BoxRec - User contributions [en]

Terry Rondeau

2007-12-06T01:22:46Z

Lincoln1860:

<boxer>12687</boxer>

TERRY RONDEAU: THE 'BUZZSAW' HAD HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BY '''Eddie Spence'''.

''Eddie Spence wrote this story on Pittsfield's boxer Terry Rondeau for the September 1970 issue of Boxing Illustrated. Rondeau died in 1995 of complications brought on by cirrhosis of the liver.''

A small, intense, acne-faced young man lay against the steering wheel of a car after slamming into another parked car. As his senses returned, the young man, scarcely past his late teens, thoroughly intoxicated, realized his situation. He was driving a stolen car and if he knew what was good for him, he'd get out of there quickly.

He fell from the car and ran around the side of a nearby community college in Pittsfield, Mass. Glancing over h is shoulder, he noticed five or six students come out of the college, hesitate, and then start out in his direction. Around the corner of the building he saw open space of a park. Freedom!

As he raced across the park, the sound of pursuing footsteps grew louder. His lungs pleaded for air. Damn, all that smoking. Then he felt the weight of a crushi8ng tackle bring him to the ground. He struggled to his feet and faced a short, stocky blond man.

Two quick rights and the blond man sprawled on the ground. Four more hands seized him almost immediately and a voice tried to calm him. "Take it easy, kid. No one' going to hurt you."

Subdued, he waited.

The men turned him over to the police and he appeared in Central Berkshire District Court the next morning. The young man was Terry Rondeau. The judge asked his plea. "Not guilty, your honor, " Terry said.

"Not guilty!" the judge said in dismay, "son, I was in teaching at the college last night when you crashed into that car. Part of my class were the policemen who caught you. Now sit down and let's straighten this out."

It was straightened out.Terry Rondeau, then 20, got nine months in the Berkshire County House of Correction. No stranger to trouble, Terry spent his adolescence creating sleepless nights for the Pittsfield Police.

== TROUBLED TEEN ==

As a teenager, his life was one continuous probation; as an adult, he pent the better part of two years making short trips to the House of Correction. "When I got out of jail, " Terry says, "I'd get a job, but I never stayed too long...maybe a week...and I kept getting into trouble. I'd have a few bee4rs, get nasty, and belt somebody."

As he sat in his bathrobe this Sunday afternoon , he joked about his past, happy that it was now past. He freely admits that perhaps his biggest opponent has always been himself.

"Ever since I can remember," Terry recalls, " everybody was telling me I'd never amount to anything. I wanted to prove that I could be as good as anybody."

But things got worse before they looked better. Numerous convictions for juvenile and adult offenses came and went before Terry thought seriously about fighting. To make things more difficult, he quit school in the eighth grade."My name was such a black mark that I had to prove to my family and the people of Pittsfield that I was OK," says Terry. "The only way I felt I could clear my name was by fighting. I'm not a bright guy. I had no education, no background. Boxing was the only way I could show the people of Pittsfield that I was really someone."

It would be nice toreport that everything worked out fine. But life is full of little steps that lead to bigger steps. In the autumn of 1967, Terry approached Roger Sala, Pittsfield fight manager, about boxing for him.

" I told him if he wanted to fight, OK," Sala recalls, "But I didn't think he was serious. I knew his reputation around town."

Terry promised Sala he'd be a serious fighter, but he freely admits it was only a half truth.

== TROUBLEMAKER AND WINO. ==

"Roger thought I was a trouble maker and a wino. To tell the truth, I was. I wanted to fight to help support my habit."

Somehow Terry stayed sober and out of trouble long enough to train successfully. On Nov. 2, 1967, without a single amateur fight, he fought Bobby Diamond in Portland,Maine capturing four-round unanimous decision.

[To be completed later]

Terry Rondeau

2007-12-06T00:12:52Z

Lincoln1860:

Terry Rondeau

2007-12-06T00:06:50Z

Lincoln1860:

Terry Rondeau

2007-12-05T23:59:40Z

Lincoln1860:

Jimmy McDermott vs. Eddie Spence

2007-12-05T23:50:20Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>321223</fight>

'''SPENCE LOSES CLOSE VOTE, GETS REMATCH''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE''', February 18, 1964

== He'll oppose Jimmy McDermott Thursday Night in Worcester, MA. ==

BOSTON - Eddie Spence, 160, of Pittsfield, a loser to Jimmy McDermott, 161, of Portland, Maine, in a keen four-rounde middleweight bout last night at the Boston Garden, received one of the quickest rematches in the history of boxing.

The fight was one of the preliminaries on the card that featured Larry Carney and Joe DeNucci in 10 round main bout. Carney received the decision.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, felt that his fighter won comfortably. The referee voted 48-37 for McDermott, and both judges scored 38-37 for the Portland boy, who gained his 12th consecutive victory. He is unbeaten as a pro. It was Spence's third loss against seven wins.

Sala said, "I thought Eddie won every round but the first. I wold have called that even. McDermott crowded Eddie several times, but didn't hit him well. At the end of the bout, McDermott's face was a mask of red. That was because Eddie hit him so many times with good left jabs.

There were no knockdowns.

Jimmy McDermott vs. Eddie Spence

2007-12-05T23:49:42Z

Lincoln1860:

Jimmy McDermott vs. Eddie Spence

2007-12-05T23:41:11Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>321223</fight> '''SPENCE LOSES CLOSE VOTE, GETS REMATCH''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE''', February 18, 1964

<fight>321223</fight>

'''SPENCE LOSES CLOSE VOTE, GETS REMATCH''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE''', February 18, 1964

Eddie Spence

2007-12-05T23:38:28Z

Lincoln1860:

[[file:Spence eddie.jpg|left|Eddie Spence]]
<boxer>048319</boxer>

<br clear=all>

== EDDIE SPENCE: THE PROFESSOR COULD BOX ==

By Brian Sullivan, Eagle Staff, ''The Berkshire Eagle'', Pittsfield, MA., Feb 4, 2001. (Spence named one of the one hundred (100) best athletes in Berkshire County during the 20th Century by the ''Berkshire Eagle'' staff.)

PITTSFIELD. There is one knockout that doesn't appear on the final record of Pittsfield boxer Eddie Spence.

Football coaching legend Vince Lombardi once sent Spence to the mat in the late winter of 1969, ''Sports Illustrated'' courted Spence for a story.

The hook was simple--the magazine wanted to trumpet Spence as the most educated professional boxer in the United States.

Spence was known as "The Professor."

And so SI writer Pat Putnam did the interview and a photographer spent a day with Spence taking pictures. But the week before the issue hit the newsstands, Lombardi, the architect of the successful Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s, announced he was accepting an offer from the Washington Redskins to be their new coach-general manager.

SI then pulled the cover switch. In came Lombardi and out went Spence, who was relegated to an inside story.

Spence, now a successful local attorney, started his career as an amateur boxer in 1960 as a 6-foot-1 inch welterweight. He turned pro in 1962, but not before turning in an amateur mark of 36-6, including Western New England Golden Gloves titles in 1961 and 1962.

During his nine-year professional career he posted a record of 50-12. He boxed main events throughout New England, including feature bouts in Boston Garden. he boxed as a welterweight, a middleweight, and light heavyweight.

Though never weighing more than 172 pounds, Spence captured the New England heavyweight crown from 212 pound Paul Raymond. In 1969, Spence won the six-state light heavyweight title from Pete Riccatelli in the latter's hometown of Portland, Maine.

A year later Spence won the big prize from Raymond. Both of those victories came in the fourth round and both were knockouts. Spence's last bout was Dec. 15, 1970 at Boston Garden where, in a rematch he lost his New England heavyweight crown to Raymond.

Despite breaking his right hand in the second round. Spence went the 12 round distance with Raymond but lost by decision.

The prognosis wasn't good. It was the second broken hand Spence had suffered in a span of 15months. He would have to stay out of the gym for six months he was told. And that's when Spence decided it was enough and announced his retirement.

It put the skids on negotiations going on at the time between Spence's came and former welterweight and middleweight world champion Dick Tiger, who was ranked fifth in the light heavyweight class at that time.

The deal would have involved a televised bout from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Spence retired holding the New England light heavyweight crown that he defended successfully five times.

== SALA: DRIVING ME UP A WALL ==

"He's driving me up the wall," wailed fight manager Roger Sala. "When he comes into the ring, I don't know if he's going to break out in an aria, recite Shakespeare, or throw punches."

"One time I'm telling him something in the gym and he's not listening. Then he looks up and says, 'You know, Roger, I was just thinking that whereas the Fechnerian argument makes sensory magnitude a logarithmic function, the newer methods of direct estimation indicate that it should be a power function--S equals kM, where k and M are constants for any particular sense modality.' I know that's what he said because I made him write it down."

So began the ''Sports Illustrated'' story from the March 3, 1969 issue. In its own complicated way, it capsulized the relationship between fighter and manager for almost a decade.

Sala, who recognized Spence's great talents, battled to have his fighter lock in on the task at hand. The cerebral Spence, meanwhile, sought other more eclectic challenges.

Said New England boxing promoter Sam Silverman at the time: "Eddie sure as heck doesn't look like a fighter. Other fighters listen to him talk and figure they have a real pushover. I've got light heavyweights lining up for two blocks trying to get a shot at him."

Sala concurred. The baby-faced scholar, he said, hid in appearance his lion's heart and his tenacious abilities. "If you walked into a bar and were looking for a fight and saw Eddie, then he'd be the one you would go after."

== THE EARLY YEARS ==

As worldly and intellectually gifted as Spence would become, his world as a youngster was air tight. His parents were divorced when he was young--Eddie Sr. had been a great basketball player in his day and Eddie Jr. even now still goes to the hardwood and plays pretty well. While Spence has said he was a lonely child, he wasn't necessarily an unhappy one.

Still, he had few close friends while attending St. Joseph's High School. In the SI article, one classmate said that Spence "was nothing but a big zero."

Said Spence in the same SI story, "I look upon myself as someone who was born when he was 17 years old. Before that my life was, well, nothing happened. Very dull. But I don't believe my early years have any effect upon my thinking or my actions now.

"I don't believe in Freud," he continued, "I believe in the autonomous motivation of an adult. I look back upon my childhood and I understand it. Just because I react one way to a situation now doesn't mean I can't react another way to the same situation in the future."

