The Three Controversial Fights of Big Scott LeDoux
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The Fighting Frenchman, heavyweight Alan ‘Big’ Scott LeDoux, fought between February 1974 and May 1983, compiling a professional record of 33-13-4 with 22 knockouts. In his first controversial bout, LeDoux is the only fight in ring history to have an official result changed ringside after a fight due to crowd noise, when his split decision win over George Johnson at the Civic Center in Saint Paul was changed to a ten round draw when the crowd erupted into a booing, shouting, disapproving mass of hysteria.
LeDoux fought some of the biggest names in his time, including: Roy Cookie Wallace (TKO by 2), Leon Spinks (Draw 10), Brian O’Melia (Win 10), Terry Daniels (TKO 6), Ron Stander (Win 10), Larry Middleton (Win 10), Duane Bobick (Lose 10), John Dino Denis (Lose 10), George Foreman (TKO by 3), Johnny Boudreaux (Lose 8), Pedro Soto (Win 10), Tom Prater (TKO 7), Ron Lyle (Lose 10), Ken Norton (Draw 10), Mike Weaver (Lose 12 for USBA Heavyweight title), Greg Page (TKO by 4), Gewrrie Coetzee (KO by 8), Gordie Racette (Lose 10), Marty Monroe (Win 10), and Frank Bruno (TKO by 3). In essence, LeDoux fought a who’s who of the heavyweight division.
LeDoux followed a split decision 10 loss to Ron Lyle, with a ten round draw to Ken Norton. LeDoux had his second ring controversy occur when it he appeared to score a tenth round knockout, with resulting with confusion as to whether the referee had stopped the bout. Referee Wally Holm made a mad mistake in not stopping the bout with a helpless Norton draped over the ring ropes in the closing minute of round ten, allowing Norton to reach a decision instead.
Scott LeDoux vs. Ken Norton Part III http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPD_JyQRVRc
In his third ring controversy, LeDoux fought the then 34-0 World Boxing Council Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, who stopped LeDoux in seven rounds at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, on July 7, 1980, in LeDoux’s only attempt to win the world heavyweight title. Down from a right hand in the sixth round, his left eye cut and swollen, the damage appeared to have been done by a thumb, not a punch, but Holmes was not disqualified back in the day. Holmes seemed to be beckoning referee Davey Pearl to stop the fight, which Pearl inexplicably did. But LeDoux was angry and not hurt, and was willing to go on, and the crowd booed the rotten stoppage.
Holmes versus LeDoux Part III YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBPD-nb63a8
A two time Upper-Midwest heavyweight Golden Gloves champion, and University of Minnesota-Duluth football player, and later Golden Gloves coach, LeDoux served Anoka County Commissioner, served as Minnesota Boxing Commissioner, served as executive director of the Minnesota Combative Sports Commission, and lead analyst ESPN Tuesday Night and ESPN Friday Night Fights commentator. LeDoux died on ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease after a three year fight at age 62 in August 2011 after a three year fight, the fight of his life.
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