Boxing legend Leon Spinks passed away at 67-years-old on February 5, 2021, after a 5-year bout with cancer. Spinks died with his wife and a few other family members by his side. The St. Louis native was a boxing legend. His 26-17-3 fight record may be less than stellar, but there is no denying that Spinks was a true champion of the sport of boxing. His most famous accolade was his victory over Muhammed Ali in 1978. Spinks went the full fifteen rounds with Ali and took a split decision victory over the greatest of all time to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. He is the only boxer to take a title from Ali. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that this was only Spinks’ eighth professional boxing contest making this one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
Just two years before his historic upset of Ali, Spinks fought in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada. Spinks joined his brother, Michael Spinks, and fellow boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard in representing the United States in the boxing competition and took the gold medal in the light heavyweight division. Spinks fought at the amateur level 185 times, only losing seven of those bouts and recording 133 knockouts. In addition to winning Olympic gold, Spinks also medaled in the 1974 World Championships and the 1975 Pan American Games.
Following his death, fans and fighters alike, including Larry Holmes and Freddie Roach, took to Twitter to show their love for Leon Spinks and to remember his career. Larry Holmes, who fought Spinks in 1981, tweeted, “You gave me a hell of a fight, but you were a good guy. You lived your life the way you wanted, and it was a good one. I pray you Rest In Peace.” In 2017, Spinks was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Leon Spinks’ legacy will live on, and his incredible contribution to the sport of boxing will never be forgotten.
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