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

Kid Clay

Thad Spencer did bounce back from his 'upset KO loss' to Amos Lincoln.

In his next bout - February 22, 1965 and again at the Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica.

Thad Spencer 'out-scored' his previous nemesis Chuck 'Charlie' Leslie, by winning a
Unanimous 10-Round Decision.

Thad at 194 lbs., was out-hustled by the 'speedy' 178 lb. Leslie over the first '5-Rounds',
as Leslie using his speed built up a slight points lead.

But Thad used is weight advantage to gain control in Round 6, and out-strength
the smaller Chuck Leslie over the entire round.

Spencer then kicked it into gear in Round 7, and swept the last 4-Rounds by out-punching
and out-muscling the 'speedster', by scoring with solid left-rights to both the head
and body, to win an impressive 10-Round Decision.

Scorecards;
Referee, Dick Young........6-3-1
Judge, George Latka.......7-3-0
Judge, Joey Olmos..........8-1-1

Thad 'Babe' Spencer improved to 25-3-0. Chuck 'Charlie' Leslie fell to 22-5-1.

 

Kid Clay,

22 year-old - Thad 'Babe' Spencer 'scored' two more wins in early-1965.

March 17, 1965 - Civic Auditorium - Santa Monica, California
(W Dec 10) over Billy 'The Barber' Daniels 19-7-1 (9 KO's)

Thad Spencer (194 lbs.) wins a 'suprisingly easy' Decision over one-time contender,
6' 4" - 27 year-old - New York Heavyweight - Billy Daniels (193 lbs.)

Spencer out-jabs the 4" taller Daniels through the first 6-Rounds, to build up a
solid lead. The New Yorker rallies briefly in Rounds 7 and 8 with overhand rights,
but fades over the last 2-Rounds, as the younger Spencer hammers Daniels with short
hard punches.

Scorecards;
Referee, Dick Young......8-2-0
Judge, Tommy Hart.......8-2-0
Judge, Joey Olmos........7-1-2
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April 26, 1965 - Civic Auditorium San Franciso
Attendance; 6000
#12 WBA Heavyweight - Thad Spencer (Pasadena) - (W Dec 12) over #6 WBA Heavyweight - Roger Rischer (Oakland)

Thad 'Babe' Spencer (195 lbs.) wins the California State Heavyweight Championship,
by winning an impressive and one-sided 12-Round Decision over #6 Heavyweight-
Roger Rischer (199 lbs.)

Thad Spencer took control of the bout immediately, and repeatedly scored with
hard right-hand counters over Rischer's low guard.

Spencer put a 'punctuation mark' on the bout, by flooring Rischer in the last round
for an '8-Count' with a left-right combination, and then had the 32 year-old veteran
draped over the ropes at the bell.

The young 22 year-old - Thad Spencer, improves to 27-3-0 (13 KO's), and will move
back to the #7 WBA Heavyweight. Thad also earns the California State Heavyweight Championship.

Roger Rischer, the 32 year-old veteran falls to 27-9-2 (13 KO's), and will most likely
fall out of the Top 10 following this one-sided loss. The Oakland Heavyweight had won
12 of his previous 14 bouts, including a Decision over British Heavyweight - Henry Cooper
in his last bout, back in November 1964.

Scorecards;
Referee, Tony Bosnich......10-1-1
Judge, Vern Bybee............9-3-0
Judge, John Lotsey..........12-0-0

 

Kid Clay,


August 11, 1965

Los Angeles, California

#7 Ranked Heavyweight -Thad Spencer is permitted to break his contract with
Manager, Walter Minskoff. The Deputy State Attorney as a representative for the
State Athletic Commission said Thad Spencer (Pasadena) can sign with new
Manager Willie Ketchum.

Walter Minskoff, who was Thad Spencer's manager for two-years, was trying to
recoup his investment in the #7 Heavyweight contender. Which included, $15,000
in cash advances and a new car. But the State Deputy Attorney concluded that
these monies were part of his fighter's normal expenses and not loans.

Minskoff had been receiving 1/3 of Spencer's fight purse as manager.

