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

It only takes 'one night' to defeat somebody, not a whole career.

Thad Spencer, in 1967, had the tools and the experience to handle Cassius Clay.

Very fast hands, a good left hook to the body, and a very quick right hand.

His weakness, scar-tissue over his left eye. And, somewhat predictable in his attack.

Would he have defeated Cassius Clay, I have no idea.

But did he deserve a title shot, after being promised one,,,,,,absolutely yes.

He still did something that the Champion - Cassius Clay couldn't do. He dropped
Ernie Terrell with one-punch, and wobbled him several other times.

And, they both fought Ernie Terrell in 1967, and only 6-months apart.

For 'one-night' in a period of time, Thad Spencer was 'within-a-whisker'.

 

Round 10

Thad Spencer stalked, as Terrell circled away. Terrell forces his way inside and backs Spencer
into a 'neutral corner'. At the 0:48 Mark, Terrell lands a hard left hook below Spencer's belt-line.
Terrell is warned by Referee, Jimmy Webb.

Spencer then takes control by landing left hooks to the body, which are taking their toll on the
'ambling giant'. Spencer stays the agressor by moving forward. Ernie Terrell in an attempt to swing
the round, gets very rough, by holding and hitting Spencer behind the head. The crowd boo's
and calls Terrell 'a bum'.

Spencer continues to bore in, sliding under Terrell's jabs, while landing short punches to the body.

At the 2:03 Mark, Spencer lands a hard right-hand, and continues to bore in, looking for an opening
as Terrell circles.

Terrell in a attempt to keep Spencer off him, whips a right-hand bolo-punch to Spencer's cup
at the 2:29 Mark, causing Referee Jimmy Webb, to warn Terrell again.

Spencer pressures Terrell over the last 25-secinds, who is tiring badly from the body punches.

Referee Jimmy Webb deducts 2-points from Ernie Terrell for low-blows.

For all purposes, the loss of Round 10 and the 2-point foul deduction, puts Terrell hopelessly
behind on all the scorecards.

This content is protected

 

"Thad Spencer Wins Unanimous Decision Over Ernie Terrell"

Scorecards;
Referee, Jimmy Webb.......118-110
Judge, Ernie Taylor..........118-110
Judge, Chris Jordan..........116-110

Thad Spencer was awarded a 10-8 score in Round 2, after scoring a knockdown.

Ernie Terrell had 2-points deducted from him in Round 10 by
Referee, Jimmy Webb - for '4' low-blows.

ABC-TV (Howard Cosell) scored the bout 115-109 for Thad Spencer.


Willkie Ketchum and Chickie Ferrera worked the corner for Thad Spencer.

This content is protected

 

Ernie's diminished skills, based on conjecture,

Before the bout, Ernie was a 2-1 Betting favorite in Las Vegas.
Also, Cassius Clay had predicted that Ernie would win the tournament,
stating that he was the best all-around boxer entered.

Ernie was in good shape (214 lbs.), and there was no indication that
he had lost anything at 28 years of age.

His bout with Cassius Clay was in February 1967, 6-months earlier -
so Terrell had more than enough time to recupperate. Ernie also
had 6-weeks of training camp, before the August 5th bout.

The truth, once Thad floored Ernie in the 2nd-Round, he took his
confidence away. And the hard left hooks to the body, wore Ernie
down in Round 8 and especially in Round 9.

Nobody had ever done that to 'Big Ernie' before, at least during his
prime years.

 

No,

Ernie would 'not' have won the fight with a 'scored knockdown' in Rouind 5, and the
loss of a 2-point deduction in Round 10.

Referee, Jimmy Webb and Judge, Ernie Taylor had the bout scored 68-67 for Thad Spencer at the of the 7th Round,

Then they scored Rounds 8 thru 12 for Thad, giving him a 118-110 points win.

Scorecards of Referee - Jimmy Webb and Judge - Ernie Taylor;

Rounds............1.....2......3....4.....5.....6....7.....8.....9....10....11....12......Total
=============================================================
Thad Spencer...10 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 9.....9 - 10 - 10 - 10 - 10....10 - 10.... = 118
Ernie Terrell......10 - 8 -- 10 - 10 -10....10 -10 -- 9 -- 9 -- 7......9 -- 9..... = 110


ABC-TV (Howard Cosell), scored the bout at Ringside. His scoring below;

After 5-Rounds......47 - 47 ----- (Even)
After 7-Rounds......67 - 65 ----- (Ernie Terrell)
After 9-Rounds......85 - 85 ----- (Even)
After 11-Rounds....105 - 100 --- (Thad Spencer)
Final Scorecard.....115 - 109 --- (Thad Spencer)

Howard Cosell scored Round 5 {10-8} for Ernie Terrell, as he awarded Terrell the flash-knockdown.