The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-07-07
LEROY WILLIS
WINS DECISION
over SPENCER

When ] heard the weights an
nounced. with Willis weighing in
al l3l pounds. and Spencer at
1891, ! felt that our boy would
lose. = unused Paradise Valley
fight fan after the Willis-Spencer
battle at Olympia Friday night.
"Spencer's best hghting weight is
around l35 pounds. and he was
dried down much too thin 10 be
at his best tonight" the fan con-
tinued.
The above statements lust
about sum up Friday nights after
the nxht talk. which grew out
Of the Leroy Willis-Leon Spencer
lightweight fight ut Olympia.
Willis. the Tan Thumper from
out Brewster Center way. had
just emerged with q l0-round de-
cision over Spencer. the pride Of
lower Paradise Valley.
IN A FIGHT that appeared one
sided. most OF the time. Spencer
winning the hrst half and Willis
the second. Willis retained his
status as Detroit's most popular
local boxer In the combined vot-
ing OF the two judges and referee
Sam Hennessey, Spencer won the
first four rounds. the fifth was
voted even. Willis was credited
with the last Ave. A one-count
knockdown in the ninth round.
added to the Willis victory mar
gin.
Pre-fght dope had the match
billed as boxer-slugger affair.
with Willis boxing and Spencer
scheduled TO do the smuggling. The
rival trainers however had differ
ent ideas. Dave Clark sent Spencer
out 10 hit and move. so as to utilize
his superior speed and faster
punching ability. Eddie Futch
coached Willis in Just the oppo-
site direction. He fought his way
IN close and pounded away at
the body with both fists.
THE FIGHT went according 10
plan during the frst four Or Ave
rounds, Spencer out-j bbed Willis
10 take big lead. With the be-
ginning Of the sixth round Spencer
could not keep up the pace. Willis
grinding body attack began to wear
him down. In the ninth round
Willis forged ahead Of the fight
by smuggling Leon 10 the canvas
with short right 10 the Jaw.
Spencer was up al the count of
one
Thus the roles OF the fighters
were reversed. Spencer the slugger.
won most OF his points boxing. and
Willis the boxer won the fight on
the strength Of grinding two
hSted body attack
SPENCER MAY have lost some
NJ his effectiveness by the drying
out process he went through in los
ing seven and one-haf pounds to
make the specified 1921 pound
fghting weight. but he was game
all the way and attempted to carry
the night 10 Willis.
Willis followed his instructions
to the letter. and fought the type
of fight needed to win.
In the semi Windup Bill Grier,
I1o' BpIllAcu olCNC hCSRlO, $40
Of New York City. Reggie holds
two wins over Rocky .Graziano
who scored a l0-round Knockout
over welter-king Freddie Red
Cochran in Madison Square Garden
/ Friday night The victory over
Reggie gave Grier a good Send-off
( IN his quest for better matches.
He had the New Yorker on the
floor for nine count in the fifth
round.
Verne Mitchell. 1856. scored a
three-round knockout over Char
ley Jackson. 225. Of Detroit Willie
Watkins. Jas. tired in the Anal
round and lost A close six-round
decision 10 Sparky Reynolds. l47
Of Huntington. w. Va Jorge Robes
/ 1T, gave AL Ellis. III. big sdvan-
tages in height and reach. and =
solid beating TO register decision
victory in another six-rounder.