The Eddie Spence of the 1960s acted, sang in plays, learned to dance, and took piano lessons.

He also taught at Berkshire Community College, and was the first graduate of a state community college to come back and teach at the facility.

Frank Deane, the director of the summer and evening programs at BCC, was enthused at the time about hiring Spence to teach a course in personality.

"Several years ago he taught another psychology course for us and I thought he was very successful. The students certainly liked him. The spectrum of his interests made him an exciting person to talk with."

And that hasn't changed some 30 years later. Shunned by a young girl who told Eddie Spence in so many words that he was not the man he should be, the St. Joseph's High string bean, who was all of 16, showed up at Roger Sala's training facility at the Pittsfield YMCA with a "How to Fight" book authored by former heavyweight champion [[Jack Dempsey]].

Sale told the youngster to come back the next day. "I never figured I'd see him again, " Sala said. " He was a tall kid, about 6-foot-1, but skinny. Only 142 pounds. But he came back and fought."

Sala talked Spence into enrolling in Berkshire Community College a short time later, according to the SI story.

"Boxing gave Eddie confidence in himself," Sala said in the magazine piece. "It was something he never had. When I met him his greatest ambition was to open his own soda joint. Boxing was the first thing he had ever done well. The first time that he had gotten any recognition."

"Actually, it wasn't the first," said Spence in the same SI story. "I played basketball with some ability, but never in high school. I never wanted to get involved in high school. That's why I took up boxing. It's an individual effort."

Spence continued to put more things on his plate. Beyond his stage career, modern dance lessons, music and taking lessons in Italian (he even worked on a dump truck for a time), his pursuit of education continued. He retired once from the ring near the end of 1966 while pursing his master's degree at SUNY Albany.

Spence didn't fight between June of 1967 and December of 1968. One night while working as a bouncer in a local nightclub, he got into a wrestling match with a drunken patron. It lasted 10 minutes and ended without a clearcut winner.

"Some fighter," people in Pittsfield snickered.

Recalled at the time: "People seemed disappointed that I didn't kill the guy. To tell you the truth, I was disappointed I didn't punch his head off. But to heck with them. I don't care what they said."

But apparently he did. He was quickly in the gym and looking for a fight. A few weeks later he won an eight round decision over Sugar Ryan, then knokced out Hank Stroud in four rounds. Two more victories against quality opponents followed.

"He's better than ever," said Sala in the SI story. "And for the first time he's throwing a good hook. And he's always had a ton of guts. One time he fought a guy named Cadillac James and he went in with a broken hand and broken nose. He never told me and he won the fight."

"Why," asked Spence as the story concluded. "Why concentrate on one thing. I wouldn't know what to choose."

== EARLY GOLDEN GLOVES ==

Eddie Spence was a Western Mass. Golden Gloves champion in 1961 and Roger Sala had a plan to help Spence get his second title in 1962.

"Roger was a very colorful guy," Spence said recently. "He understood things that I didn't. Going into my second Golden Gloves he said that I wasn't getting any publicity and that he was going to do something about it. He just told me to keep quiet."

In Holyoke, Sala told the event organizers that his boy hadn't had a lot of work lately, and that he would be willing to fight twice in one night.

Spence couldn't believe it. "Two fights? I had never done more than three rounds. I told Roger I'd be exhausted for the second fight."

Sala, Spence, said, had a little of P.T. Barnum in him.

Spence won his first bout but in the second fight he was running quickly out of gas.

But before the final round the referee came over and said that Spence's opponent had just quit.

So impressed were the other boxers in Spence's division that they all withdrew from the next day's schedule.

Bingo. A second Golden Gloves crown.

"Sam(promoter Silverman) and Roger understood my level of competency better than I did," Spence said. "At least for that period of time."

== BOXING'S VALUE ==

"I was raised in a neighborhood where most of the kids were older than I was." Spence said in a recent interview. "There was a lot of subtle intimidation. I had to learn to be quiet and non-demonstrative.

"You don't see kids going to boxing now. There's no mother who wants to see her son in a physically confrontational setting.

"But if properly taught and not staged as some gladiator sport of extinction, then it's something you don't have to say no to. I don't think people should be picked on."

Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy McDermott

2007-12-05T23:36:53Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>321227</fight>

'''EDDIE SPENCE DECISIONS MCDERMOTT''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE,''' February 27, 1964.

== Pittsfield Boxer get revenge for Previous Loss. ==

WORCESTER - Eddie Spence of Pittsfield avenged a controversial loss by decision to Jimmy McDermott of Portland, Maine, with a unanimous verdict over McDermott in a six-round semifinal bout here last night. Both fighters weighed 162 pounds.

The vote for Spence was 60-63 by the referee and 59-55 and 59-52 by two judges. The defeat was the first for the Portland boxer in professional fights.

Spence was offered a spot on the St. Patrick's Day program at Boston Garden because of his fine performance. However, the Berkshire boy injured his right hand in the fifth round of last night's battle, and a decision on the Boston engagement will wait until the amount of damage is determined.

McDermott discolored both of Spence's eyes in the last minute of the first round. Eddie bloodied McDermott's nose with left jabs in the second round and out boxed his opponent until the fourth. In the fourth a good left hook to the body hurt the Maine fighter and Spence went to work with combinations to stagger Jimmy, who saved himself with an attack of his own.

In round five, Spence staggered McDermott and doubled him up with a hook to the body. In trying for theknockou8t, the Pittsfield pugilist bounced a right hand off Jimmy's head, injuring his right hand. Spence went the rest of the way with one hand, and h ad his opponent reeling at the final bell.

[[Category:1964 Bouts|Spence vs. McDermott]]

Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy McDermott

2007-12-05T23:29:37Z

Lincoln1860:

Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy McDermott

2007-12-03T02:29:18Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>321227</fight> '''EDDIE SPENCE DECISIONS MCDERMOTT''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE,''' February 27, 1964. == Pittsfield Boxer get revenge for Previous Loss. == WORCESTER - Eddie Spence ...

Eddie Spence vs. Leroy Holmes

2007-12-03T02:15:12Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>304894</fight>

'''SPENCE SUBDUES HOLMES'''- '''THE STANDARD TIMES,''' NEW BEDFORD, Tuesday, July 16, 1963.

Spence simply had too much for Leroy Holmes in the opening bout. He pounded away at his foe at will in the first round, finally putting him away for good with little more than 1 1/2 minutes gone of round 2.

Eddie Spence vs. Leroy Holmes

2007-12-03T02:14:42Z

Lincoln1860: New page: ,fight>304894</fight> '''SPENCE SUBDUES HOLMES'''- '''THE STANDARD TIMES,''' NEW BEDFORD, Tuesday, July 16, 1963. Spence simply had too much for Leroy Holmes in the opening bout. He pou...

,fight>304894</fight>

'''SPENCE SUBDUES HOLMES'''- '''THE STANDARD TIMES,''' NEW BEDFORD, Tuesday, July 16, 1963.

Spence simply had too much for Leroy Holmes in the opening bout. He pounded away at his foe at will in the first round, finally putting him away for good with little more than 1 1/2 minutes gone of round 2.

Eddie Spence vs. Augie Simmons

2007-12-03T02:00:44Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>304895</fight>

'''SPENCE TKO'S AUGIE SIMMONS IN SIX''' = '''THE STANDARD TIMES''', NEW BEDFORD,MA., August 13, 1963.

In the scheduled six-round semifinal, Eddie Spence, 160, of Pittsfield, scored a final round technical knockout over Augie Simmons, 160, of New York City.

Simmons nose was so badly battered over the last two rounds from stiff jabs and jolting rights that referee Connolly halted it after 1:25 of the sixth.

Eddie Spence vs. Augie Simmons

2007-12-03T02:00:14Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>304895</fight>

'''SPENCE TKO'S AUGIE SIMMONS IN SIX''' = '''THE STANDARD TIMES''', NEW BEDFORD,MA., August 13, 1963.

In the scheduled six-round semifinal, Eddie Spence, 160, of Pittsfield, scored a final round technical knockout over Augie Simmons, 160, of New York City. Simmons nose was so badly battered over the last two rounds from stiff jabs and jolting rights that referee Connolly halted it after 1:25 of the sixth.

Eddie Spence vs. Augie Simmons

2007-12-03T01:59:42Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>304895</fight> '''SPENCE TKO'S AUGIE SIMMONS IN SIX''' = '''THE STANDARD TIMES''', NEW BEDFORD,MA., August 13, 1963. In the scheduled six-round semifinal, Eddie Spence, 160, of Pi...

Eddie Spence vs. Al Duarte

2007-12-03T01:45:56Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>304898</fight>

'''SPENCE WINS DECISION OVER DURARTE''' - '''BERKSHIRE EVENING EAGLE'''.

== EDDIE CARRIES EVERY ROUND AT WORCESTER ==

WORCESTER - Smart-moving Eddie Spence, 155, of Pittsfield carried every round in gaining a unanimous decision over veteran Al Duarte, 157, of New Bedford in a six-round middleweight semifinal bout last night before 1,500 at Mechanics Hall. Duarte substituted for Billy Cribbs of Boston. It was Spence's sixth victory in eight professional starts and his second over Duarte. He received a split decision in the first meeting several months ago at New Bedford.

The referee and one judge scored it 60-54 in favor of Spence. The other judge gave it to the Pittsfield boy 60-53.

Spence heavily outpointed Duarte by keeping him at long range with a left jab. He also shook him severely several times with a potent right uppercut.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said the University of Massachusetts junior has been offered a place on the card here next week.

Eddie Spence vs. Al Duarte

2007-12-03T01:45:22Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>304898</fight>

'''SPENCE WINS DECISION OVER DURARTE''' - '''BERKSHIRE EVENING EAGLE'''.

== EDDIE CARRIES EVERY ROUND AT WORCESTER ==

WORCESTER - Smart moving Eddie Spence, 155, of Pittsfield carried every round in gaining a unanimous decision over veteran Al Duarte, 157, of New Bedford in a six-round middleweight semifinal bout last night before 1,500 at Mechanics Hall. Duarte substituted for Billy Cribbs of Boston. It was Spence's sixth victory in eight professional starts and his second over Duarte. He received a split decision in the first meeting several months ago at New Bedford.

