Former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks has passed away at the age of 67. Spinks succumbed to cancer in Las Vegas on Friday. He is best known for defeating the legendary Muhammed Ali for the world title in February 1978. He became WBC and WBA heavyweight champion in just his eighth fight. Ali regained the belt via fifteen round unanimous decision seven months later. An estimated 90 million TV viewers watched Ali-Spinks II in the USA, with 2 billion viewers tuning in worldwide. Overall Spinks’ pro record was 26-17-3 with 14 KOs. He won the Olympic gold medal in 1976.
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We have a few rules to make our comment section more enjoyable for everyone.
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Offending posts will be removed.
Repeat offenders will be put on moderation.
Why hasn’t there been a serious movie made on the Spinks brothers ???? An incredible story of achievement that connects the dots of Ali toTyson. Hollywood claims there is systemic racism which is correct. Truth is if the Spinks brothers were white Hollywood would have done a movie on these legends years ago. Hollywood and the dems are the real racists. RIP Leon.
You lost me when you mentioned politics. You’re a fool!
Zzzzz… you’re on the wrong website pal.
How dare you speak the truth about hollywood and the Dems? Seriously though, a movie should be made about their life. They literally fought their way out of a rough upbringing. Cancer is a horrible way to go. I hope that he is home now in peak shape, standing with the LORD.
There have been movies made about Ali and Tyson, which is understandable with all that went on outside of the ring with those two. I’ve heard nothing about the Spinks Brothers since their retirements, which is a good thing…..usually no new is good news when it comes to retired boxers. There was the occasional story of Leon’s struggles, but it seems that retirement for them has been uneventful, unless I’m missing something. If fighting their way out of a rough upbringing is Hollywood-worthy, then they need to make a movie about almost every successful boxer ever. These usually aren’t rich kids doing this.
1. Brothers win gold medals at 76. GAMES.
2. Leon dethrones Ali.
3. Michael undisputed 175 champ.
4. Michael dethroned Holmes 48-0
5. Michael fights Tyson
Hollywood does a movie about Micky Ward. LOL
Dude, news flash. Most of the country doesn’t give a shit about boxing. There has to be some compelling story outside the sport. Hollywood is interested in making money first and foremost. If the story would sell, they would make the movie. It’s pretty simple. Most people have no concept of who the Spinks family is, so it’s not that interesting of a story. Look at boxers who have had movies made about them. They are known outside of the sport and/or have extremely compelling stories outside of the sport.
True. Today’s people, even boxing fans today don’t know the spinks brothers. Rip to Leon but michael spinks was the far better fighter. If they want to call the mayweather the best cause he went undefeated then they should call Michael spinks the best light heavy weight of all time. He went undefeated n unified the the belts. I watched all his fights in the 80’s n he was never came close to losing. Dominated the division. His accomplishment are overlooked by boxing historians.
Michael was also the first reigning Light Heavyweight Champion to win the Heavyweight Championship (and Holmes was the linear Champion) in boxing history.
They also made a movie about Bob Satterfield, who never won, or even challenged, for a title. I have no problem with them making a Spinks Brothers movie, and yes, they are accomplished, but whether or not that makes fight a great movie is questionable.
The only thing worse than the post is the fact that 35 people liked it.
Hey, but there is a lot of black film producers and even more successful than the whites. Ask them to do that….Why do you want a white producer to do that?
LOL because he’s black that’s why. The same reason why Philadelphia has a status of a fake boxer (Rocky) meanwhile Joe Fraizer wouldn’t get one when he was alive.
RIP Champ
Rest In Peace Champ.
Reports are saying he was dealing with advanced prostate cancer.
tragic stuff. my brother has to be checked every 4 months after a gleason score of 9/10. after removal of course. at the end of the day we all have to die of something. it obviously metastasized somewhere else in his body. scary stuff. it could be lungs, brain, liver, wherever it chooses.
Leon is alright man ! Condolences to his family
Fond memories of time spent with father watching his fights. RIP champ.
RIP Champ! As for the political comments that’s just absolutely stupid. I mean who does that shit but a bonehead bird brain?!
It’s ridiculous. There is a certain type of person that feels so insecure they have to crowbar their asinine political opinions in at the most inappropriate times. Someone died, it’s not the time for them and their idiotic soap boxes. I guess the reality is, no one is listening to them, so they have to desperately try everywhere they can. I don’t know why they don’t just delete comments that are totally unrelated to boxing.
Yes, RIP Leon. Amazing that the last heavyweight champion to make in past 80 was Jersey Joe Walcott. Between Jess willard and Jack Sharkey, those men lived past 80, withe the last two making it past 90, Max Schemlling was 99 when he died. No others have.
Jack Dempsey made it to 87.
Spinks-Ali 2 was the first fight I got excited about and understood the whole promotional aspect of the the fight game: Ali was the good guy, and Spinks assumed the villanous role. I think that kinda marred the rest of his career. Nobody could take away the fact he was an Olympic gold medalist on arguably the best US Olympic team ever(1976) and was THEE heavyweight champion of the world. Rest easy champ!
