TS
The basics
Quick facts
Intro
American boxer
Gender:
Male
Places:
Work field:
Birth:
28 March 1943
Death:
13 December 2013
The details
Biography
Introduction
Thad Spencer (born 28 March 1943 – 13 December 2013) was an American heavyweight boxer.
A native of Portland, Oregon, Spencer made his professional boxing debut in May 1960. After building up a 31-5 record, which included wins over contenders Doug Jones, Brian London and Amos Lincoln, he was highly regarded enough to be a part of the eight-man WBA elimination tournament, held after Muhammad Ali had been stripped of the title. Spencer won a 12 round decision over former title-holder Ernie Terrell in August 1967 and was then matched against Jerry Quarry in the semi-finals. Despite entering the bout as a 6/4 favourite, Spencer lost to Quarry by a 12th round TKO.
Spencer lost his next three fights by knockout, to Leotis Martin, Billy Walker and Mac Foster, and was never a serious title contender again. He continued boxing until 1971, though without winning another bout.
Spencer died in his sleep on December 13, 2013 in Valleo, CA.
Spencer's son Todd Spencer was a football star for U.S.C., and played 3 seasons in the N.F.L. for the Steelers and the Chargers.
Professional boxing record
| 32 Wins (14 knockouts, 18 decisions), 13 Losses (7 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Draw [1] | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 36-9-1 |  "Irish" Tony Doyle | UD | 10 | 07/06/1971 | Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas | 92-99, 95-98, 95-99. |
| Loss | 15-0-1 | Ron Stander | UD | 10 | 23/04/1971 | Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska | |
| Loss | 15-2-1 |  Jose Luis Garcia | KO | 2 | 05/10/1970 | Caracas | |
| Loss | 32-6-1 | "Irish" Tony Doyle | UD | 10 | 28/05/1970 | Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota | |
| Draw | 5-4 | Charlie Reno | PTS | 10 | 18/03/1970 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington | |
| Loss | 17-0 | Mac Foster | KO | 1 | 20/05/1969 | Selland Arena, Fresno, California | Spencer knocked out at 3:09 of the first round. |
| Loss | 20-7-2 |  Billy Walker | TKO | 6 | 12/11/1968 | Empire Pool, Wembley, London | Referee stopped the bout at 2:04 of the sixth round. |
| Loss | 25-4 | Leotis Martin | TKO | 9 | 28/05/1968 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London | Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the ninth round. |
| Loss | 25-1-4 | Jerry Quarry | TKO | 12 | 03/02/1968 | Oakland Arena, Oakland, California | WBA World Heavyweight Title Tournament Semi-Finals. |
| Win | 39-5 | Ernie Terrell | UD | 12 | 05/08/1967 | Astrodome, Houston, Texas | WBA World Heavyweight Title Tournament Quarter-Finals. |
| Win | 40-10-1 | Amos Lincoln | TKO | 8 | 26/06/1967 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California | Referee stopped the bout at 2:09 of the eighth round. |
| Win | 29-7-1 | Doug Jones | UD | 10 | 14/10/1966 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California | 11-0, 10-0, 8-1. |
| Loss | 21-15-1 | Bill McMurray | TKO | 7 | 13/09/1966 | Sacramento, California | California Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:58 of the seventh round. |
| Win | 34-12 | Brian London | PTS | 10 | 02/05/1966 | Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Belle Vue, Manchester | |
| Win | 35-6 | Jack Bodell | RTD | 2 | 18/04/1966 | Belle Vue Zoological Gardens, Belle Vue, Manchester | Bodell did not come out for the third round. |
| Win | 20-10-1 | Billy "The Barber" Daniels | TD | 6 | 21/02/1966 | Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco, California | 2-3, 4-2, 4-2. |
| Win | 11-8-2 | Chuck Leslie | UD | 12 | 19/01/1966 | Kezar Pavilion, San Francisco, California | California Heavyweight Title. 6-3, 11-0, 7-1. |
| Loss | 34-7-1 | Amos Lincoln | SD | 10 | 22/11/1965 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 27-8-2 | Roger Rischer | UD | 12 | 26/04/1965 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California | California Heavyweight Title. 10-1, 9-3, 12-0. |
| Win | 19-7-1 | Billy "The Barber" Daniels | UD | 10 | 17/03/1965 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California | 8-2, 8-2, 7-1. |
| Win | 9-4-1 | Chuck Leslie | UD | 10 | 22/02/1965 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California | 6-3, 7-3, 8-1. |
| Loss | 28-6-1 | Amos Lincoln | TKO | 9 | 15/12/1964 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California | Referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of the ninth round. |
| Win | 33-8 | Tom McNeeley | KO | 5 | 09/11/1964 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California | Tom knocked out at 1:39 of the fifth round. |
| Win | 18-28 | Ollie Wilson | TKO | 7 | 13/10/1964 | Castaways Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | Referee stopped the bout at 1:21 of the seventh round. |
| Win | 7-8-2 | George "Scrap Iron" Johnson | KO | 4 | 04/08/1964 | Castaways Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 18-14-2 | Ray Shiel | KO | 5 | 05/07/1964 |  Rasunda, Solna Municipality | |
| Loss | 6-2 | Chuck Leslie | PTS | 10 | 30/11/1963 | Reno, Nevada | |
| Win | 4-1-3 | "King" Jim Fletcher | TKO | 6 | 12/10/1963 | Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California | Referee stopped the bout at 2:04 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 17-3 | Jefferson Davis | UD | 10 | 01/08/1963 | Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | 5-3, 5-4, 5-3. |
| Win | 17-19-4 | Monroe Ratliff | TKO | 9 | 13/05/1963 | Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, California | |
| Win | 1-1 | Alvin Tiger | TKO | 5 | 08/04/1963 | Moulin Rouge, Santa Monica, California | Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the fifth round. |
| Win | 6-1 | Leonard Dugan | UD | 10 | 20/10/1962 | Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon | |
| Win | 9-4-1 | Prince Bongoa | KO | 7 | 09/10/1962 | San Jose, California | |
| Win | 6-0 | Otis Lee | PTS | 6 | 10/07/1962 | Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas | |
| Win | 24-11-1 | John Riggins | PTS | 6 | 28/05/1962 | San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California | |
| Win | 17-16 | Art Wright | KO | 2 | 14/04/1962 | San Jose Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California | |
| Win | 7-6-2 | Dave Furch | PTS | 10 | 14/11/1961 | Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, Santa Cruz, California | |
| Win | 8-15-5 | Lou Bailey | UD | 10 | 09/09/1961 | Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon | |
| Win | 1-2 | Jerry Gaines | TKO | 2 | 11/07/1961 | Interstate Fairgrounds, Spokane, Washington | Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the second round. |
| Loss | 17-9-3 | Shirley Pembleton | PTS | 4 | 01/07/1961 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey | |
| Win | 23-7-1 | John Riggins | UD | 6 | 04/05/1961 | Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, Washington | |
| Win | 19-15-6 | Yancy D. Smith | KO | 3 | 10/04/1961 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California | |
| Win | 14-22-4 | Frankie Haynes | PTS | 10 | 21/03/1961 | San Jose, California | |
| Win | 27-12-2 | Harvey Taylor | PTS | 8 | 23/01/1961 | Seattle Civic Ice Arena, Seattle, Washington | |
| Win | -- | Theo Lolanzo | PTS | 6 | 07/09/1960 | Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington | |
| Win | 13-19-2 | Frankie Rowe | TKO | 3 | 03/05/1960 | Tacoma Armory, Tacoma, Washington | |