Eddie Spence vs. Jimmy Cherrico

Eddie Spence 170 lbs beat Jimmy Cherrico 176 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1969-02-15
• Location: Armory, North Adams, Massachusetts, USA
• Judge: Dan Hamel
• Judge: Joe Hashim

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.