The referee and one judge scored it 60-54 in favor of Spence. The other judge gave it to the Pittsfield boy 60-53.

Spence heavily outpointed Duarte by keeping him at long range with a left jab. He also shook him severely several times with a potent right uppercut.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said the University of Massachusetts junior has been offered a place on the card here next week.

Eddie Spence vs. Al Duarte

2007-12-03T01:41:49Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>304898</fight> '''SPENCE WINS DECISION OVER DURARTE''' - '''BERKSHIRE EVENING EAGLE'''. == EDDIE CARRIES EVERY ROUND AT WORCESTER == WORCESTER - Smart moving Eddie Spence, 15...

Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy Cherrico

2007-12-03T01:23:54Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>695775</fight>

'''SPENCE WINS ACTION PACKED BOUT''' - '''NORTH ADAMS TRANSCRIPT''' - Monday, February 17, 1969.

Highlighting one of the best cards since boxing returned to North Adams with every bout a crowd pleaser and full of action. Eddie Spence, 170, of Pittsfield won a unanimous decision over hard rock Jimmy Cherico of New York City, before about 700 fans Saturday night at the State Armory.

It was Spence's fifth win since he started on the comeback trial and the fourth at the State Armory.

The decision was well received and the4 crowd stood and applauded both men at the close.

Spence took the first round with his good left jab and an occasional pot shot. In the next three rounds the action was fought on even terms as both boys traded leather on the inside. In round five Spence wisely went back to boxing at long range and his left jab controlled the pace of the fight, and opened his opponent up for many sharp left-right combinations.

Spence did well until rounds seven and eight, when it appeared he was starting to tire. In these rounds, Cherico got the edge as he gallantly tried to change the tide of the fight. In the final two rounds Spence got his second wind and put on a ferocious stretch drive that would surely have stopped a less durable opponent.

Cherico tried to stay with Spence but the Pittsfield college professor poured on the stream and was hitting Jimmy at will when the final bell sounded. Neither boy was knocked down although Cherico was stopped in his tracks on a couple of occasions. Both of Cherico's eyes were swollen into tiny slits by the end of the fight. Spence received a mouse under his right eye in round four, and in the final seconds of the bout was cut on the top of his head as a result of an unintentional butt. The verdict was unanimous for Spence.

Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy Cherrico

2007-12-03T01:10:35Z

Lincoln1860:

Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy Cherrico

2007-12-03T01:09:37Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>695775</fight> SPENCE WINS ACTION PACKED BOUT - NORTH ADAMS TRANSCRIPT - Highlighting one of the best cards since boxing returned to North Adams with every bout a crowd please...

<fight>695775</fight>

SPENCE WINS ACTION PACKED BOUT - NORTH ADAMS TRANSCRIPT -

Highlighting one of the best cards since boxing returned to North Adams with every bout a crowd pleaser and full of action. Eddie Spence, 170, of Pittsfield won a unanimous decision over hard rock Jimmy Cherico of New York City, before about 700 fans Saturday night at the State Armory.

It was Spence's fifth win since he started on the comeback trial and the fourth at the State Armory.

Eddie Spence vs. Tony Lampron

2007-12-03T00:05:53Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>380092</fight>

'''SPENCE GETS SPLIT VERDICT OVER LAMPRON IN EXPO 10''' - '''Portland Press Herald,''' by Blaine Davis.

Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass., had to fight for his life but finished with a rush that brought him a 10-round split decision over game Tony Lampron of Westbrook before nearly 1200 fans at the Exposition Building Thursday night.

Spence, who thus retained his New England light heavyweight title--he's kind of heavies,, too--weighed 1167 1/2. Lampron was 171 1/2 for what may have been the best showing of his career.

Two punishing knockdowns, both for nine counts, in the ninth round turned the tide solidly in Spence's favor because two earlier point penalties for low punching had put him dangerously close to the losing side of the ledger.

Judges Bill McCaLmon voted 98-97 for Spence and Sid Schwartz case a 98-95 ballot for the tousle-haired Bay Stater. Judge Russ Leonard dissented with a 98-96 vote for Lampron and the Press Herald called it 97-94 after having Spence behind for earlier penalties. Spence boxed like a professional and several times he snapped Tony's head sharply with hard rights. Tony, meanwhile, was making good his promise to out jab the champion, but he got caught in the ninth and that spelled doom.

A flurry to the head sent him sprawling for the first knockdown and a vicious straight to the chin accounted for the second. Tony barely beat the count each time.

Eddie Spence vs. Tony Lampron

2007-12-03T00:03:42Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>380092</fight>

'''SPENCE GETS SPLIT VERDICT OVER LAMPRON IN EXPO 10''' - '''Portland Press Herald,''' by Blaine Davis.

Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass., had to fight for his life but finished with a rush that brought him a 10-round split decision over game Tony Lampron of Westbrook before nearly 1200 fans at the Exposition Building Thursday night.

Spence, who thus retained his New England light heavyweight title--he's kind of heavies,, too--weighed 1167 1/2. Lampron was 171 1/2 for what may have been the best showing of his career.

Two punishing knockdowns, both for nine counts, in the ninth round turned the tide solidly in Spence's favor because two earlier point penalties for low punching had put him dangerously close to the losing side of the ledger.

Judges Bill McCaLmon voted 98-97 for Spence and Sid Schwartz case a 98-95 ballot for the tousle-haired Bay Stater. Judge Russ Leonard dissented with a 98-96 vote for Lampron and the Press Herald called it 97-94 after having Spence behind for earlier penalties. Spence boxed like a professional fighter and several times he snapped Tony's head sharply with hard rights. Tony, meanwhile, was making good his promise to out jab the champion, but he got caught in the ninth and that spelled doom.

A flurry to the head sent him sprawling for the first knockdown and a vicious straight to the chin accounted for the second. Tony barely beat the count each time.

Eddie Spence vs. Tony Lampron

2007-12-02T23:50:58Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>380092</fight>

'''SPENCE GETS SPLIT VERDICT OVER LAMPRON IN EXPO 10''' - '''Portland Herald Press,''' by Blaine Davis.

Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass., had to fight for his life but finished with a rush that brought him a 10-round split decision over game Tony Lampron of Westbrook before nearly 1200 fans at the Exposition Building Thursday night.

Eddie Spence vs. Tony Lampron

2007-12-02T23:49:40Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>380092</fight> SPENCE GETS SPLIT VERDICT OVER LAMPRON IN EXPO 10 - Portland Herald Press, by Blaine Davis. Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass., had to fight for hislife but fini...

<fight>380092</fight>

SPENCE GETS SPLIT VERDICT OVER LAMPRON IN EXPO 10 - Portland Herald Press, by Blaine Davis.

Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass., had to fight for hislife but finished with a rush that brought him a 10-round split decision over game Tony Lampron of Westbrook before nearly 1200 fans at the Exposition Building Thursday night.

Eddie Spence vs. Henry Jeter

2007-12-02T22:07:03Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>921545</fight>

'''SPENCE MAKES POPULAR HIT IN STOPPING JETER IN 4TH''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE''', Monday, November 23, 1970.
by Roger O'GARA.

Long-haired, hard-hitting Eddie Spence, 170, of Pittsfield reached a new plateau of popularity Saturday night in the Boys Club gymnasium, where approximately 1,300 cheered him wildly as he knocked out Henry Jeter, 179, of White Plains, N. Y., at the end of the fourth round. Referee Pete Mancuso of North Adams counted out Jeter after the bell ending the round had sounded.

A fusillade of solid rights to the jaw finished the muscular former New York City Golden Gloves champion after the two had gone at it hammer and tongs all the way.

== SPENCE RALLIES ==

Jeter, showing a snapping left jab and a sharp right cross, had punished Spence severely in the second round, but the Pittsfield boy rallied to deck his opponent in the third.

Spence, showing an aggressiveness he hadn't hitherto displayed landed steaming rights to the stomach in the first round while Jeter peppered him regularly with left jabs and occasionally made contact with a left hook. Spence stiffened Jeter in the fourth round with long, smashing rights to the jaw. Just before the end, Jeter stood toe to toe with his adversary in lively exchanges in a corner, but Spence, staying on top of him, cut him down to size with a vicious two-fisted attack.

Spence's reward, according to Sam Silverman, will be a place on the Silverman's Christmas card in Boston Grden on Dec. 15. Silverman hopes toline up a suitable opponet soon.

Eddie Spence vs. Henry Jeter

2007-12-02T21:58:35Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>921545</fight> '''SPENCE MAKES POPULAR HIT IN STOPPING JETER IN 4TH''' - '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE''', Monday, November 23, 1970. by Roger O'GARA. Long-haired, hard-hitting Eddie Spenc...

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Kasper

2007-12-02T21:46:12Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>323554</fight>

'''SPENCE WINS N.E. TITLE, KASPER IN 2ND''': '''BERKSHIRE EAGLE,''' Friday, April 24, 1969.

PORTLAND,Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence, 172, of Pittsfield, Mass. is New England light heavyweight champion today after scoring a knockout over Paul Kasper, 173, of Portland at 2:28 of the second round before 2,200 fans last night at the Portland Exposition Building.

'''Spence''' became the third Berkshire County boy to take a six-state regional crown. He joined welterweight Al Romano of North Adams and Terry Rondeau of Pittsfield. All three are managed by Roger Sala of Pittsfield.

Spence had promised to finish off Kasper within three rounds, and made good his boast. But Kasper kept him honest and, for a while, appeared set to prove his own prediction that he would chill Spence in the same time.

The large crowd roared at the ceaseless action and applauded both boxers wildly at the finish.

Kasper appeared to have taken the first round with a bulling rush and steady two-handed attack. Spence was rocky before the end of the round. However, Eddie scored a stream of lefts, and landed one smashing right before the bell.

Opening the second round, Spence crashed home a right hook that sent Kasper's mouthpiece spinning into the audience. Two more jabs swelled Kasper's nose and started it bleeding. Spence's nose had been dripping blood since early in the first round.

Kasper staged a fierce,desperate rally in his own corner, and strove gamely to turn the tide. But Spence maneuvered him into mid-ring, set him up with five lancing jabs to the mouth and then ripped a solid combination of four punches. He drove a left to the belly, a right uppercut that hurt Kasper, another left to the head and a final right to the jaw. Kasper plunged to the floor, tried to get back to his feet, made it to his knees, and then fell back again.

