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

Longsoldier,


Mr. Adam Heach,

Thanks for joining, looking forward to your book.

I know Thad Spencer was using the San Jacinto training camp in 1966, and from
all accounts, he was supposed to be in 'perfect shape' just before and right after
the October 1966 fight with Doug Jones, a rock hard 197 lbs.

The bout with Cassius Clay was almost a go for January 1967, and in London, but it
fell through.

Then there was the possibility of Thad fighting Floyd Patterson in February 1967.

But both bouts fell through, and Thad sat around until June 1967.

 

Here's Another

Monday Night - May 2, 1966

Kings Hall, Belle Vue - Manchester, United Kingdom

Attendance; 5000

Thad Spencer takes on his second British Heavyweight in two-weeks. This time
Thad faces 31 year-old - Brian London 'The Blackpool Rock'.

Thad Spencer, the 6' 1/2" 197 lb. - 23 year-old American is now the #6 WBA heavyweight,
and posts a record of 30-4-0 (14 KO's), and is on the verge of a World Heavyweight
Championship bout.

The 31 year-old British veteran, is ranked as the #18 WBA Heavyweight, and posts a
34-12-0 (26 KO's) record. The 6' 0" 198 lb. 'lantern-jawed' heavyweight is still a
rough customer, but is in no way one of the Top-Flight Heavyweights on the scene today.

The Fight

Right from the out-set, Thad Spencer 'unmercifully' batters Brian London with left and rights, and
has the Brit in trouble, in both the 1st and 2nd Rounds.

London does stem the tide a bit in Round 3, as he rocks the American, with several right hands,
but Spencer re-groups and continues with his combination punching.

In Round 5, Spencer cuts London's left eye with a hard right hand, and continues to work
on the damaged eye with sharp short left hands.

In Round 6, Spencer rocks London with a hard right-left, then 'staggers' the Englishman with a
hard-right, who then reels along the ropes. Spencer then opens a cut above London's right eye
with a hard left hook, as he continues to batter the Englishman.

In Round 7, Thad Spencer slows pace, to catch his 'second wind', as London lands several
lefts to steal the Round.

In Round 8, Spencer picks up the pace, and again rocks London with a right-left, and has the
Englishman in serious trouble. Spencer follows up with hard punches and opens up another cut,
this time under the right eye. Referee Bill Williams is on the verge of the stopping the onslaught,
but does allow the bout to continue.

In Rounds 9 and 10, Spencer backs off, and just works on London with short hard left hands,
while staying away from any desperate and wild home-run swings from the veteran heavyweight.

Thad Spencer wins the 10-Round Decision, and improves to 31-4-0.

The Associated Press scored the bout 8-2-0 for Thad Spencer.

Fight Purse;
Thad Spencer ($30,000 in U.S. Dollars)

Following this bout, Thad Spencer, unable to secure a bout with Heavyweight Champion
Cassius Clay, returned back to San Francisco, California.

As for Brian London, 3-months later on August 16, 1966 - he recieved $112,000 (U.S. Dollars) in
his challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship with Champion - Cassius Clay.

 

Jowcol,

Stay on topic with the proper year discussed.

1966
Thad Spencer was 'miles' better than George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London or
Karl Mildenberger, and he proved he was better than Ernie Terrell.

1967
It was Floyd Patterson who did 'not' want to fight Thad Spencer in early-1967,
especially on the west coast.

In 1967, Jerry Quarry was the 'easier' opponent for Floyd, and Floyd won neither
of those '2' bouts.

 

May 1966

Boxing Illustrated voted Thad Spencer as their 'Fighter of the Month'.


British Boxing writer, Donald Saunders of the London Daily;

'The only way to beat Cassius Clay is for a fighter to have both speed and
power. The only fighter out there who has both, is American Thad Spencer.
I have seen him fight twice here, and he showed me both.'


British Boxing writer, George Whiting, London Evening;

'Cassius Clay is as fast as a Lightweight, he hits and is gone in a flash. I've
only seen two fighters who can stay with him, and both are American's.
Thad Spencer and Amos Lincoln.'

 

OK Fellow Thread Followers,

We have a confirmed 'Nut Hugger' following this thread,,,,,,,,,,,Lord Tywin

See if you can follow the thread like everyone else.

A) Thad Spencer and/or Amos Lincoln would have been better opponents versus Cassius
Clay on November 22, 1965 than Floyd Patterson.

