for the title. Alfio took it, and unfortunately for him was soundly beaten.

The rest, as they say is history.

You are thinking about Kent Green, who beat Clay in 1957 - two round stoppage. They boxed an exhibition in 1977 (I think I got the year correctly). Green was unable to kayo Ali this time around . . .

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer

[Nile4000]

Leon Spinks only had 6 wins (5 kos) beating no one note, and a draw against Scott LeDoux. So was he rated in the top 10, if not how was the title shot made? Anyone know what his odds of winning were with the bookies?

He had to beat that dude from Italy, Alfio Righetti, in order to get and secure his ranking.

[Space Moutain]

He was being considered for Ali even before the LeDoux fight, believe it or not.

However, the draw with LeDoux made the match seem all the more plausible.

The Ali camp, and the champion himself knew deep down, that the serious challengers had to be avoided. Ali was dangerously slow, and getting lazier in the training camps and was showing the signs of age and the early triggers of Parkinson's Syndrome (at the time people assumed he was showing the signs of possible pugilistic dementia). But Ali didnt want to let go of the title, and mainly it was because of money--- his wife at the time had fine expensive tastes, and he was neck deep in debt and had to cover his losses.

For a short time, believe it or not (also), it was explored as a possibility of doing a 'rematch' of sorts with a rival Ali had as an amateur. This particular man, whose name escapes me at the moment, had beaten Ali by kayo in the amateurs. But he had never turned pro. The thought process was, to get him a pro license and duplicate what Cus D'Amato did with Patterson (the Rademacher bout). However, all the boxing organisations said this man had to fight someone in the top ten first and win, in order to be ranked to fight for the title. So the idea was scrapped.

After the LeDoux fight, the Spinks camp was visited by Ali's management and the strings were being pulled of having Ali/Spinks. However, he had to at least beat someone in the top ten, in order to do it. Ali's management, Spinks management, somehow or another managed to convince the weakest link in the top ten chain (Alfio Righetti) to fight Spinks--- with the promise the winner would get Ali for the title. Alfio took it, and unfortunately for him was soundly beaten.

The rest, as they say is history.

holy shit, they made The Great White Hype off of that.

[gilgamesh]

He was an Olympic Gold Medal Winner with an Unbeaten Record going up against an aging Champion.....End of Discussion.

[SamWise72]

Muhammad Ali

Wanted to fight the most 'inept fighter' who was rated in the Top 10.

This is the long and short of it. I mean, not quite, because they could have fought Righetti, and they clearly expected Spinks to beat him, but because of Spinks' gold medal status, there was a lot more money in that fight, and he clearly thought he could beat either.

[Controversial]

Except Spinks wasn't as inept as Righetti as he beat him

[SamWise72]

Except Spinks wasn't as inept as Righetti as he beat him

That's exactly what I just said. Righetti was worse, they knew it, and they could have fought him, but there was more money in the Spinks fight, and they were sure he would beat either man.

[SamWise72]

I agree he might have won that night, but I don't think Dundee took the fight to lose the title. They thought even an old Ali could beat a 7 fight novice, or a mediocre Italian. Dundee knew they would lose to Holmes and Berbick, but I don't think either man was expecting Neon Leon to win. After all, Ali always found a way, til then.