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Kasper

2007-12-02T21:38:06Z

Lincoln1860:

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Kasper

2007-12-02T21:36:03Z

Lincoln1860:

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Kasper

2007-12-02T21:34:09Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>323554</fight>

'''SPENCE WINS N.E. TITLE, KASPER IN 2ND''': BERKSHIRE EAGLE, Friday, April 24, 1969.

PORTLAND,Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence, 172, of Pittsfield, Mass. is New England light heavyweight champion today after scoring a knockout over Paul Kasper, 173, of Portland at 2:28 of the second round before 2,200 fans last night at the Portland Exposition Building.

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Kasper

2007-12-02T21:19:12Z

Lincoln1860: New page: <fight>323554</fight>

Eddie Spence vs. Pete Riccitelli (5th meeting)

2007-12-02T21:13:11Z

Lincoln1860:

<spence><fight>491318</fight><spence><br>

'''SPENCE WINS N.E. TITLE BEATING RICCITELLI AT EXPO''' by Blaine Davis, '''PORTLAND PRESS HERALD''',Friday, August 28, 1970.

Eddie Spence of Pittsfield Mass. added the New England light heavyweight championship to his laurels by grinding out a 10-round split decision over Pete Riccitelli of Portland at the Exposition Building Thursday night.

Spence scored the only knockdown of the fight, spilling Pete with a clean right cross in the fourth round. Riccitelli bounded to his feet immediately and took and eight count.

Spence, who also is New England heavyweight champion, thus gain a 3-2 edge in his series with Riccitelli. Eddie weighed in at a lithe 165 and Riccitelli, as expected, hit 173.

OFFICIAL attendance was 2,796.00, although it appeared more than 3,000 fans jammed into the fall, and the gross gate was $6,180.00.

Riccitelli wasn't outclassed by any means, but Spence did a journeyman's job of slashing out the win. He slowed Pete early with a merciless attack to the body, and scored heavily with barrages to the head.

But Riccitelli, hurt a half-dozen times, never stopped trying. He jabbed steadily, twice staggered Spence with left hooks to the head and came back from the knockdown to stage a rally later in the round that had Spence grabbing.

RICCITELLI kept his chin behind his left shoulder and caught a lot of Spence's punches on his gloves and elbows. But the new champion landed a half-dozen right hand shots to the head and in the seventh had Pete groping blindly for the ropes with a rattling barrage to the head and body.

SPENCE paced himself nicely in the late rounds , waiting for openings as Riccitelli, aware he had to score heavily moved to the attack. His jabs and a two-handed flurry late in the round gave Pete an edge in the eighth but Spence was too cagey to trade and moved out of range. Both were tired at the finish but Spence had enough left to stagger Pete midway through the tenth with a two-punch combination.

The Press Herald had Spence winning by three points, and one a round basis, gave Spence six, Riccitelli two, and called two even.

Eddie Spence vs. Pete Riccitelli (5th meeting)

2007-12-02T20:44:31Z

Lincoln1860:

'''SPENCE WINS N.E. TITLE BEATING RICCITELLI AT EXPO''' by Blaine Davis, '''PORTLAND PRESS HERALD''',Friday, August 28, 1970.

Eddie Spence of Pittsfield Mass. added the New England light heavyweight championship to his laurels by grinding out a 10-round split decision over Pete Riccitelli of Portland at the Exposition Building Thursday night.

Spence scored the only knockdown of the fight, spilling Pete with a clean right cross in the fourth round. Riccitelli bounded to his feet immediately and took and eight count.

Spence, who also is New England heavyweight champion, thus gain a 3-2 edge in his series with Riccitelli. Eddie weighed in at a lithe 165 and Riccitelli, as expected, hit 173.

OFFICIAL attendance was 2,796.00, although it appeared more than 3,000 fans jammed into the fall, and the gross gate was $6,180.00.

Riccitelli wasn't outclassed by any means, but Spence did a journeyman's job of slashing out the win. He slowed Pete early with a merciless attack to the body, and scored heavily with barrages to the head.

But Riccitelli, hurt a half-dozen times, never stopped trying. He jabbed steadily, twice staggered Spence with left hooks to the head and came back from the knockdown to stage a rally later in the round that had Spence grabbing.

RICCITELLI kept his chin behind his left shoulder and caught a lot of Spence's punches on his gloves and elbows. But the new champion landed a half-dozen right hand shots to the head and in the seventh had Pete groping blindly for the ropes with a rattling barrage to the head and body.

SPENCE paced himself nicely in the late rounds , waiting for openings as Riccitelli, aware he had to score heavily moved to the attack. His jabs and a two-handed flurry late in the round gave Pete an edge in the eighth but Spence was too cagey to trade and moved out of range. Both were tired at the finish but Spence had enough left to stagger Pete midway through the tenth with a two-punch combination.

The Press Herald had Spence winning by three points, and one a round basis, gave Spence six, Riccitelli two, and called two even.

Eddie Spence vs. Pete Riccitelli (5th meeting)

2007-12-02T20:37:32Z

Lincoln1860:

Eddie Spence vs. Pete Riccitelli (5th meeting)

2007-12-02T20:20:14Z

Lincoln1860: New page: '''SPENCE WINS N.E. TITLE BEATING RICCITELLI AT EXPO''' by Blaine Davis, '''PORTLAND PRESS HERALD''',Friday, August 28, 1970. Eddie Spence of Pittsfield Mass. added the New England ...

Fight:325995

2007-12-02T17:17:27Z

Lincoln1860: New page: '''SPENCE TKO'S RICCITELLI IN 4TH: KEEPS NE.E. CROWN''' by Bruce Glasier, '''Portland Press Herald''', Friday, July 4, 1970. It was a long(45 rounds for nine bouts) hotmuggy night and ...

'''SPENCE TKO'S RICCITELLI IN 4TH: KEEPS NE.E. CROWN''' by Bruce Glasier, '''Portland Press Herald''', Friday, July 4, 1970.

It was a long(45 rounds for nine bouts) hotmuggy night and Eddie Spence simply wanted to go home early. He did.

The 167pounder from Pittsfield, Mass. sporting a good left right combination, TKO'd Pete Riccitelli, 176, of Portland to retain his New England heavyweight title before some 2,300 paid fans at the Portland Exposition Building Thursday night.

== '''FOURTH MEETING''' ==

It was the fourth meeting of the two curly haired boxers. '''Spence''' won the first via a decision and Riccitelli came back to win the next two.

'''Spence''' was aggressor in the early going throwing left jabs and quick right crosses to Pete's head. HOwever, the Portland Prancer didn't retreat and threw a minimal amount of punches.

In the second round, Spence threw a right hand to the side of Riccitelli's head which wobbled him momentarily but didn't follow up.

Pete started coming inn more in the third round but still didn't throw a punch with any authority and seemed, to many veteran ringside observes, to be pacing himself.

Spence opened up the fourth and what proved to be the final round, with two good right crosses which Riccitelli weathered well. Half a minute later Spence exploded a left, right combination to Riccitelli's head. Pete reeled back and Spence instinctively realizing a kill, moved in with a quick right to the midsection and another left-right combination to the head. Riccitelli went down on his back. At the count of five he managed to get to his feet but wobbled across the ring and went down again. This time he came right up but referee Pete Bennett called an end at 2:10.

== '''RICCITELLI PROTESTS STOPPING FIGHT'''. ==

'''RICCITELLI''' protested the stopping of the bout, but one look at the glazed eyes of the Portland boxer substantiated Bennett's move.

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Raymond

2007-12-02T16:50:05Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>403063</fight>

== '''SPENCE TAKES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE''' - Ralph Conroy - '''THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE:''' May 15, 1970. ==

Portland, Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass. with iron shamrocks in each fist and gravel in his guts last night took the New england heavyweight title from Paul Raymond of Somerville, Mass. in a blood-soaked brawl that somehow lasted three rounds.

Referee Peter Bennett stopped the bloodbath at the end of the third round thereby giving Spence the victory on a fourth round TKO.

Veteran ringsiders claimed that never before had they seen so much blood in the ring. Promoter Sam Silverman said, "That was the goriest, bloodiest fight I've ever seen, and I've been in the business for 40 years and have seen more fights than anyone else in the world.

== GAVE AWAY 30 POUNDS ==

Spence gave away almost 30 pounds. Expected to weigh from 183 to 187, Raymond tipped the scales at 200 pounds naked. Spence went 173 with his clothes on.

The first round opened with Raymond charging out of his corner like a Miura fighting bull. Spence, frail and delicate, compared to the burly heavyweight, back-pedaled, sticking with stinging left jabs that snapped Raymond's head back. But the big man kept coming, steaming like a freight train and throwing heavy overhand lefts and rights.

Spence went to his horse under the barrage,moving and slipping punches. Then his left hook found its mark, opening a cut high on Raymond's forehead. It was his round from there on, as he stung with his left hand.

== BLOOD DRENCHED ==

Early in the round, Eddie Spence opened another cut with a thundering left hook over Raymond's right eye. Both fighters were now drenched with blood which was being splattered into the ringside seats.

Raymond's bulling, powerful body smashes were beginning to tell on Spence. Eddie's legs quivered under the brutal attack, his speed was gone, but, turning, he met the larger man face to face and toe to toe in violent exchanges. Blood dripped from the smeared bodies of both men. Then Raymond's 30-pond advantage and superior strength began to take their toll, but Spence dug his toes into the rosin dust, pounded back, blow for blow, while 2,200 fans shook the Expo Building with their screaming.

Spence then began to land jarring right uppercuts that would have stopped any normal man, but Raymond pushed him into the ropes and punished him with body blows. It was still Spence's round, though the three judges awarded it to Raymond.

== ALL EDDIE SPENCE ==

The third round was all Eddie Spence. Raymond kept up his plodding straight-ahead attack, and Spence retreated before it. But he was firing and landing clean hard left hooks, each and every one of them capable of rolling anyone but Raymond for the count. It was the rapier versus the broadsword. Spence was the hammer and Raymond the anvil, but anvil weighed an even 200 pounds and moved forward with the power of a Sherman tank.

