Fight:80994
Leotis Martin 199 lbs beat Thad Spencer 194 lbs by TKO at 2:29 in round 9 of 10
- Date: 1968-05-28
- Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom
- Referee: George Smith
LONDON, England After 29 years Primo Carnera fought Young Stribling, U.S.A., and Franz Diener, Germany, in 1929-two foreigners have been allowed to star as Main Bouters in these British Isles. The rule was changed because of the lack of home talent. Whether it will be a success at the box office, is anyone's guess. But judging from the response to Thad Spencer and Leotis Martin, it looks that we are going to see more importations. The impetus to the change in rules went to Spencer and Eduardo Corletti. When Spencer received a cut eye in training, the bout was put back a month, and then it was announced that Corletti had suffered a sprained ankle. This put the promoters in a scramble for a substitute, and thus Martin faced Spencer. Underdog Martin was first in his stride soon after the bell died away in the first round. Spencer was decked for three after a flurry of punches. On rising, Spencer appeared to be in trouble. He managed to weather the storm to share the next two rounds, although he was looking the worst for wear. Martin followed up his success against the tiring Spencer. The Californian was showing signs of wear during the seventh as he was pummeled by Martin's two-handed barrages. The writing was on the wall for Spencer in the eighth, in which he took a severe hammering. After a clash of heads Martin emerged with a deep gash on his head. During the recess, referee George Smith went to Martin's corner to inspect the damage, and allowed the contest to continue. The fans cheered Martin as he came out for the ninth. He waded into Spencer and had him dangling over the middle rope as the referee quickly pulled Martin away to have his hand raised as the winner of one of the best heavyweight battles yet seen in a British ring. The round ended in 2:28. Martin scaled 193 1/2; 199 for Spencer.
By Johnny Sharpe, The Ring Magazine September 1968, page 53
- Leotis Martin was scheduled to meet Eduardo Corletti in London on June 18th of '68. However, due to the severe cut Martin suffered over the left eye in his bout against Spencer, the bout was postponed, but never rescheduled and they never did meet in the ring.