Fraud: The US Boxing Championships Series
The 1977 United States Boxing Championships (USBC) Series, also famously known as the Ring Magazine Scandal, was a highly controversial tournament in the world of professional boxing. Organized by the well-known American promoter Don King, the series featured fights broadcast on the ABC television network. However, the tournament faced serious accusations of fraudulent practices, leading to its abrupt cancellation. The scandal came to light through the efforts of New York boxing writer Malcolm “Flash” Gordon and sportscaster Alex Wallau, who uncovered evidence of manipulated fighter records and rankings.
A Plot Unfolds
The Ring magazine, a major publication in the boxing community, played a critical role in the scandal. One of its assistant editors manipulated fighter ratings, artificially boosting certain boxers’ standings, making them appear more competitive to the viewing public. This practice drew significant attention as it called into question the integrity of both the magazine and the tournament.
The Key Figures Behind the Discovery
Malcolm “Flash” Gordon, a writer based in Sunnyside, New York, published a boxing newsletter titled Tonight’s Boxing Program and Weekly Newsletter from the 1960s until the mid-1980s. He was known for selling his publications outside Madison Square Garden before fights and would be instrumental in unravelling the lies involved here. Meanwhile, the United States was still riding high on the patriotic spirit following its 1976 Bicentennial celebrations, and the success of American boxers at the 1976 Olympics further fueled this mood. Don King, a promoter from Cleveland, saw an opportunity to capitalize on this wave of patriotism and the achievements of Olympic gold medalists like Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon and Michael Spinks, Howard Davis, and Leo Randolph, by launching the USBC Series.
Inside the Tournament
The tournament featured various fighters, including Minnesota heavyweight contender Scott LeDoux. On February 13, 1977, LeDoux faced Johnny Boudreaux at the Halsey Field House in Annapolis, Maryland, in a fight that became infamous for its aftermath. Despite knocking Boudreaux down in the third round, LeDoux lost by unanimous decision after eight rounds. A chaotic scene unfolded after the verdict was announced, with LeDoux attacking Boudreaux on camera, causing ABC broadcaster Howard Cosell’s hairpiece to fall off on live television. LeDoux later alleged that the outcome had been pre-determined, claiming that fighters managed by King and his associates were slated to win. Malcolm Gordon later commented: “Everybody in the business knew that the fights were being fixed. The results were often predetermined, and it was an open secret.”
“The decision was a joke. I beat him in every way.”
– Scott LeDoux
The controversy surrounding this bout prompted a grand jury investigation. On March 6, 1977, the USBC Series moved to the Marion County Institution in Marion, Ohio, where additional bouts took place, including a non-tournament fight featuring Puerto Rican star Wilfred Benitez. Despite the growing concerns, legendary heavyweight champion Joe Louis attended, while former contender Pete Rademacher refereed one of the bouts.

The Investigation Unfolds
The scandal caught the attention of the FBI, which launched an investigation into the allegations of misconduct. Additionally, boxer Kenny Weldon claimed he was required to pay $2,300 from his earnings to secure a spot in the competition.
Fictitious Bouts and Inflated Rankings
Gordon and Wallau each pursued their own investigations into the series. Gordon observed that previously unremarkable boxers affiliated with King’s managers began rising in the Ring magazine rankings. Wallau, who was concerned about the quality of the fights being shown on ABC, also noticed inconsistencies. Their separate investigations revealed that The Ring magazine had been falsifying records since 1976. Assistant editor Johnny Ort had been inflating the rankings of certain fighters and reporting fictitious bouts that never actually occurred. These fabricated records allowed underqualified boxers to gain entry into the tournament, making them more appealing for televised matches on ABC.
Cancellation of the USBC Series
On April 14, 1977, ABC, which had invested $1.5 million for broadcast rights, announced it was suspending all future coverage of the USBC Series, just one day before a scheduled semi-final bout in Miami, Florida. This decision followed revelations from Gordon and Wallau’s investigation, which were presented to Roone Arledge, a senior executive at ABC. The evidence of fraudulent activities led to the cancellation of the entire tournament, and New York State Boxing Commissioner James A. Farley Jr., who had supported the championship series, eventually resigned as a result of the scandal.
The Aftermath and Lasting Impact
The Ring Magazine Scandal left a lasting mark on the world of boxing. Malcolm “Flash” Gordon continued to publish his newsletter until the mid-1980s, after which he largely withdrew from public life. He is believed to have passed away around 2017. Meanwhile, Alex Wallau’s career flourished. He went on to become a two-time Emmy Award-winning producer at ABC, later serving as the network’s boxing analyst after Howard Cosell’s retirement in 1986. Wallau eventually rose to the role of president of ABC in 2000, and later joined Disney’s Corporate Strategy team before retiring in 2020.
Wallau’s contributions to the sport were recognized by the Boxing Writers Association of America, and he became a prominent figure in both sports broadcasting and corporate leadership, serving on the boards of ESPN and the Ad Council. A cancer survivor, Wallau has also been honored for his humanitarian efforts. Looking back at the tournament, he commented: “It was a situation where fighters and fans were left feeling cheated, and that was the biggest loss of all.”
Despite the fallout from the USBC scandal, Don King continued to play a significant role in boxing promotion well into his 90s. In fact, he even seemed defiant about the whole event: “The USBC was an opportunity for American heavyweights. It gave them a chance.”
ABC’s association with televised boxing continued for years, but the 1977 USBC Series remains a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of professional sports to manipulation and the importance of transparency in maintaining their integrity. The scandal stands as a pivotal moment in boxing history, highlighting the complex interplay between promotion, media, and the sport’s reputation.