FILE - This Nov. 23, 1979 file photo shows heavyweight boxer Scott LeDoux posing with the championship belt. His longtime friend and attorney Bob Dolan told The Associated Press Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, that LeDoux died Thursday at his Coon Rapids home after a nearly three-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 62. LeDoux was nicknamed the "Fighting Frenchman" and faced some of boxing greats during his 10-years professional career, stepping into the ring with Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Leon Spinks. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Darlene Pfister) ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT
FILE - This Nov. 23, 1979 file photo shows heavyweight boxer Scott LeDoux posing with the championship belt. His longtime friend and attorney Bob Dolan told The Associated Press Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, that LeDoux died Thursday at his Coon Rapids home after a nearly three-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 62. LeDoux was nicknamed the "Fighting Frenchman" and faced some of boxing greats during his 10-years professional career, stepping into the ring with Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Leon Spinks. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Darlene Pfister) ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT
FILE - This Jan. 23, 2009, file photo shows former world heavyweight boxing contender Scott LeDoux, during an interview in Coon Rapids, Minn. His longtime friend and attorney Bob Dolan told The Associated Press Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, that LeDoux died Thursday at his Coon Rapids home after a nearly three-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease. He was 62. LeDoux was nicknamed the "Fighting Frenchman" and faced some of boxing greats during his 10-years professional career, stepping into the ring with Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Leon Spinks. (AP Photo/ Richard Sennott, Star Tribune)
COON RAPIDS, Minn. (AP) ? Scott LeDoux, a former heavyweight contender who took on Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Ken Norton and twice fought for the title, has died. He was 62.
He died Thursday at his home in the Minneapolis suburb of Coon Rapids after a nearly three-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, longtime friend and attorney Bob Dolan told The Associated Press on Friday.
Nicknamed "The Fighting Frenchman," LeDoux was the son of a miner in the northern Minnesota town of Crosby who went on to fight professionally from 1974 to 1983. He had a record of 33-13-4 record, with 22 knockouts.
He earned a draw with Norton and Leon Spinks and lost a title fight to Holmes by technical knockout in 1980 at the Met Center, the arena that was once home to the Minnesota North Stars. He fought Muhammad Ali in a five-round exhibition.
LeDoux developed a reputation as a fun-loving fighter, who once accidentally knocked off Howard Cosell's toupee while the sportscaster won doing a ringside interview with Johnny Boudreaux after a bout LeDoux believed he should have won.
He entered the political arena after leaving boxing. He was an Anoka County commissioner until resigning a year ago because of declining health. His wife was elected to fill his seat.
"He was a big man with a gentle spirit," said Anoka County board of commissioners chair Rhonda Sivarajah. "I can only imagine the sadness at losing someone so special after such a valiant battle."
LeDoux was a two-time Upper Midwest Golden Gloves champion and played college football at Minnesota Duluth.
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