CLEVELAND BANTAMWEIGHT CHUCK SPENCER
There was a time when Cleveland,Ohio was a thriving fight town. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s boxers from Cleveland,Akron and other surrounding cities came together to put on some great fight shows. Solid,legitimate fighters like Doyle Baird,John Griffin,Jeff Merritt,Billy Wagner,Bobby Haymon,Tap Harris and others brought the local fans to the venues. One such boxer from this era was Chuck Spencer. He was good enough to have once held the Noth American bantamweight title.
Spencer turned pro in 1968 and won three of five fights that year losing twice to Blas Vierra. In 1969 Spencer won four of five fights losing only to tough Mexican Arturo Leon Hernandez. Chuck closed the year with a big three round KO win over Willie Williams at the famed Cleveland Arena.
1970 was a big year for Spencer as he won the North American bantamweight title by halting Eddie Santos in four. He followed that up with knockouts over Billy Brown and his old nemisis Blas Vierra. He ended the year losing a razor close split decision to Richie Gonzalez. All four of these bouts took place at the Cleveland Arena.
Spencer was back at the Arena to start 1971 as he took out Dick Divola in five rounds. He next traveled to the Felt Forum at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden to meet David Vasquez.During his career Vasquez would meet four world champions. Enrique Pinder,Sean O’Grady,Lupe Pintor and Hall Of Fame’s Jeff Chander are on his record. Chuck would lose his North American title to Vasquez in the seventh round. From here Chuck’s career began to decline. He lost a decision to Jose Fernandez and then at the legendary Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles he dropped a ten rounder to two time world title challenger Tury “The Fury” Pineda.
Spencer would take a few years off and upon retuning in 1973,he lost a decision to unbeaten Pedro Guzman at the Arena. In 1974 he went to London to meet highly ranked Johnny Clark. Spencer would lose in the seventh round. In his next fight Chuck would lose to another ranked contender,Ronnie McGarvey. That would be Spencer’s last fight.
Spencer would finish with a decieving 11-10 record He was ranked among the top ten bantamweights in the United States by Ring magazine. He was a good boxer and a sharp hitter as ten of his eleven wins were by stoppage.
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