Thad Spencer 'Whats a Guy Have to do get a Shot at Clay'

October 14, 1966

The Oakland Tribune

British Promoter, Mickey Duff sent a cable telegram to San Francisco
Matchmaker, Bernie Ford.

He wanted to put together a Title Fight with Cassius Clay in January 1967,
and in London, 'if' Thad Spencer defeated Doug Jones

Thad then went out, and shut-out Doug Jones over 10-Rounds, battering
the New York Heavyweight through-out, and came within a whisker of stopping
him on '3' seperate occassions.

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The Great A,,,,

I stand corrected, I forgot about that.

Doug had a big-lead on the scorecards, and then Mr. Chuvalo clubbed
him down.

I apologize........atsch

 

June 1967

In an attempt to establish a new Heavyweight Champion, the WBA (World Boxing Association)
sets up an 8-Man Elimination Tournament.

The positioning of the fighters becomes confused, as several fighters bow out,
and several others are not invited to participate. The WBA attempts to set-up an
American Region and a European Region, with the a single-elimination box-off.

ABC-TV will televise the bouts, with the American Division set at the Houston
Astrodome, for August 5, 1967.

The fighters will received a $50,000 fight purse for the '1st-Round matches.

The 'new' Muhammad Ali, stripped of his Heavyweight Championship makes a
prediction the day before the tournament begins, that Ernie Terrell will come
out the winner of the '8' entrants.

In the '1st-Round, Ernie Terrell (#1 WBA ranked) will face Thad Spencer (#4 WBA ranked).

Before the bout at the 'press conference', Ernie Terrell asks, 'Who is Thad Spencer.
I have never heard of him.'

The betting line favors Ernie Terrell at 2-1 over Thad Spencer for the 12-Round bout.

The Fighters

Ernie Terrell
Ranking.........#1 WBA
Record..........39-5-0 (18 KO's)
Age..............28 years, 4 months
Height...........6' 6"
Weight..........214 lbs.
Reach...........82"

Thad Spencer
Ranking.........#4 WBA
Record..........33-5-0 (15 KO's)
Age..............24 years, 5 months
Height...........6' 0 1/2"
Weight..........201 lbs.
Reach...........75"

 

August 5, 1967

"Thad Spencer Upsets Former WBA Champion, Ernie Terrell"

19,946 specatators paid $92,560 to see Thad Spencer 'punish'
Ernie Terrell throughout with hard left hooks to the body, and sharp
right hands to the head, enroute to a Unanimous 12-Round Decision
in the '1st-Round' of the WBA Heavyweight Elimiantion Tournament.

The 24 year-old Spencer, showing off the 'fastest right hand' in the heavyweight
division, shockingly floored 'the big' 6' 6" Terrell at 1:23 of the 2nd-Round with a
blistering right hand flush on the jaw. Terrell crashed, but got up at the 5-Count,
but was a bit unsteady through the rest of the round.

Both boys left 'Round 2' marked, as Thad had a slight cut under the left eye, and an
abrasion on the nose. Ernie Terrell had his 'pride' hurt, after being floored.

But, the 28 year-old former Champion, showing his heart, got back into the fight
in the next round by utilizing his 7" reach advantage to score with his 'telephone pole like'
left jab over the course of Round 3, and again in Round 4.

In Round 5, both fighters landed hard punches, as Spencer pressed and Terrell
circled. Later in the round, Thad Spencer moved in to throw a right hand, and as
he leaned in, Terrell was unloading his own right hand, which glanced off the forehead
of Spencer, forcing him off-balance to his left. At that moment, Terrell whipped a
quick left hook on the chin of the falling Spencer who hit the canvas near the
ropes at the 2:02 Mark of the Round.

Spencer was up immediately, and did not appear to be hurt or stunned. Referee
Jimmy Webb ruled it a slip, and then waved in both fighters to continue.

Ernie Terrell whacked in a few good body punches over the last 30-seconds, to
win Round 5.

 

Thanks McVey,,,,,,,,,,,,:thumbsup

I knew I could count on you for the Closed Circuit Rroadcast.

As a Note. Ernie Terrell was an extremely 'unpopular' fight down there in Houston.

And he didn't help matters much, by his constant 'rabbit punching' and whipping
in left hooks below the belt.

As you can see,

In Rounds 6 and 7 - Ernie Terrell was able to box and move suprisingly well, and took
both rounds on the scorecards, as well as opening the cut over Spencer's eye even more.
Terrell also opened up a cut under Thad Spencer's right eye.

Through 7-Rounds Terrell appeared to have a 1-point lead.

In Round 8, Thad was able to land better punches, taking the play away from
the taller Terrell. Several times Spencer landed 'thudding blows', which was taking the
steam out the 'methodical mover' Terrell.

In Round 9, Thad opened up with hard left hooks to body, and was the 'steady aggressor'.
But a 'clash of heads' at the 0:40 Mark, opened up a cut on Spencer's right cheek.

Spencer did not let the cut effect him, and stayed as the steady aggressor throughout, and
nailed Terrell with a big right hand at the 2:07 Mark, which shook Ernie.

At the 2:20 Mark, Thad landed a hard straight left hand that wobbled Terrell, and followed
up with another quick left hook to the jaw. Terrell stayed at a distance over the last
30-seconds.

After 9-Rounds, ABC-TV had the bout scored 85-85, 'All 'Even'.