The 22 year-old Thad Spencer with a professional record of 27-3-0 (13 KO's) and
the California State Heavyweight Champion will now be managed by Willie Ketchum.

Thad Spencer, 'I feel bad, but Mr. Minskoff has taken me as far as he can. My new
Manager Willie Ketchum has better fights lined up for me, and my sights are set on
a World Championship fight for next year.'

 

Ali would have given him a shot if it had n't been for his exile for three and a half years.

 

Stevie G,

Cassius Clay actually agreed to fight Thad 'several times' in 1966 and in
1967.

If Mr. Clay didn't quit boxing in 1967, Thad was on the list for the end of the year.

 

November 22, 1965

Convention Center - Las Vegas, Nevada

WBA Heavyweight Elimination Bout

On the undercard of the Cassius Clay vs Floyd Patterson 'World Heavyweight Championship'

#5 Heavyweight - Thad Spencer vs. #9 Heavyweight - Amos Lincoln

Thad Spencer (San Francisco, California)
Record.......27-3-0 (13 KO"s)
Age...........22 years, 8 months
Height........6' 0 1/2"
Weight.......197 lbs.

Amos Lincoln (Portland, Oregon)
Record......34-7-1 (22 KO's)
Age..........29 years, 3 months
Height.......6' 2"
Weight......199 lbs.

In a rematch, in which Amos Lincoln upset Thad Spencer 1-year earlier by a TKO 9.

A televised bout, in which Thad Spencer and Amos Lincoln turn in one of the 'best heavyweight bouts'
of the 1965, and what was called as a 'tough act to follow' as the preliminary bout before the
World Heayweight Championship.

In a 'furious' heavyweight encounter, which packed more excitement and more exchanges than
the bout between Cassius Clay and Floyd Patterson.

Thad Spencer, using his sharp left-right combinations scores early, and controls the bout through 7-Rounds,
by winning the heavy exchanges with Amos Lincoln.

But just like in their previous bout, Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln plays possum, and allows the younger Spencer
to expend his strength. But, over the last '3-Rounds', Amos comes on strong, by scoring with hard left-right
combinations and keeping Spencer on the defensive along the ropes.

Amos Lincoln again 'upsets' Thad Spencer, this time by a 10-Round Majority Decision.

Scorecards;
Referee.......96-95
Judge.........97-96
Judge.........95-95

Amos Lincoln, 'I now have beaten Thad Spencer twice. Clay signed a contract to fight the winner of
of our bout, and I'm holding Clay to his word. We should be fighting within 90-days.'

Thad Spencer. 'I thought I had a big enough lead going into the end of the fight. I knew it was close,
but I honestly thought I won.'

Willie Ketchum (Thad Spencer's manager), 'Thad hadn't fought in 7-months (since April 26), and he got
a little winded at the end of the fight. He's a good kid, and put on a great performance. We'll be back
very quickly.'

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Later, Cassius Clay did meet Amos 'Big Train' Lincoln,

But not in The Ring, but on the streets of Watts (Southern Los Angeles) in 1966.

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why do you keep refering to him as cassius clay?

just curious

 

Wednesday Night - January 19, 1966

Kezar Stadium - San Francisco, California

Attendance; 1108

'Thad Spencer, Back On Track'

22 year-old - 'Pasadena Heavyweight' Thad Spencer (200 lbs.) defended his California State
Television Heavyweight Championship last night with a 'convincing' Unanimous 12-Round
Decision (W Dec 12) over 'common foe' 'Los Angeles' Chuck 'Charlie' Leslie (180 lbs.)

Thad, who suffered a 'cut-eye' in Round 5, was too much for the game Leslie, as
Spencer maintained his 'standard' hard right hand leads and left jabs, as he battered
his 'feet footed' opponent throughout. Leslie was only able to score with an occassional
hard left hook.

Chuck Leslie, who got his 'second win' in the final round, suddenly attacked with
left hooks, and then stunned Spencer with '2' lefts and a right hand, that stood
Thad Spencer upright, and had the young heavyweight holding on until the final bell.

Thad Spencer ended the fight, with 'crimson colored' trunks, as a result from the cut
over his left eye.

