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

Easy fella's,

Nobody said Thad Spencer was 'great',

What he was, a pretty good heavyweight, who had some good wins.

He did hit a couple of bumps in the road, but bad management, coupled with
laziness, and later drug abuse was his downfall.

Don't forget, he was only 20 1/2 years of age in October 1963, when he was ranked as high as #10 by the WBA.
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November 30, 1963

Reno, Nevada

Thad Spencer is 'upset', as he loses a 'controversial' 10-Round Split-Decision over 'Californian'
Chuck 'Charlie' Leslie, the California State Light-Heavyweight Champion.

The 200 lb. Spencer, appeared to be on his way to an 'easy' Decision win, when he injured his
right hand in Round 4, versus the 'swift boxing' 180 lb. Californian.

From that point on, the #10 WBA-ranked Spencer was forced to box only with his left jabs, and an
occassional left hook, while his right hand was planted by his side.

From the 5th-Round and on, Chuck Leslie, a 6' 0" swift-footed boxer, was able to score with quick
left-rights, and move out of harms way, as Thad Spencer was unable to counter with his hard right hand.

The Split-Decision awarded to Chuck Leslie was not well received by the spectators.

Scorecards;
Referee........96-95 (Chuck Leslie)
Judge..........96-95 (Thad Spencer)
Judge..........96-94 (Chuck Leslie)

Thad Spencer drops to 20-2-0 (9 KO's).

Chuck Leslie improves to 20-2-0 (5 KO's).

Manager, Sid Flaherty, 'Thad may have broken his right hand in the 3rd or 4th Round, by hitting
Leslie on the head. I still thought Thad did enough to win though, as Leslie did nothing in the
first 4-Rounds. This loss is costly, and the injury to Thad's hand will set us back 6-months.'

Thad Spencer, 'I broke my hand on his hard head in the 3rd Round. I couldn't use my best
power punch, and I had to box more, which is not my style. He fought well, but I still thought
I did enough to win.

Chuck Leslie. 'I was too fast for Thad, as he never laid a glove on me after the 4th Round.
He fought lazy from the 5th-Round on, and I just boxed his ears off.'

 

July 5, 1964

Rasunda Stadium - Solna, Sweden

Attendance; 40,000

On the Floyd Patterson vs. Eddie Machen undercard.

Thad Spencer was still managed by Sid Flaherty and Walter Minskoff, who also managed Eddie Machen.

Thad 'Babe' Spencer (196 lbs.) returned after a long lay-off from his last bout (8-months earlier),
by trouncing (KO 5) United Kingdom's - Ray Shiel 18-14-2 (9 KO's).

Thad received an $8000 fight purse, his highest to date, while improving to 21-2-0 (10 KO's).
Thad remains as the WBA #8 Heavyweight.

The Sweden boxing fans said they want to see more of the Pasadena, California Heavyweight,
as he looks like the most exciting 'young' American Heavyweight out there.

 

Icabod,

Thad 'Babe' Spencer was managed by Sid Flaherty and Walter Minskoff thru
mid-1965.

Thad was sued by Walter Minskoff in August 1965, when Spencer wanted to
leave for Willie Ketchum.

Walter Minskoff, had covered Thad's living expenses for '2-years', plus bought him a
new car in 1964. He wanted to be reimbursed, but the District Attorney said he
had no claim on paid expenses, as the contract had stated that, 'the manager would
be resposnible for all living expense, of said professional boxer.'

 

Thad Spencer in Las Vegas, at 'The Castaways Hotel'.

August 4, 1964

Thad Spencer (196 lbs.) blasts (KO 4) 'trial-horse' George 'Scap Iron' Johnson 12-8-1 (3 KO's).

Thad Spencer drops 'Scrap Iron' late in the 2nd-Round with a wild right hand. Johnson, who
is hurt badly, is saved by the bell.

In Round 4, in the early moments, Spencer lands a crushing right hand that drops Johnson
to the canvas, where he is counted out by referee, Harry Krausse ay 0:32 of Round 4.
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Tuesday Night - October 13, 1964

'The Strip Fight of the Week' (The Castaways Hotel & Casino) Las Vegas

Thad Spencer (198 lbs.) stops (TKO 7) 'ham-and-egger' Ollie Wilson 17-28-0 (12 KO's),
who cannot continue at 1:21 of the 7th Round.

Thad Spencer (now 23-2-0 with 12 KO's) used the standard left-right (one-two), battering
Ollie Wilson throughout the bout.