One of Spence's left hooks gashed a three-inch cut alongside the Somerville bomber's ear, but he kept coming. I counted 12 clean hard hooks in that round two or three zinging right hands, but Raymond held himself up by raw courage. Both fighters had now gone into slow motion, moving wearily around the ring, Spence retreating slowly and covering his retreat with his tremendous left hand. The only thing that moved quickly was Spence's hooks, which he kept smashing with incredible speed and power into the bloody pulp that was Raymond's face. It was Eddie's round easily.

Referee Pete Bennett stopped the fight after the bell. The handwriting was on the wall. No man could have stood up much longer under Spence's savage bombardment.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said after the fight that he would never have accepted the match if he had known Raymond's weight would be 200 pounds. Raymond weighed in late, and when he did, the odds went from even money to 9 to 5 in his favor.

== NO REMATCH ==

After the fight, in the locker room, Raymond told Spence that he would not ask for a rematch, that he had promised himself he would retire after the first severe beating and he had decided to retire after that fight. He told Spence that he had never said that Spence punched like a "cream puff," a reference to a rumor circulated here.

"I want you to know you beat a good fighter tonight,"Raymond said. "I was in top condition and ready for you."

Spence now rules the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in New England. A clean, hard puncher with tremendous courage and staying power, he is regarded as, pound for pound, the best fighter in New england. His last 11 wins have been by knockouts.

After the fight, Silverman told Spence, "You're on your way. Eddie. Remember, tonight you fought the gamest guy in the world."

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Raymond

2007-12-02T16:45:51Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>403063</fight>

== '''SPENCE TAKES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE''' - Ralph Conroy - '''THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE:''' May 15, 1970. ==

Portland, Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass. with iron shamrocks in each fist and gravel in his guts last night took the New england heavyweight title from Paul Raymond of Somerville, Mass. in a blood-soaked brawl that somehow lasted three rounds.

Referee Peter Bennett stopped the bloodbath at the end of the third round thereby giving Spence the victory on a fourth round TKO.

Veteran ringsiders claimed that never before had they seen so much blood in the ring. Promoter Sam Silverman said, "That was the goriest, bloodiest fight I've ever seen, and I've been in the business for 40 years and have seen more fights than anyone else in the world.

== GAVE AWAY 30 POUNDS ==

Spence gave away almost 30pounds. Expected to weigh from 183 to 187, Raymond tipped the scales at 200 pounds naked. Spence went 173 with his clothes on.

The first round opened with Raymond charging out of his corner like a Miura fighting bull. Spence, frail and delicate, compared to the burly heavyweight, back-pedaled, sticking with stinging left jabs that snapped Raymond's head back. But the big man kept coming, steaming like a freight train and throwing heavy overhand lefts and rights.

Spence went to his horse under the barrage,moving and slipping punches. Then his left hook found its mark, opening a cut high on Raymond's forehead. It was his round from there on, as he stung with his left hand.

== BLOOD DRENCHED ==

Early in the round, Eddie Spence opened another cut with a thundering left hook over Raymond's right eye. Both fighters were now drenched with blood which was being splattered into the ringside seats.

Raymond's bulling, powerful body smashes were beginning to tell on Spence. Eddie's legs quivered under the brutal attack, his speed was gone, but, turning, he met the larger man face to face and toe to toe in violent exchanges. Blood dripped from the smeared bodies of both men. Then Raymond's 30-pond advantage and superior strength began to take their toll, but Spence dug his toes into the rosin dust, pounded back, blow for blow, while 2,200 fans shook the Expo Building with their screaming.

Spence then began to land jarring right uppercuts that would have stopped any normal man, but Raymond pushed him into the ropes and punished him with body blows. It was still Spence's round, though the three judges awarded it to Raymond.

== ALL EDDIE SPENCE ==

The third round was all Eddie Spence. Raymond kept up his plodding straight-ahead attack, and Spence retreated before it. But h e was firing and landing clean hard left hooks, each and every one of them capable of rolling anyone but Raymond for the count. It was the rapier versus the broadsword. Spence was the hammer and Raymond the anvil, but anvil weighed an even 200 pounds and moved forward with the power of a Sherman tank.

One of Spence's left hooks gashed a three-inch cut alongside the Somerville bomber's ear, but he kept coming. I counted 12 clean hard hooks in that round two or three zinging right hands, , but Raymond held himself up by raw courage. Both fighters had now gone into slow motion, moving wearily around the ring, Spence retreating slowly and covering his retreat with his tremendous left hand. The only thing that moved quickly was Spence's hooks, which he kept smashing with incredible speed and power into the bloody pulp that was Raymond's face. It was Eddie's round easily.

Referee Pete Bennett stopped the fight after the bell. The handwriting was on the wall. No man could have stood up much longer under Spence's savage bombardment.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said after the fight that he would never have accepted the match if he had known Raymond's weight would be 200 pounds. Raymond weighed in late, and when he did, the odds went from even money to 9 to 5 in his favor.

== NO REMATCH ==

After the fight, in the locker room, Raymond told Spence that he would not ask for a rematch, that he had promised himself he would retire after the first severe beating and he had decided to retire after that fight. he told Spence that he had never said that Spence punched like a "cream puff," a reference to a rumor circulated here.

"I want you to know you beat a good fighter tonight,"Raymond said. "I was in top condition and ready for you."

Spence now rules the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in New England. A clean, hard puncher with tremendous courage and staying power, he is regarded as, pound for pound, the best fighter in New england. His last 11 wins have been by knockouts.

After the fight, Silverman told Spence, "You're on your way. Eddie. Remember, tonight you fought the gamest guy in the world."

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Raymond

2007-12-02T16:40:47Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>403063</fight>

== '''SPENCE TAKES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE''' - Ralph Conroy - '''THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE:''' May 15, 1970. ==

Portland, Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass. with iron shamrocks in each fist and gravel in his guts last night took the New england heavyweight title from Paul Raymond of Somerville, Mass. in a blood-soaked brawl that somehow lasted three rounds.

Referee Peter Bennett stopped the bloodbath at the end of the third round thereby giving Spence the victory on a fourth round TKO.

Veteran ringsiders claimed that never before had they seen so much blood in the ring. Promoter Sam Silverman said, "That was the goriest, bloodiest fight I've ever seen, and I've been in the business for 40 years and have seen more fights than anyone else in the world.

== GAVE AWAY 30 POUNDS ==

Spence gave away almost 30pounds. Expected to weigh from 183 to 187, Raymond tipped the scales at 200 pounds naked. Spence went 173 with his clothes on.

The first round opened with Raymond charging out of his corner like a Miura fighting bull. Spence, frail and delicate, compared to the burly heavyweight, back-pedaled, sticking with stinging left jabs that snapped Raymond's head back. But the big man kept coming, steaming like a freight train and throwing heavy overhand lefts and rights.

Spence went to his horse under the barrage,moving and slipping punches. Then his left hook found its mark, opening a cut high on Raymond's forehead. It was his round from there on, as he stung with his left hand.

== BLOOD DRENCHED ==

Early in the round, Eddie Spence opened another cut with a thundering left hook over Raymond's right eye. Both fighters were now drenched with blood which was being splattered into the ringside seats.

Raymond's bulling, powerful body smashes were beginning to tell on Spence. Eddie's legs quivered under the brutal attack, his speed was gone, but, turning, he met the larger man face to face and toe to toe in violent exchanges. Blood dripped from the smeared bodies of both men. Then Raymond's 30-pond advantage and superior strength began to take their toll, but Spence dug his toes into the rosin dust, pounded back, blow for blow, while 2,200 fans shook the Expo Building with their screaming.

Spence then began to land jarring right uppercuts that would have stopped any normal man, but Raymond pushed him into the ropes and punished him with body blows. It was still Spence's round, though the three judges awarded it to Raymond.

== ALL EDDIE SPENCE ==

The third round was all Eddie Spence. Raymond kept up his plodding straight-ahead attack, and Spence retreated before it. But h e was firing and landing clean hard left hooks, each and every one of them capable of rolling anyone but Raymond for the count. It was the rapier versus the broadsword. Spence was the hammer and Raymond the anvil, but anvil weighed an even 200 pounds and moved forward with the power of a Sherman tank.

One of Spence's left hooks gashed a three-inch cut alongside the Somerville bomber's ear, but he kept coming. I counted 12 clean hard hooks in that round two or three zinging right hands, , but Raymond held himself up by raw courage. Both fighters had now gone into slow motion, moving wearily around the ring, Spence retreating slowly and covering his retreat with his tremendous left hand. The only thing that moved quickly was Spence's hooks, which he kept smashing with incredible speed and power into the bloody pulp that was Raymond's face. It was Eddie's round easily.

Referee Pete Bennett stopped the fight after the bell. The handwriting was on the wall. No man could have stood up much longer under Spence's savage bombardment.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said after the fight that he would nevfer had accepted the match if he had known Raymond's weight would be 200 pounds. Raymondweighed in late, and when he did, the odds went from even money to 9 to 5 in h is favor.

== NO REMATCH ==

After the fight, in the locker room, Raymond told Spence that he would not ask for a rematch, that he had promised himself he would retire after the first severe beating and he had decided to retire after that fight. he told Spence that he had never said that Spence punched like a "cream puff," a reference to a rumor circulated here.

"I want you to know you beat a good fighter tonight,"Raymond said. "I qwas in top condition and ready for you."

Spence now rules the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in New England. A clean, hard puncher with tremendous courage and staying power, he is regarded as, pound for pound, the best fighter in New england. His last 11 wins have been by knockouts.

After the fight, Silverman told Spence, "You're on your way. Eddie. Remember, tonight you fought the gamest guy in the world."

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Raymond

2007-12-02T16:33:40Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>403063</fight>

== '''SPENCE TAKES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE''' - Ralph Conroy - '''THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE:''' May 15, 1970. ==

Portland, Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass. with iron shamrocks in each fist and gravel in his guts last night took the New england heavyweight title from Paul Raymond of Somerville, Mass. in a blood-soaked brawl that somehow lasted three rounds.

Referee Peter Bennett stopped the bloodbath at the end of the third round thereby giving Spence the victory on a fourth round TKO.

Veteran ringsiders claimed that never before had they seen so much blood in the ring. Promoter Sam Silverman said, "That was the goriest, bloodiest fight I've ever seen, and I've been in the business for 40 years and have seen more fights than anyone else in the world.

