Jump to content

Scott LeDoux

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scott LeDoux
Born
Alan Scott LeDoux

(1949-01-07)January 7, 1949
DiedAugust 11, 2011(2011-08-11) (aged 62)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesThe Fighting Frenchman
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 1+12 in (1.87 m)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins33
Wins by KO22
Losses13
Draws4
No contests0

Alan Scott LeDoux (January 7, 1949 – August 11, 2011) was a politician, professional heavyweight boxer, professional wrestler, and referee.

Career

[edit]

Boxing

[edit]

LeDoux began his professional boxing career in 1974. His first boxing match was a knockout victory over Arthur Pullens. LeDoux's final bout in 1983 was a technical knockout loss to Frank Bruno. LeDoux retired from the ring with a record of 33-13-4 (including 22 knockouts). LeDoux's opponents included Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Gerrie Coetzee, Leon Spinks, Greg Page, Frank Bruno, George Foreman, Mike Weaver, and Larry Holmes.

In his match with Leon Spinks, LeDoux earned a 'draw', just months before Spinks defeated Ali. He also knocked off broadcaster Howard Cosell's toupee in a scuffle that followed a losing effort with Johnny Boudreaux. LeDoux insisted the fight was fixed by Don King and he told Cosell to "Tell it like it is" mimicking Cosell's famous catch phrase. A pushing match ensued and in the process, Cosell's headset along with his toupee was dislodged by an errant LeDoux shove in front of live ABC cameras. Cosell quickly retrieved his hairpiece from the floor and replaced it on top of his head.

On April 22, 1976, LeDoux lost to fellow Minnesotan Duane Bobick before a crowd of 13,789 at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, MN, which is still a Minnesota record.[1] The high point of LeDoux's career were arguably draws scored against Leon Spinks and an aging Ken Norton. Norton won the first eight rounds of the fight, but tired. Although Norton was knocked out in round ten, there was confusion as to whether the ref had signaled the fight over so the match was declared a draw.

LeDoux took part in a five round exhibition match with Muhammad Ali and was a sparring partner to both Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis. LeDoux later worked as a ringside commentator for ESPN and in 1986 as a referee for the American Wrestling Association.

In 2010, LeDoux was elected a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame.[2]

Politics

[edit]

LeDoux was elected to the Anoka County, Minnesota Board of County Commissioners[3] and re-elected in 2008, defeating challenger Becky Fink.[4] In 2006, the Minnesota Legislature authorized the creation of a state Boxing Commission, the Minnesota Board of Boxing having gone out of existence in 2001 with the retirement of longtime Boxing Commissioner and Executive Secretary Jimmy O'Hara (LeDoux and O'Hara had served together on the Minnesota Board of Boxing for 18 years). LeDoux was appointed boxing commissioner by the state Governor Tim Pawlenty. In August 2006 LeDoux was also named Executive Director of the Minnesota Combative Sports Commission.

Controversy

[edit]
  • In 2007, the Chief Executive of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Melanie Benjamin, objected to LeDoux's public criticism of her band and their boxing matches at the Grand Casino Hinckley Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota.[5]
  • In November 2007, LeDoux was accused by boxing promoter John Hoffman of "insulting and assaulting" him at a boxing event in Maplewood, Minnesota.[6] LeDoux claims that Hoffman was intoxicated and fabricated the story.[6]
  • In December 2008 a state investigation revealed that LeDoux, in his capacity as head of the Combative Sports Commission, accepted free tickets to an MMA event, some of which had a face value of $600. This was determined to be a violation of state ethics rules.[7]
  • In January 2009, commission member Chad Ridler resigned in protest "of the inaction of the commission in providing oversight of Scott LeDoux...He's unaccountable".[8]

Personal life

[edit]

LeDoux was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or "Lou Gehrig's Disease" in August 2008. A 2010 study questioned the diagnosis in athletes who had experienced head trauma or repeated concussions.[citation needed] Instead, the study suggests that some may have a variant of dementia pugilistica, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy or boxer's syndrome.[9][10] LeDoux was a member of the national board of directors of the Wishes and More.[11] He was also honorary chair of the American Cancer Society. LeDoux founded a golf tournament called the Scott LeDoux Long Haul Classic.

LeDoux died of complication of ALS on August 11, 2011.[12]