B) Because Floyd had entered into the bout with an injured back.

C) But both Thad and Amos were ranked 'below' Floyd, and Las Vegas wanted the
Clay vs. Patterson fight because of money.

D) Cassius Clay agreed to fight both Thad Spencer and Amos Lincoln in 1966.

E) Cassius Cay fought Brian London on August 16, 1966

F) Thad Spencer didn't fight Bill MacMurray until September 13, 1966 (when he suffered a cut-eye).

G) Thad Spencer even fought 30-days later, on October 14, 1966 versus Doug Jones.

H) Cassius Clay then agreed to fight Thad Spencer in January 1967, but tried to
slide in Floyd Patterson in again (instead).

I) Cassius Clay would have fought Thad Spencer in Japan (September 1967), if he had
weasled (escaped) out of the U.S. Military ordeal.

J) Every Magazine, and news organization called Cassius Clay,,,,,,,,,,,,Cassius Clay in 1966.

Ring Magazine (May 1966)

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Tuesday Night - September 13, 1966

Memorial Auditorium - Sacramento, California

Attendance; 1350

"California State Heavyweight Championship Changes Hands'

Thad 'Babe' Spencer (Portland, Oregon) had his quest for a World Heavyweight Championship
bout versus Cassius Clay dashed last night, as he suffered a cut-eye stoppage in
Round 7 to to Sacramento's Bill 'Fred' McMurray.

Thad Spencer, the promising 23 year-old heavyweight, who had scored 'two' impressive
wins in the United Kingdom earlier this year, had entered the ranked as #2 by Ring
Magazzine and #4 by the WBA.

In this scheduled 12-Round Bout, Spencer (201 lbs.) opened up in his usual fast manner,
rocking the 30 year-old - 208 lb. Sacramento 'truck driver' moments into Round 1.

In Round 2, Spencer floored the McMurray for an 8-Count with a short right hand.
But, later in the round, Spencer suffered a cut right eye, as a result of head-butt from
the 6' 4" journeyman.

Thad Spencer maintained his dominance in the bout, by scoring with rapid-fire
lefts and rights to the head, driving back McMurray time and again.

Late in Round 6, McMurray was able to reach Spencer with a long right hand to the
right eye, which opened up the cut, causing a stream of blood to flow.

In between rounds, Spencer's corner tried to stem the flow, but the cut was
too jagged to stop.

In Round 7, Spencer immediately went right after McMurray in attempt to knock him out,
but McMurray was able withstand the onslaught, and counter with a short right over the
right eye of Spencer, which opened up the cut more.

Referee - Pete Morelli stopped the bout and called in Dr. Asa Springer, who then advised
the Referee to halt the bout.

Bill McMurray was awarded the win, by TKO at 0:58 of Round 7.

Thad Spencer's manager, Willie Ketchum protested and asked for the bout to be
ruled a 'No Contest' as the cut eye was a result of an earlier head-butt. But officials
said they would not over-rule the decision, and awarded Bill McMurray the victory
and with it the California State Heavyweight Championship.

Thad Spencer was ahead on all '3' official scorecards.
Referee, Pete Morelli.........4-1-1 (6-2 in Points)
Judge, Abe Martninez........4-2-0 (5-2 in Points)
Judge, Luis Gonzalez.........4-2-0 (5-2 in Points)

Thad Spencer will drop to 31-5-0.

Bill 'Fred' McMurray improved to 27-15-1 (12 KO's).

 

"Champion Cassius Clay Agrees to Fight The Winner of the Thad Spencer - Doug Jones Bout"

According to San Francisco Boxing Promoter, Bernie Ford - Cassius Clay will fight
the winner of the 10-Round Heavyweight bout between WBA #5 Thad Spencer (Portland, Oregon)
and WBA #4 Doug Jones (New York), in England for January 1967.

The Spencer - Jones bout is scheduled for Friday Night October 14th, at the Cow Palace in Daly City.

Doug Jones, a 29 year-old - New York Heavyweight at 29-7-1 (19 KO's) has been
listed as 5-3 Favorite in the bout. Jones just recently (August 1966) went 15-Rounds with
WBA Heavyweight Champion - Ernie Terrell, and fought well before losing a 'close' Decision.

23 year-old Thad Spencer, ranked #2 by The Ring Magazine, has a record of 31-5-0 (14 KO's),
and has been regarded as the best threat to defeat Cassius Clay.

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