Leon Spinks (1953-2021) American Boxer
Leon Spinks (1953-2021) American Boxer
Leon Spinks
Birth 11 Jul 1953
St. Louis City, Missouri, USA
Death 5 Feb 2021 (aged 67)
Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA
Burial Details Unknown
Professional Boxer, Olympic Gold Medalist
He was the former World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council Heavyweight Champion (1978). Spinks will be remembered for a 15-round split decision upset win over Muhammad Ali on February 15, 1978. Raised in a multiple sibling family by his single mother, he dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and joined the United States Marine Corps.
He got his start in the sport with the All-Marine boxing team and racked up an impressive amateur career during a three-year period including his defeating of future Heavyweight Champion Michael Dokes for the first AAU Championship in 1974. He would capture a bronze medal at the World Championships in Havana, Cuba (1974) and two-years later (1976), he won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Summer Games in Montreal when he defeated the Moroccan fighter Abdel Latif Fatihi.
He began fighting as a professional in 1977 and one year later, he earned a place in boxing history with his win over Ali. The fight earned both Ring Magazine Upset of the Year and Fight of the Year respectively. He also earned the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Spinks was stripped of his WBC Title when he refused to fight Ken Norton, instead he opted for a rematch against Ali in September 1978. The result would be a 15-round unanimous decision loss to Ali.
In 1981, he lost a chance to reclaim the WBC belt against Larry Holmes and during that contest, he suffered a 3rd round technical knockout. In 1982, he defeated Jesse Burnett for the vacant NABF Cruiserweight Title and in 1985, he was victorious over Kip Kane for the World Boxing Council Continental Americas Heavyweight Title.
Spinks last notable fight was a loss to Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the WBA Cruiserweight Title in 1986. He fought lesser known opponents until his retirement in 1995. He compiled a 26 win (14 knockout), 17 loss, and 3 draw record. After his boxing career, he went on to win a world title for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling.
His younger brother Michael Spinks was also world heavyweight boxing champion and his son Corey Spinks was a welterweight and junior middleweight boxing champion. Spinks died following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Leon Spinks (1953-2021) American Boxer
Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh (1921-2021)
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