Leon Spinks

Leon Spinks
File:Spinks Leon.jpg
Born	Leon Spinks July 11, 1953 St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Nationality	United States
Other names	Neon Leon
Statistics
Weight(s)	Heavyweight Cruiserweight
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	46
Wins	26
Wins by KO	14
Losses	17
Draws	3
No contests	0

Leon Spinks (born July 11, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri) is a former boxer. He had an overall record of 26 wins, 17 losses and 3 draws as a professional, with 14 knockout wins. Spinks went from being Heavyweight champion of the world to being homeless in little more than a decade.

Spinks, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, had a stellar amateur boxing career. He won the Olympic gold medal at the Light Heavyweight division during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, alongside brother Michael Spinks, who also won a gold medal in those games. Two years earlier, at the inaugural 1974 World Championships in Havana, Cuba, he captured the bronze medal.

Spinks was, alongside Michael, Sugar Ray Leonard, Leo Randolph and Howard Davis Jr. a member of what many consider the United States greatest national boxing team ever. While he was still an amateur, he also became a member of the United States Marine Corps.

Professional Career

He debuted professionally on January 15 of 1977 in Las Vegas, beating Bob Smith by a knockout in five rounds. His next fight marked his debut abroad, as he went to Liverpool, England, beating Peter Freeman by a knockout in the first round. A couple of fights later, he saw a slight improvement in opposition quality, when he fought Pedro Agosto of Puerto Rico and knocked him out in the first. He then drew with Scott LeDoux and beat Italian champion Alfio Riguetti by a decision.

Spinks then ranked number one among the world's Heavyweight challengers, made history on February 15 of 1978, by beating an aged and out of shape Muhammad Ali in a 15-round decision in Las Vegas to become the fastest man ever to win the world's Heavyweight crown when he became champion in only his eighth fight. Ali, who had not been the same since his last fight with Joe Frazier, expected this to be an easy fight. But, with his skills tarnished from years of fighting, and with his lack of training before the fight, he was out hustled by Spinks who never seemed to tire in the bout.

Spinks was known to be a party animal during his period as world Heavyweight champion, always enjoying the night life and in the company of multiple women. He even hired a young Mr. T to be one of his bodyguards during that time.

Spinks was stripped of his world title by the WBC for refusing to defend his title against their #1 ranked contender (Ken Norton). Spinks instead agreed to fight a return bout against Ali for the WBA crown. The WBC subsequently named Norton its champion, marking the first time a boxer had been awarded the heavyweight title without winning it in the ring. Spinks, hence, would be the last undisputed Heavyweight Champion until the emergence of Mike Tyson.

The second Ali fight was different from the first; Spinks lost the title to Ali in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on September 15, 1978 by a unanimous 15 round decision. This time it was Spinks who did not train hard enough, and Ali, despite his skills declining even further, gave every ounce of himself in this fight, doing everything he could to out-smart and out-box the much younger Spinks. By regaining the title, Ali became the first three time Heavyweight Champion, though these two fights probably caused Ali's health to decline even further. Spinks would continue to come into fights out of shape, and would never again be as effective as he was in the first Ali fight, and is thus regarded by some as the worst Heavyweight Champion of all time.

In his next fight, his only bout of 1979, he went to Monte Carlo, where he was knocked out in the first round by future world Heavyweight champion Gerrie Coetzee.

He had a good rebound year in 1980, however, beating former world title challenger Alfredo Evangelista by a knockout in five, drawing in ten with Eddie The Animal Lopez and beating the WBC's number one ranked challenger Bernardo Mercado by a knockout in nine, on the night that Ali challenged Larry Holmes to try to become the first boxer to win the world Heavyweight title four times.

After that win, Spinks found himself challenging for the world's Heavyweight championship once again. In what was the only time he stepped into a ring in 1981, he faced Holmes in Detroit on June 12, getting knocked out in the third round.

In 1982, Spinks decided to go down in weight and compete in the Cruiserweights. He beat fringe contender Ivy Brown by a decision in ten, and former and future title challenger Jesse Burnett by decision in twelve.

His comeback was, once again, stopped on its track in 1983 by the twice former and twice future world Cruiserweight champion Carlos De Leon, who knocked him out in six rounds in that year's only bout for Spinks. He took 1984 off, but then came back in 1985, winning five bouts and placing himself in line for another world title try. He beat, among others, Franco Thomas that year.

That year also, he made history once again, this time around without having to lace a glove to do it: When his brother Michael beat Holmes on September 21, the Spinks became the first pair of brothers to be world Heavyweight champions.

In 1986, Spinks had another chance to become world champion, but he lost to the WBA's world cruiserweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi by a knockout in six in his second attempt at being a two time world champ. Then, he was defeated in six by knockout by Rocky Sekorski.

Spinks boxed for eight more years, with mixed results. In 1994 he lost a bout by KO to John Carlo, noteworthy for being the first time a former heavyweight champion had ever lost to a boxer making his pro debut. He retired after losing by decision in eight to Fred Houpe in 1995, and he was homeless for a period of time.

After Boxing

During the late 1990s, however, he was picked up by Tri Star Sports Promotions to become a headliner on their year-round, touring autographs shows. His life is basically now spent on the road, living at Marriott hotels, because Marriott is a sponsor of Tri-Star's shows. Despite the fact he is making a living out of signing his name, he still remains a willing free autograph signer. Spinks attended Larry Holmes' last heavyweight fight promoted by Daryl DeCroix Promotions - the fight was the brainchild of Frank Azzalina.

As of 2005 Spinks lived in Columbus, Nebraska, working at a local YMCA, working at Mcdonalds, and volunteering at an after-school program for youth. He told a reporter his life is "comfortable", and that he keeps a low profile.

January 2007, Leon is still working and living in the Columbus, Nebraska area, with girlfriend Brenda.

His son, Cory Spinks, held the undisputed Welterweight title and is currently the International Boxing Federation Junior Middleweight champion.

Amateur Career

• 1974, 1975, and 1976 National AAU Light Heavyweight champion

Trivia

Spinks performed in several boxer vs. wrestler matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1980's, including losing by submission to Antonio Inoki. During the 1990's he worked for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling where he held their heavyweight title, the Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship.

See also

• List of heavyweight boxing champions
• List of male boxers
• List of WBC world champions
• Notable boxing families

External links

• Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks 1 Boxing Review
• Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks 2 Boxing Review
• "Riches to rags". The Boston Globe. December 21, 2005. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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