== GAVE AWAY 30 POUNDS ==

Spence gave away almost 30pounds. Expected to weigh from 183 to 187, Raymond tipped the scales at 200 pounds naked. Spence went 173 with his clothes on.

The first round opened with Raymond charging out of his corner like a Miura fighting bull. Spence, frail and delicate, compared to the burly heavyweight, back-pedaled, sticking with stinging left jabs that snapped Raymond's head back. But the big man kept coming, steaming like a freight train and throwing heavy overhand lefts and rights.

Spence went to his horse under the barrage,moving and slipping punches. Then his left hook found its mark, opening a cut high on Raymond's forehead. It was his round from there on, as he stung with his left hand.

== BLOOD DRENCHED ==

Early in the round, Eddie Spence opened another cut with a thundering left hook over Raymond's right eye. Both fighters were now drenched with blood which was being splattered into the ringside seats.

Raymond's bulling, powerful body smashes were beginning to tell on Spence. Eddie's legs quivered under the brutal attack, his speed was gone, but, turning, he met the larger man face to face and toe to toe in violent exchanges. Blood dripped from the smeared bodies of both men. Then Raymond's 30-pond advantage and superior strength began to take their toll, but Spence dug his toes into the rosin dust, pounded back, blow for blow, while 2,200 fans shook the Expo Building with their screaming.

Spence then began to land jarring right uppercuts that would have stopped any normal man, but Raymond pushed him into the ropes and punished him with body blows. It was still Spence's round, though the three judges awarded it to Raymond.

== ALL EDDIE SPENCE ==

The third round was all Eddie Spence. Raymond kept up his plodding straight-ahead attack, and Spence retreated before it. But h e was firing and landing clean hard left hooks, each and every one of them capable of rolling anyone but Raymond for the count. It was the rapier versus the broadsword. Spence was the hammer and Raymond the anvil, but anvil weighed an even 200 pounds and moved forward with the power of a Sherman tank.

One of Spence's left hooks gashed a three-inch cut alongside the Somerville bomber's ear, but he kept coming. I counted 12 clean hard hooks in that round two or three zinging right hands, , but Raymond held himself up by raw courage. Both fighters had now gone into slow motion, moving wearily around the ring, Spence retreating slowly and covering his retreat with his tremendous left hand. The only thing that moved quickly was Spence's hooks, which he kept smashing with incredible speed and power into the bloody pulp that was Raymond's face. It was Eddie's round easily.

Referee Pete Bennett stopped the fight after the bell. The handwriting was on the wall. No man could have stood up much longer under Spence's savage bombardment.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said after the fight that he would nevfer had accepted the match if he had known Raymond's weight would be 200 pounds. Raymondweighed in late, and when he did, the odds went from even money to 9 to 5 in h is favor.

== NO REMATCH ==

After the fight, in the locker room, Raymond told Spence that he would not ask for a rematch, that he had promised himself he would retire after the first severe beating and he had decided to retire after that fight. he told Spence that he had never said that Spence punched like a "cream puff," a reference to a rumor circulated here.

"I want you to know you beat a good fighter tonight,"Raymond said. "I qwas in top condition and ready for you."

Spence now rules the lipght heavyweight and heavyweightdivisions in New England.

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Raymond

2007-12-02T16:30:57Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>403063</fight>

== '''SPENCE TAKES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE''' - Ralph Conroy - '''THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE:''' May 15, 1970. ==

Portland, Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass. with iron shamrocks in each fist and gravel in his guts last night took the New england heavyweight title from Paul Raymond of Somerville, Mass. in a blood-soaked brawl that somehow lasted three rounds.

Referee Peter Bennett stopped the bloodbath at the end of the third round thereby giving Spence the victory on a fourth round TKO.

Veteran ringsiders claimed that never before had they seen so much blood in the ring. Promoter Sam Silverman said, "That was the goriest, bloodiest fight I've ever seen, and I've been in the business for 40 years and have seen more fights than anyone else in the world.

== GAVE AWAY 30 POUNDS ==

Spence gave away almost 30pounds. Expected to weigh from 183 to 187, Raymond tipped the scales at 200 pounds naked. Spence went 173 with his clothes on.

The first round opened with Raymond charging out of his corner like a Miura fighting bull. Spence, frail and delicate, compared to the burly heavyweight, back-pedaled, sticking with stinging left jabs that snapped Raymond's head back. But the big man kept coming, steaming like a freight train and throwing heavy overhand lefts and rights.

Spence went to his horse under the barrage,moving and slipping punches. Then his left hook found its mark, opening a cut high on Raymond's forehead. It was his round from there on, as he stung with his left hand.

== BLOOD DRENCHED ==

Early in the round, Eddie Spence opened another cut with a thundering left hook over Raymond's right eye. Both fighters were now drenched with blood which was being splattered into the ringside seats.

Raymond's bulling, powerful body smashes were beginning to tell on Spence. Eddie's legs quivered under the brutal attack, his speed was gone, but, turning, he met the larger man face to face and toe to toe in violent exchanges. Blood dripped from the smeared bodies of both men. Then Raymond's 30-pond advantage and superior strength began to take their toll, but Spence dug his toes into the rosin dust, pounded back, blow for blow, while 2,200 fans shook the Expo Building with their screaming.

Spence then began to land jarring right uppercuts that would have stopped any normal man, but Raymond pushed him into the ropes and punished him with body blows. It was still Spence's round, though the three judges awarded it to Raymond.

== ALL EDDIE SPENCE ==

The third round was all Eddie Spence. Raymond kept up his plodding straight-ahead attack, and Spence retreated before it. But h e was firing and landing clean hard left hooks, each and every one of them capable of rolling anyone but Raymond for the count. It was the rapier versus the broadsword. Spence was the hammer and Raymond the anvil, but anvil weighed an even 200 pounds and moved forward with the power of a Sherman tank.

One of Spence's left hooks gashed a three-inch cut alongside the Somerville bomber's ear, but he kept coming. I counted 12 clean hard hooks in that round two or three zinging right hands, , but Raymond held himself up by raw courage. Both fighters had now gone into slow motion, moving wearily around the ring, Spence retreating slowly and covering his retreat with his tremendous left hand. The only thing that moved quickly was Spence's hooks, which he kept smashing with incredible speed and power into the bloody pulp that was Raymond's face. It was Eddie's round easily.

Referee Pete Bennett stopped the fight after the bell. The handwriting was on the wall. No man could have stood up much longer under Spence's savage bombardment.

Roger Sala, Spence's manager, said after the fight that he would nevfer had accepted the match if he had known Raymond's weight would be 200 pounds. Raymondweighed in late, and when he did, the odds went from even money to 9 to 5 in h is favor.

== NO REMATCH ==

After the fight, in the locker room, Raymond told Spence that he would not ask for a rematch, that he had promised himself he would retire after the first severe beating and he had decided to retire after that fight. he told Spence that he had never said that Spence punched like a "cream puff," a reference to a rumor circulated here.

Eddie Spence vs. Paul Raymond

2007-12-02T16:23:29Z

Lincoln1860:

<fight>403063</fight>

== '''SPENCE TAKES HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE''' - Ralph Conroy - '''THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE:''' May 15, 1970. ==

Portland, Maine. - Irish Eddie Spence of Pittsfield, Mass. with iron shamrocks in each fist and gravel in his guts last night took the New england heavyweight title from Paul Raymond of Somerville, Mass. in a blood-soaked brawl that somehow lasted three rounds.

Referee Peter Bennett stopped the bloodbath at the end of the third round thereby giving Spence the victory on a fourth round TKO.

Veteran ringsiders claimed that never before had they seen so much blood in the ring. Promoter Sam Silverman said, "That was the goriest, bloodiest fight I've ever seen, and I've been in the business for 40 years and have seen more fights than anyone else in the world.

== GAVE AWAY 30 POUNDS ==

Spence gave away almost 30pounds. Expected to weigh from 183 to 187, Raymond tipped the scales at 200 pounds naked. Spence went 173 with his clothes on.

The first round opened with Raymond charging out of his corner like a Miura fighting bull. Spence, frail and delicate, compared to the burly heavyweight, back-pedaled, sticking with stinging left jabs that snapped Raymond's head back. But the big man kept coming, steaming like a freight train and throwing heavy overhand lefts and rights.

Spence went to his horse under the barrage,moving and slipping punches. Then his left hook found its mark, opening a cut high on Raymond's forehead. It was his round from there on, as he stung with his left hand.

== BLOOD DRENCHED ==

Early in the round, Eddie Spence opened another cut with a thundering left hook over Raymond's right eye. Both fighters were now drenched with blood which was being splattered into the ringside seats.

Raymond's bulling, powerful body smashes were beginning to tell on Spence. Eddie's legs quivered under the brutal attack, his speed was gone, but, turning, he met the larger man face to face and toe to toe in violent exchanges. Blood dripped from the smeared bodies of both men. Then Raymond's 30-pond advantage and superior strength began to take their toll, but Spence dug his toes into the rosin dust, pounded back, blow for blow, while 2,200 fans shook the Expo Building with their screaming.

Spence then began to land jarring right uppercuts that would have stopped any normal man, but Raymond pushed him into the ropes and punished him with body blows. It was still Spence's round, though the three judges awarded it to Raymond.

== ALL EDDIE SPENCE ==

The third round was all Eddie Spence. Raymond kept up his plodding straight-ahead attack, and Spence retreated before it. But h e was firing and landing clean hard left hooks, each and every one of them capable of rolling anyone but Raymond for the count. It was the rapier versus the broadsword. Spence was the hammer and Raymond the anvil, but anvil weighed an even 200 pounds and moved forward with the power of a Sherman tank.

One of Spence's left hooks gashed a three-inch cut alongside the Somerville bomber's ear, but he kept coming. I counted 12 clean hard hooks in that round two or three zinging right hands, , but Raymond held himself up by raw courage. Both fighters had now gone into slow motion, moving wearily around the ring, Spence retreating slowly and covering his retreat with his tremendous left hand. The only thing that moved quickly was Spence's hooks, which he kept smashing with incredible speed and power into the bloody pulp that was Raymond's face. It was Eddie's round easily.

Terry Rondeau

2007-11-30T21:43:35Z

Lincoln1860:

TERRY RONDEAU: THE 'BUZZSAW' HAD HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BY '''Eddie Spence'''.