Mid-way through the 7th Round, Wilson (from Miami) complained to Referee Harry Krausse, that
his left arm was injured, and that he could not continue.
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21 1/2 year-old - Thad 'Babe' Spencer, at 23-2-0 (12 KO's), is now positioned as
the #7 WBA Heavyweight.

Co-manager, Walter Minskoff, 'We plan to fight former World Title Challenger - Tom McNeeley
in November 1964, and then move on to Doug Jones next. After that, we'll be ready for a World
Championship by the Spring of 1965.
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Monday Night - November 9, 1964

Civic Auditorium - Santa Monica, California

Thad 'Babe' Spencer battered 'New England Heavyweight' Tom McNeeley to canvas 'three times'
enroute to a 'knockout' at 1:39 of Round 5.

The 21 1/2 year-old Spencer, first floored the 27 year-old McNeeley in the the 4th-Round, with a short right hand.
Then the 'Northwest Heavyweight' dropped McNeeley 'twice' in the 5th-Round, first with a short left hand,
then with a short left-right, as Referee John Thomas counted out the former World Title Challenger.

Thad Spencer improves to 24-2-0 (13 KO's). Tom McNeeley now falls to 33-9-0 (25 KO's).

 

Tuesday Night - December 15, 1964

Civic Auditorium - Santa Monica, California

Attendance; 3000

Heavyweight Bout, "Thad Spencer vs. Amos Lincoln"

Thad 'Babe' Spencer (Pasadena, California)
Record.....24-2-0 (13 KO's)
Ranking....#6 WBA
Age.........21 years, 8 months
Height......6' 1/2"
Weight.....192 lbs.

Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln
Record......28-6-1 (16 KO's)
Ranking.....#20 WBA
Age..........28 years, 4 months
Height.......6' 2'
Weight......205 lbs.

In a 'major upset, Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln stopped #6 Heavyweight - Thad Spencer
by TKO at 1:51 of Round 9.

The 'fast-rising' heavyweight contender - Thad Spencer had built up what looked like
an insurmountable lead, after winning 5 of the first 6 rounds, by using his quick
left-right punching attack.

But in Round 7, the 6' 2" 'Big Train' landed a left-right to the head of Spencer, staggering
the Pasadena Heavyweight, leaving him dazed and groggy for the rest of the round.

Thad Spencer did all he could to stay on his feet in Round 8, but in Round 9, the hard-punching
Lincoln landed another combination that had Spencer reeling and barely able to stay on his feet.
Moments later at 1:51 of the Round, Referee Dick Young jumped in to stop Spencer from absorbing
anymore hard blows.

Amos Lincoln improves to 29-6-1 (17 KO's)

Thad Spencer, who was ahead on all '3' scorecards, falls to 24-3-0 (13 KO's).

Thad Spencer, 'I have no excuses. I was in good shape, and ahead in the fight. I just got caught
by a couple of good punches, and that was it.'

Amos Lincoln, 'I trained hard for this fight. I was running hills for 5-weeks. When I have strength
in my legs I can take out anybody, like I showed tonight.'

 

jowcol,,,,,

All very good points,

Thad 'a hot-n-cold' fighter. You just never knew which 'Thad' would show up.

He 'fell apart' versus Amos Lincoln (first bout) in December 1964, in a bout that he
was in complete control through 6-Rounds.

Forgotten though, Thad was only 6' 1/2" tall, and 192 lbs. when in 'peak conditon'.

Far from a heavy-puncher, he was more of a straight forward 1-2 puncher, much
like his mentor, Eddie Machen.

With a record of 24-2-0 (13 KO's) thru November 1964 (age; 21 1/2), his 'good wins' were over;
a) Jefferson Davis
b) Tom McNeeley
c) Jimmy 'The King' Fletcher

On the 'west coast' at the time, they believed he was 'the goods'.

 

jowcol,

I'm a 60's child.

I remember Thad Spencer very well. He got alot of press, and good press too.

Do you remember Cassius Clay vs Floyd Patterson in Las Vegas.

November 1965.

What bout was the 'most exciting one' on the card, and was later called one of
the 'best televised heavyweight bouts of the year'.

Thad Spencer vs. Amos Lincoln II.

The 'winner' was supposed to get Cassius Clay, who signed a contract with
Sports Vision to fight the winner.

Amos Lincoln won, after rallying back to edge Thad Spencer over the last 3-rounds.

And what did Cassius Clay do,,,,,,,,,,,he went to Canada to fight George Chuvalo, who
just had his faced smashed-in for 10-Rounds by Eduardo Corletti.

Cassius Clay, Champion of What.

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