Leon Spinks wasn’t the most accomplished, skilled, talented, polished, refined, or classy fighter, but he possessed courage, intensity, and a determination to impose his physicality on his opponent. Ali thought he was going to coast to an easy win over Leon in their first fight, but learned the hard way that Leon was no pushover. The win over Ali was likely Leon’s greatest moment in the sport.
The media shunned Leon because his appearance and demeanor was not acceptable like for instance that of Ray Leonard or Ali, but Leon accepted his role as former undisputed heavyweight champion, and at least in public appearances was gracious, well-mannered, good-natured, and respectful. Because of his win over Ali, Leon Spinks will always be in the conversation about heavyweight upsets and heavyweight champions. Tragic that he succumbed to cancer at such a young age. I’m sure he put up a helluva fight too.
Rest in peace, Champ! You are appreciated!
Rip Leon. Leon claim to fame was beating a non- motivated Ali. An aged Ali of course regained the title. I know this is not about his brother but had to say this. What pisses me off is his brother Michael who unified the light heavyweight title, is arguably the greatest light heavyweight of all time. He never came close to losing any fight in that’s division. Beat a prime Dwight Braxton. Ruined all time great heavyweight champion Larry Holmes race to beat Rocky Marciano 49-0 record, that still exists in the heavyweight division. And all the average fan/person remembers is the 91 second knockout loss to Tyson. Not right! Once again rip Leon
Unfortunately, novice boxing fans tend to remember the fights that had the most impact. Same thing will Virgil Hill. One hell of a career, but “fans” will remember him for the body shot he took from Roy.
Rip Leon, a real cool and gracious cat. Used to see him on Miami Beach back in the 80s when the world was sane….
Leon was more than just one of 5 men to defeat the great Ali. He was a former United States Marine and a Olympic Gold Medalist.
Former Olympic Gold Medalist
Former Heavyweight Champion on the World
I’d say he made his mark
RIP Leon
RIP to a good U.S. Marine.
I met Leon a few years ago while on holiday in Vegas. Although he was clearly having a few problems in his life, he was kind, friendly, warm and charming and happy to sit down and talk about his life. RIP Champ.
For those who never saw it, check out the first Spinks-Ali fight, or at the very least, the 15th round of that fight. Absolutely great round. Both guys showed tremendous heart and stamina. I’ve seen it several times before, but had to watch again tonight. Definitely the highlight of Leon’s boxing career, and probably of his life.
RIP to the legend. Condolences to Cory Calvin (Cory Spinks) and the entire family
R.I.P. Champ. You came from the bottom and went to the top. Not many and say that. Always gracious.
RIP CHAMP
My condolences to the Spinks and Calvin family for the loss to Leon and his son Darrell very recently as well.
Leon was one tough dude who fought so many good fighters, in the era when refs allowed guys to take too many punches. The guy was too tough for his own good and ended up scrambled. It’s sad and criminal that so many guys were allowed to take beatings the way they did. Cancer may have taken Leon, but the poor guy was seriously damaged from way too many beatings that people allowed to happen. Then people want to make out it was their decision, but don’t take into account that perhaps the fighters aren’t making rational decisions to keep fighting due to the fact that they’re clearly suffering from brain damage. Look up jerry Quarry: another perfect case of people not caring for a fighters health, and the poor fighter suffering the consequences.
RIP Leon Spinks. He and his brother Mike were my childhood heroes
Look at those viewer numbers. Mayweather could only dream of those numbers
RIP Neon Leon
RiP
May he rest in eternal peace. He seemed to be a nice guy.
Watch the third Ali Norton fight. Leon Spinks is a member of the Marine Color Guard,standing right next to Ali. They would fight for the world title a year and a half later.
I met Leon in Dec of 85 the night he fought Kip Kane. Matchmaker Don Elbaum introduced me to him. Leon was the kind of person upon meeting him you wanted to give a hub to. I consider the 1976 Olympic team of which he was a member the greatest in the history of the US. His brother Michael was also a gold medal winner like Leon on the team and both served in the US Marines. Leon’s son Cory was also a world champion.
For some reason in looking at FN’s fight schedule the ESPN+ show was cancelled Saturday. I tried getting the Philly show on fite.tv but they wouldn’t accept my debit card. That’s funny because every month someone unauthorized ends up on my bank statement.
Southpaw another compelling Hollywood boxing movie. LOL Those upset over a post which highlights Hollywoods and societies bias should ask themselves why they are upset. Don’t be mad.
Rip Leon, a great charachter.
We are posting for our love of boxing and people of achievement, no hidden agendas here
James 4:14
King James Version
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Sad. I enjoyed watching his entire career especially his olympic win.
RIP champ what a warrior he was..
Three things they can never take away from you champ:
1) You knew the Lord Jesus.
2)You were HW champion of the world
3)And you had that million dollar smile.
Rest in Paradise until the 1st resurrection.
He had guts though, look at his gold medal fight when the Cuban was going silly on him!!! God bless and RIP deserved better from society though!!!
Leon’s life Andy career were much the same: “Swift as a shadow, Short as any dream, brief as the lightning in a collied dream”..
Sad The guy had talent and did a lot but fast life of drugs and alcohol stole his career