Professional boxing record

[edit]
33 Wins (22 knockouts, 11 decisions), 13 Losses (7 knockouts, 5 decisions), 4 Draws[13]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 33–13–4 United Kingdom Frank Bruno TKO 3 03/05/1983 United Kingdom Wembley Arena, Wembley, London
Win 33–12–4 United States Ken Arlt UD 10 07/04/1983 United States Marriott Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Win 32–12–4 United States Larry Ware TKO 7 28/02/1983 Canada Edmonton, Alberta
Win 31–12–4 Steve Ward KO 8 13/11/1982 United States Gillette, Minnesota
Win 30–12–4 Marlo Malino KO 5 27/10/1982 United States Schollander Pavilion, West Fargo, North Dakota
Loss 29–12–4 Canada Gordon Racette SD 10 23/09/1982 Canada PNE Agrodome, Vancouver, British Columbia
Loss 29–11–4 South Africa Gerrie Coetzee KO 8 27/03/1982 South Africa Rand Stadium, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Win 29–10–4 Steve Sanchez KO 8 25/02/1982 United States Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Loss 28–10–4 United States Greg Page TKO 4 12/11/1981 The Bahamas Thomas Robinson Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas IBF USBA Heavyweight Title.
Win 28–9–4 United States Arnold Sam PTS 10 30/07/1981 United States Gillette, Minnesota
Win 27–9–4 United States Reggie Fleming KO 2 24/04/1981 United States Billings, Montana
Loss 26–9–4 United States Larry Holmes TKO 7 07/07/1980 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota For WBC heavyweight title
Win 26–8–4 United States Marty Monroe UD 10 09/03/1980 United States Saint Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Loss 25–8–4 United States Mike Weaver UD 12 24/11/1979 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota For IBF USBA Heavyweight Title
Draw 25–7–4 United States Ken Norton PTS 10 19/08/1979 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Loss 25–7–3 United States Ron Lyle SD 10 12/05/1979 United States Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 25–6–3 United States James J. Beattie TKO 3 20/02/1979 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Win 24–6–3 United States Joe Donatto KO 3 15/12/1978 United States Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
Win 23–6–3 United States James Brown KO 2 10/11/1978 United States Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 22–6–3 United States Sylvester Wilder KO 2 03/10/1978 Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba
Draw 21–6–3 United States Bill Sharkey PTS 10 26/09/1978 United States Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida
Draw 21–6–2 United States Leon Spinks PTS 10 22/10/1977 United States Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss 21–6–1 United States Duane Bobick TKO 8 28/07/1977 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota For Minnesota Heavyweight Title
Win 21–5–1 United States Tom Prater TKO 7 23/06/1977 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Win 20–5–1 United States Pedro Soto SD 10 02/03/1977 United States Madison Square Garden, New York City
Loss 19–5–1 United States Johnny Boudreaux UD 8 13/02/1977 United States Halsey Field House, Annapolis, Maryland
Win 19–4–1 United States Rocky Bentley KO 2 30/11/1976 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota
Loss 18–4–1 United States George Foreman TKO 3 14/08/1976 United States Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York
Loss 18–3–1 United States John Dino Denis UD 10 26/06/1976 United States Providence, Rhode Island
Loss 18–2–1 United States Duane Bobick UD 10 22/04/1976 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota For Minnesota Heavyweight Title
Win 18–1–1 United States Larry Middleton PTS 10 09/03/1976 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 17–1–1 United States Bill Carson KO 9 07/02/1976 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 16–1–1 United States Ron Stander UD 10 10/12/1975 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Win 15–1–1 United States Brian O'Melia UD 10 23/09/1975 United States Saint Paul, Minnesota
Draw 14–1–1 United States George Johnson PTS 10 14/08/1975 United States Saint Paul Civic Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota Decision for LeDoux overturned due to crowd response.
Win 14–1 United States Terry Daniels TKO 6 08/07/1975 United States Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Win 13–1 United States Rodney Bobick UD 10 23/04/1975 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Loss 12–1 United States Roy Wallace TKO 2 14/03/1975 United States University of Minnesota Armory, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Win 12–0 Canada Larry Renaud TKO 6 29/01/1975 United States Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, Minnesota
Win 11–0 United States CJ Bar Brown PTS 6 18/01/1975 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Win 10–0 United States John L Johnson KO 5 22/11/1974 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 9–0 United States Lou Rogan PTS 10 08/11/1974 United States Crosby, Minnesota
Win 8–0 United States Ron Draper KO 10 08/10/1974 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 7–0 United States Tom Berry KO 4 13/08/1974 United States Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 6–0 United States Joe Batton KO 6 31/07/1974 United States Met Center, Bloomington, Minnesota
Win 5–0 United States Larry Penniger KO 5 23/05/1974 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 4–0 United States Reggie Fleming KO 3 15/05/1974 United States Saint Paul Auditorium, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Win 3–0 Steve Patterson PTS 6 23/04/1974 United States Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 2–0 United States Floyd Cox TKO 3 14/03/1974 United States Minneapolis Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win 1–0 United States Arthur Pullins KO 3 04/02/1974 United States Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Exhibition boxing record

[edit]
1 fight 0 wins 0 losses
Non-scored 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 0–0 (1) United States Muhammad Ali 5 Dec 2, 1977 United States Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Non-scored bout

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/8624
  2. ^ "The Minnesota Boxing Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Class of 2010". Minnesotaboxing.com. July 5, 2010. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  3. ^ "Former prize fighter Scott LeDoux upends incumbent Anoka County Commissioner Dave McCauley"[permanent dead link]. Former prize fighter Scott LeDoux upends incumbent Anoka County Commissioner Dave McCauley. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  4. ^ "County board incumbents re-elected". County board incumbents re-elected. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  5. ^ Levy, Paul (October 16, 2007). "Scott LeDoux: Still fighting". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  6. ^ a b Demko, Paul (March 19, 2008). "Beer as combat sport: Boxing commissioner Scott LeDoux unleashes "Miller Lite Technique"". City Pages. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  7. ^ Pugmire, Tim (December 19, 2008). "Investigation: head of Combatitive Sports Commission violated ethics". Minnesota Public Radio News. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  8. ^ Von Sternberg, Bob (January 16, 2009). "Boxing panel member resigns over dispute". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
  9. ^ Former Boxer LeDoux Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's. NY Times, January 27, 2009
  10. ^ "Scott LeDoux fighting his toughest foe: Lou Gehrig's disease". Scott LeDoux fighting his toughest foe: Lou Gehrig's disease. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  11. ^ "AboutUs/Directors". Wishesandmore.org. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  12. ^ Hevesi, Dennis (August 12, 2011). "Scott LeDoux, Gritty Heavyweight Boxing Contender, Dies at 62". The New York Times.
  13. ^ https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/8624
[edit]