Leon Spinks: Boxer Remembered for Winning Against Muhammad Ali, Dies
Leon Spinks was an undisputed heavyweight boxer in 1978. He beat Muhammad Ali in the 1978 Championship.
Leon Spinks took his last breath at the age of 67. Here is us remembering his contribution to Boxing.
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Leon Spinks lost his prolonged battle of cancer
The former boxing champion Spinks had been suffering from prostate cancer. He has other cancers too. Brenda Glur Spinks, the wife of Leon Spinks, was by his side when he died. The PR Firm agency who worked for the boxer confirmed his death news to ESPN and CNN after initial agitation to comment to PEOPLE.
Leon Spinks’s wife talked to USA TODAY in January 2020 about her husband’s health. She said that Leon was in hospital one month ago as cancer had spread to the bladder. She said that the battle was going to be a long journey. They need to work hard to keep the determinations up for Leon Spinks to fight the cancer battle.
Spinks won a gold medal for the USA in 1976
Leon Spinks won the United States National Amateur boxing championship “AAU light heavyweight championships” in 1974. He won a gold medal for the USA in the light heavyweight category in the Summer Olympics, Montreal, 1976.
Spinks began his professional career in 1977. He won against many favorites of the boxing ring like Liverpool’s Peter Freeman, Italy’s Alfio Righetti, Pedro Agosto of Puerto Rico, and Bob Smith from Las Vegas.
Spinks faced Muhammed Ali just after entering a professional career
There was hardly any time for Leon Spinks before he went out and took on Muhammed Ali. They met at the boxing ring when Spinks only faced eight fights in his professional career. The greatest upset in the history of Boxing happened when Leon beat Ali on February 15, 1978.
Muhammad Ali said that Leon had the strong determination and stamina to win the fight. Spinks had hit quite hard as Ali commented to The New York Times about the fight.
Leon lost the WBC title after a rematch with Ali
Spinks lost his WBC title on September 15, 1978. He went for a rematch with Ali instead he was to defend then top favorite Ken Norton. Ali took the win this time at the Superdome, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Spinks participated in the heavyweight championship at Michigan, at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. This was only the second and last time he went for the heavyweight title. He lost to Larry Holmes then on June 12, 1981.
Hall of fame in Boxing Leon Spinks
The former boxing champion took retirement from Professional in December 1995. He scored a record of 14 knockouts and 26-17-3 in his career. Moreover, he got Hall of Fame, Nevada Morin Boxing in 2017.
Spinks lost his son Leon Calvin who was just 19. He was shot to death. Leon Spinks has his wife Brenda.