NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Leon Spinks

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. While still an amateur, he also became a member of the United States Marine Corps. Spinks went from being heavyweight champion of the world to being homeless in little more than a decade. Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. ... Cruiserweight is a weight class in boxing where previously contestants weighed between 176 and 190 pounds. ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... July 11 is the 192nd day (193rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 173 days remaining. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo DomÃnguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also referred to as prizefighting, the noble art, the sweet science, and pugilism is a combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ...

Spinks had a stellar amateur boxing career. He won the gold medal in 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 Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana, Cuba, he captured the bronze medal. The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, were held in 1976 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (in unity, prosperity) Coordinates: , Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government - Mayor GÃ©rald Tremblay Area [1][2][3] - City 365. ... Michael Spinks, a native of St. ... The Mens 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Havana, Cuba from August 17 to 30. ... This article is about the Cuban city. ...

Along with Michael, Sugar Ray Leonard, Leo Randolph and Howard Davis Jr., Spinks was a member of what many consider to be the finest United States national boxing team. Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is a retired professional boxer. ... Leo Randolph (born February 27, 1958 in Tacoma, Washington) was an American boxer, who won the Flyweight Gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. ... Howard Davis Jr, born on February 14th 1956, was a world class amateur and professional boxer. ...

Professional career

He debuted professionally on January 15, 1977 in Las Vegas, beating Bob Smith by a knockout in five rounds. His next fight, his debut abroad, was in Liverpool, England where he beat 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. January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... A boxer is knocked down and receives the 10-count. ... This article is about the city in England. ... Alan Scott LeDoux, The Fighting Frenchman, (born January 7, 1949) is a retired professional heavyweight boxer. ...

Spinks then ranked number one among the world's heavyweight challengers. He made history in only his eighth fight, on February 15, 1978, when he beat an aged and out-of-shape Muhammad Ali in a 15-round decision in Las Vegas. Spinks became the fastest man ever to win the world heavyweight title when he became champion in only his eighth fight. Ali expected this to be an easy fight, but he was out-hustled by Spinks who never seemed to tire in the bout. is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... â€œCassius Clayâ€ redirects here. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ...

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. Mr. ...

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, was the last undisputed heavyweight champion until the emergence of Mike Tyson. WBC logo mark â€œWBCâ€ redirects here. ... This article is about the hall of fame boxer. ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... Michael Gerard Tyson, (born June 30, 1966) is a former American world heavyweight boxing champion. ...

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. Ali gave every ounce of himself in this fight and did 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. Spinks continued to come into fights out of shape and was never as effective as he was in the first Ali fight. New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Superdome redirects here. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ...

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. In 1980, Spinks beat former world title challenger Alfredo Evangelista by a knockout in five, boxed to a draw in ten with Eddie The Animal Lopez, and beat the WBC's number one ranked challenger Bernardo Mercado by a knockout in nine. The Mercado fight took place on the night that Ali challenged Larry Holmes to try to become the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title four times. Monte Carlo is a very wealthy section of the city-state of Monaco known for its casino, gambling, beaches, glamour, and sightings of famous people. ... Gerhardus Christian Coetzee (born August 4, 1955 in Boksburg), better known as Gerrie Coetzee, is a South African former boxer. ... Eddie the Animal Lopez is a former United States heavyweight boxing champion. ... Bernardo Mercado was a Heavyweighter boxer who was briefly ranked as the number one contender for the title of champion in 1980 by the WBC. Mercado was born in MonterÃa, Colombia on July 16, 1953. ... For the politician and activist, see Larry Holmes (Marxist). ...

After the win over Mercado, Spinks challenged for the world's heavyweight championship once again. In his only fight in 1981, he faced Holmes in Detroit on June 12. Spinks was knocked out in the third round. In 1982, Spinks decided to go down in weight and competed in the Cruiserweights. He beat fringe contender Ivy Brown by a decision in ten rounds, and former and future title challenger Jesse Burnett by decision in twelve rounds. Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815 County Wayne County Mayor... Jesse Burnett was a light heavyweight/cruiserweight boxer. ...

Spinks boxed on and off from 1981 to 1985, in both heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. When his brother Michael beat Holmes on September 21, 1985, the Spinks became the first pair of brothers to be world Heavyweight champions. Cruiserweight is a weight class in boxing where previously contestants weighed between 176 and 190 pounds. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ...

Spinks performed in several boxer vs. wrestler matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the 1980s, including losing by submission to Antonio Inoki. In 1986 Spinks lost to the WBA's world cruiserweight champion Dwight Muhammad Qawi by a knockout in six rounds, his second attempt at being a two-time world champion. New Japan Pro Wrestling (æ–°æ—¥æœ¬ãƒ—ãƒãƒ¬ã‚¹, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... Antonio Inoki (ã‚¢ãƒ³ãƒˆãƒ‹ã‚ªçŒªæœ¨), real name Kanji Inoki (çŒªæœ¨å¯›è‡³ Inoki Kanji, born February 20, 1943) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides in New York City. ... Dwight Muhammad Qawi (born January 5, 1953) is a former world boxing champion in the light-heavyweight and cruiserweight divisions. ...

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 1990s Spinks worked for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling where he held their heavyweight title. In the late 1990s, Spinks was picked up by Tri Star Sports Promotions to become a headliner on their year-round, touring autographs shows. Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, better known by its initials FMW, was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1989 by Atsushi ÅŒnita (often spelled Ohnita). ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ...

It is difficult to imagine that the former Heavyweight Champion could be found working the drive through at a fast food restaurant but it is true. As of 2005 Spinks lived in Columbus, Nebraska, worked at a local YMCA and Burger King, and volunteered at an after-school program for youth. He told a reporter his life is "comfortable", and that he keeps a low profile.^[1] Columbus is a city in Platte County, Nebraska, 90 miles (148 km) west by north of Omaha on the Loup River, a short distance above the confluence with the Platte. ... This article is about the association. ... Burger King (often abbreviated to BK) is a large international chain of fast food restaurants, predominantly selling burgers, french fries, soft drinks, desserts, and various sandwiches. ...

His son, Cory Spinks, held the undisputed welterweight title and is currently the International Boxing Federation Junior Middleweight champion. Cory Spinks (born February 20, 1978 in St. ... Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. ... The International Boxing Federation, or IBF, is one of many organizations which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC, WBO, and a dozen or so others. ...

Amateur career

Contents

Professional career

After boxing

Amateur career

See also

Reference

External links