''Eddie Spence wrote this story on Pittsfield's boxer Terry Rondeau for the September 1970 issue of Boxing Illustrated. Rondeau died in 1995 of complications brought on by cirrhosis of the liver.''

A small, intense, acne-faced youngman lay against the steering wheel of a car after slamming into another parked car. As his senses returned, the young man, scarely past his late teens, thoroughly intoxicated, realized his situation. He was driving a stolen car and if he knew what was good for him, he'd get out of there quickly.

He fell from the car(to be continued)

Terry Rondeau

2007-11-30T21:42:57Z

Lincoln1860:

TERRY RONDEAU: THE 'BUZZSAW'HAD HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BY '''Eddie Spence'''.

''Eddie Spence wrote this story on Pittsfield's boxer Terry Rondeau for the September 1970 issue of Boxing Illustrated. Rondeau died in 1995 of complications brought on by cirrhosis of the liver.''

A small, intense, acne-faced youngman lay against the steering wheel of a car after slamming into another parked car. As his senses returned, the young man, scarely past his late teens, thoroughly intoxicated, realized his situation. He was driving a stolen car and if he knew what was good for him, he'd get out of there quickly.

He fell from the car(to be continued)

Terry Rondeau

2007-11-30T21:41:55Z

Lincoln1860:

TERRY RONDEAU: THE 'BUZZSAW'HAD HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BY '''Eddie Spence'''.

''Eddie Spence wrote this story on Pittsfield's boxer Terry Rondeau for the September 1970 issue of Boxing Illustrated. Rondeau died in 1995 of complications brought on by cirrhosis of the liver.''

A small, intense, acne-faced youngman lay against the steering wheel of a car after slamming into another parked car. As his senses returned, the young man, scarely past his late teens, thoroughly intoxicated, realized his situation. He was driving a stolen car and if he knew what was good for him, he'd get out of there quickly.

Terry Rondeau

2007-11-30T21:41:32Z

Lincoln1860: New page: TERRY RONDEAU: THE 'BUZZSAW'HAD HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BY '''Eddie Spence'''. ''Eddie Spence wrote this story on Pittsfield's boxer Terry Rondeau for the September 1970 issue of Box...

TERRY RONDEAU: THE 'BUZZSAW'HAD HIS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS BY '''Eddie Spence'''.

''Eddie Spence wrote this story on Pittsfield's boxer Terry Rondeau for the September 1970 issue of Boxing Illustrated. Rondeau died in 1995 of coplications brought on by cirrhosis of the liver.''

A small, intense, acne-faced youngman lay against the steering wheel of a car after slamming into another parked car. As his senses returned, the young man, scarely past his late teens, thoroughly intoxicated, realized his situation. He was driving a stolen car and if he knew what was good for him, he'd get out of there quickly.

Eddie Spence

2007-11-28T03:05:29Z

Lincoln1860:

[[file:Spence eddie.jpg|left|Eddie Spence]]
<boxer>048319</boxer>

<br clear=all>

== EDDIE SPENCE: THE PROFESSOR COULD BOX ==

By Brian Sullivan, Eagle Staff, ''The Berkshire Eagle'', Pittsfield, MA., Feb 4, 2001. (Spence named one of the one hundred (100) best athletes in Berkshire County during the 20th Century by the ''Berkshire Eagle'' staff.)

PITTSFIELD. There is one knockout that doesn't appear on the final record of Pittsfield boxer Eddie Spence.

Football coaching legend Vince Lombardi once sent Spence to the mat in the late winter of 1969, ''Sports Illustrated'' courted Spence for a story.

The hook was simple--the magazine wanted to trumpet Spence as the most educated professional boxer in the United States.

Spence was known as "The Professor."

And so SI writer Pat Putnam did the interview and a photographer spent a day with Spence taking pictures. But the week before the issue hit the newsstands, Lombardi, the architect of the successful Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s, announced he was accepting an offer from the Washington Redskins to be their new coach-general manager.

SI then pulled the cover switch. In came Lombardi and out went Spence, who was relegated to an inside story.

Spence, now a successful local attorney, started his career as an amateur boxer in 1960 as a 6-foot-1 inch welterweight. He turned pro in 1962, but not before turning in an amateur mark of 36-6, including Western New England Golden Gloves titles in 1961 and 1962.

During his nine-year professional career he posted a record of 44-12. He boxed main events throughout New England, including feature bouts in Boston Garden. he boxed as a welterweight, a middleweight, and light heavyweight.

Though never weighing more than 172 pounds, Spence captured the New England heavyweight crown from 212 pound Paul Raymond. In 1969, Spence won the six-state light heavyweight title from Pete Riccatelli in the latter's hometown of Portland, Maine.

A year later Spence won the big prize from Raymond. Both of those victories came in the fourth round and both were knockouts. Spence's last bout was Dec. 15, 1970 at Boston Garden where, in a rematch he lost his New England heavyweight crown to Raymond.

Despite breaking his right hand in the second round. Spence went the 12 round distance with Raymond but lost by decision.

The prognosis wasn't good. It was the second broken hand Spence had suffered in a span of 15months. He would have to stay out of the gym for six months he was told. And that's when Spence decided it was enough and announced his retirement.

It put the skids on negotiations going on at the time between Spence's came and former welterweight and middleweight world champion Dick Tiger, who was ranked fifth in the light heavyweight class at that time.

The deal would have involved a televised bout from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Spence retired holding the New England light heavyweight crown that he defended successfully five times.

== SALA: DRIVING ME UP A WALL ==

"He's driving me up the wall," wailed fight manager Roger Sala. "When he comes into the ring, I don't know if he's going to break out in an aria, recite Shakespeare, or throw punches."

"One time I'm telling him something in the gym and he's not listening. Then he looks up and says, 'You know, Roger, I was just thinking that whereas the Fechnerian argument makes sensory magnitude a logarithmic function, the newer methods of direct estimation indicate that it should be a power function--S equals kM, where k and M are constants for any particular sense modality.' I know that's what he said because I made him write it down."

So began the ''Sports Illustrated'' story from the March 3, 1969 issue. In its own complicated way, it capsulized the relationship between fighter and manager for almost a decade.

Sala, who recognized Spence's great talents, battled to have his fighter lock in on the task at hand. The cerebral Spence, meanwhile, sought other more eclectic challenges.

Said New England boxing promoter Sam Silverman at the time: "Eddie sure as heck doesn't look like a fighter. Other fighters listen to him talk and figure they have a real pushover. I've got light heavyweights lining up for two blocks trying to get a shot at him."

Sala concurred. The baby-faced scholar, he said, hid in appearance his lion's heart and his tenacious abilities. "If you walked into a bar and were looking for a fight and saw Eddie, then he'd be the one you would go after."

== THE EARLY YEARS ==

As worldly and intellectually gifted as Spence would become, his world as a youngster was air tight. His parents were divorced when he was young--Eddie Sr. had been a great basketball player in his day and Eddie Jr. even now still goes to the hardwood and plays pretty well. While Spence has said he was a lonely child, he wasn't necessarily an unhappy one.

Still, he had few close friends while attending St. Joseph's High School. In the SI article, one classmate said that Spence "was nothing but a big zero."

Said Spence in the same SI story, "I look upon myself as someone who was born when he was 17 years old. Before that my life was, well, nothing happened. Very dull. But I don't believe my early years have any effect upon my thinking or my actions now.

"I don't believe in Freud," he continued, "I believe in the autonomous motivation of an adult. I look back upon my childhood and I understand it. Just because I react one way to a situation now doesn't mean I can't react another way to the same situation in the future."

The Eddie Spence of the 1960s acted, sang in plays, learned to dance, and took piano lessons.

He also taught at Berkshire Community College, and was the first graduate of a state community college to come back and teach at the facility.

Frank Deane, the director of the summer and evening programs at BCC, was enthused at the time about hiring Spence to teach a course in personality.

"Several years ago he taught another psychology course for us and I thought he was very successful. The students certainly liked him. The spectrum of his interests made him an exciting person to talk with."

And that hasn't changed some 30 years later. Shunned by a young girl who told Eddie Spence in so many words that he was not the man he should be, the St. Joseph's High string bean, who was all of 16, showed up at Roger Sala's training facility at the Pittsfield YMCA with a "How to Fight" book authored by former heavyweight champion [[Jack Dempsey]].

Sale told the youngster to come back the next day. "I never figured I'd see him again, " Sala said. " He was a tall kid, about 6-foot-1, but skinny. Only 142 pounds. But he came back and fought."

Sala talked Spence into enrolling in Berkshire Community College a short time later, according to the SI story.

"Boxing gave Eddie confidence in himself," Sala said in the magazine piece. "It was something he never had. When I met him his greatest ambition was to open his own soda joint. Boxing was the first thing he had ever done well. The first time that he had gotten any recognition."

"Actually, it wasn't the first," said Spence in the same SI story. "I played basketball with some ability, but never in high school. I never wanted to get involved in high school. That's why I took up boxing. It's an individual effort."

Spence continued to put more things on his plate. Beyond his stage career, modern dance lessons, music and taking lessons in Italian (he even worked on a dump truck for a time), his pursuit of education continued. He retired once from the ring near the end of 1966 while pursing his master's degree at SUNY Albany.

Spence didn't fight between June of 1967 and December of 1968. One night while working as a bouncer in a local nightclub, he got into a wrestling match with a drunken patron. It lasted 10 minutes and ended without a clearcut winner.

"Some fighter," people in Pittsfield snickered.

Recalled at the time: "People seemed disappointed that I didn't kill the guy. To tell you the truth, I was disappointed I didn't punch his head off. But to heck with them. I don't care what they said."

But apparently he did. He was quickly in the gym and looking for a fight. A few weeks later he won an eight round decision over Sugar Ryan, then knokced out Hank Stroud in four rounds. Two more victories against quality opponents followed.

"He's better than ever," said Sala in the SI story. "And for the first time he's throwing a good hook. And he's always had a ton of guts. One time he fought a guy named Cadillac James and he went in with a broken hand and broken nose. He never told me and he won the fight."

"Why," asked Spence as the story concluded. "Why concentrate on one thing. I wouldn't know what to choose."

== EARLY GOLDEN GLOVES ==

Eddie Spence was a Western Mass. Golden Gloves champion in 1961 and Roger Sala had a plan to help Spence get his second title in 1962.