Spencer with the win, gets back on the winning track, and improves to 28-4-0.

Chuck Leslie, a difficult opponent for anyone with his 'swiftness' drops to 24-9-2.

Scorecards;
Referee, Tony Bosnich......6-3-3
Judge, Jack Downey........11-0-1
Judge, Fred Aspotoli........7-1-4

Thad Spencer had a scheduled bout in only 6-days, versus Jefferson Davis of Houston, again
here at the Kezar Pavillion. But Dr. Don Lastretto said that Thad Spencer's eye cut will require
a 3-week healing period.

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Hey (again) Senor!
As a 60's child you probably dream about the good ol' days like me.
I loved Ali but Floyd was my all-time fav, thanks to my boxing/sports loving dad, and the Vegas fight broke my heart as a 12 year old.
I'm sure the Lincoln-Spencer bout was a really good one but?....don't you agree had Ali fought either one in 66-67 it would have been a round 5-8 ending with Amos or Thad draped over the ropes on *****-street?

 

jowcol,

I am the believer that 'styles make fights'.

Both Amos Lincoln and Thad Spencer had different styles, but both
seemed to offer a better challenge to Cassius Clay, than, George Chuvalo,
Brian London or Henry Cooper, and later Cleveland Williams and Zora Folley.

Even in November 1965, the Las Vegas 'Boxing Pundits' stated that Spencer or
Lincoln were 'miles' better than 'back injured' Floyd Patterson.

 

Styles make fights?

Yeah they do and Amos Lincoln, who took a ton of punishment, had a horrible style for giving the fleet footed, quick triggered, and very accurate Ali any problems at all. That fight would have been target practice.

Your bias against Ali is laughable.

Spencer as well was an "also ran" that Ali would have defeated easily.

So both were better than Patterson in 66 and 67? Get real!

Lincoln experienced his best (but modest) run in 66 but he wasnt setting the world on fire and ended up losing to a light heavyweight in what should have a been a showcase fight for him at Madison Square Garden. Hardly a way to call out the best heavyweight in the world.

Spencer Was also having his best run, only interrupted by a cut eye stoppage, but nothing in that run suggested he would be able to beat Ali.

You can sit here and argue what Ali "should" have done on paper (and thats all your arguments are based on, because I watched Lincoln spar with Liston and no slow, face first fighter is beating Ali) but history proved the prevailing wisdom correct when Quarry knocked out Spenser in twelve (after having been taken the distance twice in razor thin fights against that guy who "boxing pundits" (named il duce) didnt think was as good as Lincoln and Spencer.

 

"no slow, face first fighter is beating Ali"

Were Chuvalo and Frazier considered to be " slow, face first fighters".

CCR hadn't written "Bad Moon on the Rise" at that stage.

 

Lord Tywin, you're so wrong and misguided.

November 1965,

The Floyd Patterson (with a spinal injury) was nowhere as good as Thad Spencer
or Amos Linocln that night in Las Vegas.

Amos Lincoln, was not afraid of Cassius Clay, and it was Clay who avoided fighting Amos,
who was ready, willing and able at any time in 1966.

November 1965, Cassius Clay agreed to fight Amos next, then pulled out, sighting other
commitments (easier fights).

Also, Thad Spencer did something to Ernie Terrell, that Cassius Clay couldn't do for 15-Rounds,
and a lifetime versus the 'frail floundering string-bean', which was floor him.

 

October 16, 1966

Mickey Duff (British Promoter) sent a wire to San Francisco Boxing promoter Benny Ford,
requesting a January 1967 bout between Cassius Clay and Thad Spencer for London.

Benny Ford was the promoter on the west coast for Thad Spencer.

On October 14, 1966 - #2 Heavyweight Thad Spencer won a shut-out 10-Round Decision
over #4 Doug Jones. It was a one-sided bout, and Jones had been beaten much worse by
Thad Spencer, than either Cassius Clay or Ernie Terrell.

Afterwards, Thad Spencer, 'I am in the best shape of my life. I'm ready for Clay or
Ernie. I just white-washed Doug Jones who went 15-Rounds with Terrell.'