"Roger was a very colorful guy," Spence said recently. "He understood things that I didn't. Going into my second Golden Gloves he said that I wasn't getting any publicity and that he was going to do something about it. He just told me to keep quiet."

In Holyoke, Sala told the event organizers that his boy hadn't had a lot of work lately, and that he would be willing to fight twice in one night.

Spence couldn't believe it. "Two fights? I had never done more than three rounds. I told Roger I'd be exhausted for the second fight."

Sala, Spence, said, had a little of P.T. Barnum in him.

Spence won his first bout but in the second fight he was running quickly out of gas.

But before the final round the referee came over and said that Spence's opponent had just quit.

So impressed were the other boxers in Spence's division that they all withdrew from the next day's schedule.

Bingo. A second Golden Gloves crown.

"Sam(promoter Silverman) and Roger understood my level of competency better than I did," Spence said. "At least for that period of time."

== BOXING'S VALUE ==

"I was raised in a neighborhood where most of the kids were older than I was." Spence said in a recent interview. "There was a lot of subtle intimidation. I had to learn to be quiet and non-demonstrative.

"You don't see kids going to boxing now. There's no mother who wants to see her son in a physically confrontational setting.

"But if properly taught and not staged as some gladiator sport of extinction, then it's something you don't have to say no to. I don't think people should be picked on."

Eddie Spence

2007-11-28T03:04:22Z

Lincoln1860:

[[file:Spence eddie.jpg|left|Eddie Spence]]
<boxer>048319</boxer>

<br clear=all>

'''EDDIE SPENCE: THE PROFESSOR COULD BOX.'''.

By Brian Sullivan, Eagle Staff, ''The Berkshire Eagle'', Pittsfield, MA., Feb 4, 2001. (Spence named one of the one hundred (100) best athletes in Berkshire County during the 20th Century by the ''Berkshire Eagle'' staff.)

PITTSFIELD. There is one knockout that doesn't appear on the final record of Pittsfield boxer Eddie Spence.

Football coaching legend Vince Lombardi once sent Spence to the mat in the late winter of 1969, ''Sports Illustrated'' courted Spence for a story.

The hook was simple--the magazine wanted to trumpet Spence as the most educated professional boxer in the United States.

Spence was known as "The Professor."

And so SI writer Pat Putnam did the interview and a photographer spent a day with Spence taking pictures. But the week before the issue hit the newsstands, Lombardi, the architect of the successful Green Bay Packers teams of the 1960s, announced he was accepting an offer from the Washington Redskins to be their new coach-general manager.

SI then pulled the cover switch. In came Lombardi and out went Spence, who was relegated to an inside story.

Spence, now a successful local attorney, started his career as an amateur boxer in 1960 as a 6-foot-1 inch welterweight. He turned pro in 1962, but not before turning in an amateur mark of 36-6, including Western New England Golden Gloves titles in 1961 and 1962.

During his nine-year professional career he posted a record of 44-12. He boxed main events throughout New England, including feature bouts in Boston Garden. he boxed as a welterweight, a middleweight, and light heavyweight.

Though never weighing more than 172 pounds, Spence captured the New England heavyweight crown from 212 pound Paul Raymond. In 1969, Spence won the six-state light heavyweight title from Pete Riccatelli in the latter's hometown of Portland, Maine.

A year later Spence won the big prize from Raymond. Both of those victories came in the fourth round and both were knockouts. Spence's last bout was Dec. 15, 1970 at Boston Garden where, in a rematch he lost his New England heavyweight crown to Raymond.

Despite breaking his right hand in the second round. Spence went the 12 round distance with Raymond but lost by decision.

The prognosis wasn't good. It was the second broken hand Spence had suffered in a span of 15months. He would have to stay out of the gym for six months he was told. And that's when Spence decided it was enough and announced his retirement.

It put the skids on negotiations going on at the time between Spence's came and former welterweight and middleweight world champion Dick Tiger, who was ranked fifth in the light heavyweight class at that time.

The deal would have involved a televised bout from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Spence retired holding the New England light heavyweight crown that he defended successfully five times.

== SALA: DRIVING ME UP A WALL ==

"He's driving me up the wall," wailed fight manager Roger Sala. "When he comes into the ring, I don't know if he's going to break out in an aria, recite Shakespeare, or throw punches."

"One time I'm telling him something in the gym and he's not listening. Then he looks up and says, 'You know, Roger, I was just thinking that whereas the Fechnerian argument makes sensory magnitude a logarithmic function, the newer methods of direct estimation indicate that it should be a power function--S equals kM, where k and M are constants for any particular sense modality.' I know that's what he said because I made him write it down."

So began the ''Sports Illustrated'' story from the March 3, 1969 issue. In its own complicated way, it capsulized the relationship between fighter and manager for almost a decade.

Sala, who recognized Spence's great talents, battled to have his fighter lock in on the task at hand. The cerebral Spence, meanwhile, sought other more eclectic challenges.

Said New England boxing promoter Sam Silverman at the time: "Eddie sure as heck doesn't look like a fighter. Other fighters listen to him talk and figure they have a real pushover. I've got light heavyweights lining up for two blocks trying to get a shot at him."

Sala concurred. The baby-faced scholar, he said, hid in appearance his lion's heart and his tenacious abilities. "If you walked into a bar and were looking for a fight and saw Eddie, then he'd be the one you would go after."

== THE EARLY YEARS ==

As worldly and intellectually gifted as Spence would become, his world as a youngster was air tight. His parents were divorced when he was young--Eddie Sr. had been a great basketball player in his day and Eddie Jr. even now still goes to the hardwood and plays pretty well. While Spence has said he was a lonely child, he wasn't necessarily an unhappy one.

Still, he had few close friends while attending St. Joseph's High School. In the SI article, one classmate said that Spence "was nothing but a big zero."

Said Spence in the same SI story, "I look upon myself as someone who was born when he was 17 years old. Before that my life was, well, nothing happened. Very dull. But I don't believe my early years have any effect upon my thinking or my actions now.

"I don't believe in Freud," he continued, "I believe in the autonomous motivation of an adult. I look back upon my childhood and I understand it. Just because I react one way to a situation now doesn't mean I can't react another way to the same situation in the future."

The Eddie Spence of the 1960s acted, sang in plays, learned to dance, and took piano lessons.

He also taught at Berkshire Community College, and was the first graduate of a state community college to come back and teach at the facility.

Frank Deane, the director of the summer and evening programs at BCC, was enthused at the time about hiring Spence to teach a course in personality.

"Several years ago he taught another psychology course for us and I thought he was very successful. The students certainly liked him. The spectrum of his interests made him an exciting person to talk with."

And that hasn't changed some 30 years later. Shunned by a young girl who told Eddie Spence in so many words that he was not the man he should be, the St. Joseph's High string bean, who was all of 16, showed up at Roger Sala's training facility at the Pittsfield YMCA with a "How to Fight" book authored by former heavyweight champion [[Jack Dempsey]].

Sale told the youngster to come back the next day. "I never figured I'd see him again, " Sala said. " He was a tall kid, about 6-foot-1, but skinny. Only 142 pounds. But he came back and fought."

Sala talked Spence into enrolling in Berkshire Community College a short time later, according to the SI story.

"Boxing gave Eddie confidence in himself," Sala said in the magazine piece. "It was something he never had. When I met him his greatest ambition was to open his own soda joint. Boxing was the first thing he had ever done well. The first time that he had gotten any recognition."

"Actually, it wasn't the first," said Spence in the same SI story. "I played basketball with some ability, but never in high school. I never wanted to get involved in high school. That's why I took up boxing. It's an individual effort."

Spence continued to put more things on his plate. Beyond his stage career, modern dance lessons, music and taking lessons in Italian (he even worked on a dump truck for a time), his pursuit of education continued. He retired once from the ring near the end of 1966 while pursing his master's degree at SUNY Albany.

Spence didn't fight between June of 1967 and December of 1968. One night while working as a bouncer in a local nightclub, he got into a wrestling match with a drunken patron. It lasted 10 minutes and ended without a clearcut winner.

"Some fighter," people in Pittsfield snickered.

Recalled at the time: "People seemed disappointed that I didn't kill the guy. To tell you the truth, I was disappointed I didn't punch his head off. But to heck with them. I don't care what they said."

But apparently he did. He was quickly in the gym and looking for a fight. A few weeks later he won an eight round decision over Sugar Ryan, then knokced out Hank Stroud in four rounds. Two more victories against quality opponents followed.

"He's better than ever," said Sala in the SI story. "And for the first time he's throwing a good hook. And he's always had a ton of guts. One time he fought a guy named Cadillac James and he went in with a broken hand and broken nose. He never told me and he won the fight."

"Why," asked Spence as the story concluded. "Why concentrate on one thing. I wouldn't know what to choose."

== EARLY GOLDEN GLOVES ==

Eddie Spence was a Western Mass. Golden Gloves champion in 1961 and Roger Sala had a plan to help Spence get his second title in 1962.

"Roger was a very colorful guy," Spence said recently. "He understood things that I didn't. Going into my second Golden Gloves he said that I wasn't getting any publicity and that he was going to do something about it. He just told me to keep quiet."

In Holyoke, Sala told the event organizers that his boy hadn't had a lot of work lately, and that he would be willing to fight twice in one night.

Spence couldn't believe it. "Two fights? I had never done more than three rounds. I told Roger I'd be exhausted for the second fight."

Sala, Spence, said, had a little of P.T. Barnum in him.

Spence won his first bout but in the second fight he was running quickly out of gas.

But before the final round the referee came over and said that Spence's opponent had just quit.

So impressed were the other boxers in Spence's division that they all withdrew from the next day's schedule.

Bingo. A second Golden Gloves crown.

"Sam(promoter Silverman) and Roger understood my level of competency better than I did," Spence said. "At least for that period of time."

== BOXING'S VALUE ==

"I was raised in a neighborhood where most of the kids were older than I was." Spence said in a recent interview. "There was a lot of subtle intimidation. I had to learn to be quiet and non-demonstrative.

"You don't see kids going to boxing now. There's no mother who wants to see her son in a physically confrontational setting.

"But if properly taught and not staged as some gladiator sport of extinction, then it's something you don't have to say no to. I don't think people should be picked on."