I'm just coming in from roadwork."'. A lovable heavyweight with a drinking problem, Spinks beat Ali by decision in a 15-round fight in 1978 to win the title. Michael Spinks, (born July 13, 1956, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.), American boxer who was both the light heavyweight (1981–85) and heavyweight (1985–88) world champion and an Olympic gold medalist (1976). He was unranked at the time, and picked as an opponent because Ali was looking for an easy fight. For his boxing endeavors, Michael was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994. The Spinks brothers each captured gold during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal – Leon at light heavyweight and Michael at middleweight. Michael, the younger brother, made history in 1985 with his split decision victory over heavily favored Larry Homes. He and Michael Spinks became the first brothers to win gold medals in the same sport at the same Olympics and, as professional champions, the first brothers in boxing … But that’s what happened to the Spinks brothers – Leon and Michael – who battled their way off the streets of the Pruitt-Igo housing projects into becoming legends of the boxing world. He later was part of a group of ex-fighters who had their brains studied by the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas. Still, Spinks had made $13.5 million guaranteed that night. He suddenly had an entourage as big as one that Ali had," Arum said. "Leon posed in a bathtub with a glass of champagne smoking a cigar. About Leon Spinks. Who have provinces pegged to receive COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks? Just four months before he met Ali, he could manage just a draw with journeyman Scott LeDoux and he wasn't on anyone's radar in the heavyweight title picture. Two years later in 1976 he clinched the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, alongside his brother Michael Spinks, who won the gold in middleweight. The Spinks brothers each captured gold during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal – Leon at light heavyweight and Michael … When his brother Michael Spinks upset Holmes for the IBF heavyweight championship in 1985, he and Leon became the first brothers to have held world heavyweight championships. After discovering boxing both brothers became top amateurs, culminating in the 1976 Olympics where Leon won the light heavyweight gold and Michael won the middleweight gold. physician, REPLAY: Special coverage of Prince Philip's funeral. Olympic Gold Medal winners Leon Spinks, front, and his brother Michael Spinks display their medals as they walk through an admiring crowd in downtown St. Louis, Aug. 4, 1976. We invite you to share condolences for Leon Spinks … Champion Brothers. Leon Spinks represented the United States as a light heavyweight boxer in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and won the Gold medal. Learning their trade at the nearby DeSoto Rec Center, the Spinks brothers fought their way onto the historic 1976 U.S. Olympic boxing team, which starred Sugar Ray Leonard and Howard Davis. Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. Leon, who some say was the more naturally gifted of the two, has been described as a free spirit in and outside of the ring. Arum was in the dressing room with Ali after the fight, and said Ali directed him to sign Spinks to a quick rematch. His wife, Brenda Glur Spinks, and a few close friends and other family members were by his side when he passed away. (Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS, AP). Sorry you must be at least 19 years of age to consume this content. A broader B.C. You couldn't help but love him even though you shook your head at how he acted.". Late last year Leon Spinks, who turned 67 on Saturday, was hospitalized in Las Vegas, while battling complications from bladder cancer. And before he moved up to heavyweight, Michael also was the undisputed light heavyweight champion as a pro. Ali took the rematch more seriously than he did the first fight, winning a decision though Spinks was competitive. He grew up in a tough environment. He got anything but that, with an unorthodox Spinks swarming over Ali throughout the fight on his way to a stunning win by split decision. Spinks was born July 11, 1953, in St. Louis, raised in poverty along with his brother Michael. He then fought Scott LeDoux to a draw and defeated Italian champion Alfio Righetti in a decision. Mr. Spinks… Spinks was born July 11, 1953, in St. Louis, raised in poverty along with his brother Michael. Leon Spinks was born on July 11th1953 in St. Louis Missouri. CHAMPION BROTHERS When his brother Michael Spinks upset Holmes for the IBF heavyweight championship in 1985, he and Leon became the first brothers to have held world heavyweight championships. He was 67. He had been battling prostate and other cancers. It wasn't that Ali wasn't at his best, but Leon shocked everybody with how good Leon was.". "Leon was nutty but you couldn't get angry at the guy. If you surmised the odds would be staggering, you’d be right on. Rip to Leon but michael spinks was the far better fighter. Holmes was making his 20th world title defense and trying to extend his 49-0 record. "I'm not The Greatest," Spinks said afterward. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 to 1988. One Punch from the Promised Land: Leon Spinks, Michael Spinks, And The Myth Of The Heavyweight Title: Florio, John, Shapiro, Ouisie: 9780762783007: Books - Amazon.ca Leon and Michael Spinks both won Olympic gold and the world heavyweight title. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter delving into climate science and life on a changing planet. Spinks debuted professionally on January 15, 1977 in Las Vegas, Nevada, beating Bob Smith by knockout in five rounds. His shocking victory over Muhammad Ali for the WBC and WBA heavyweight championship in 1978 in only his eighth pro fight, gave Leon sudden fame. Leon, whose career highlight was his victory over Ali, finished with an overall record of 26-17-3 with 14 knockouts. He was 67. Enter Spinks, who was such a big underdog most sports books didn't even take bets on the fight. Download the CTV News app now. He said `What do you mean? "He was happy go lucky, the salt of the earth," Arum said, chuckling at the memories. He and Michael Spinks became the first brothers to win Gold medals in the same sport at the same Olympics. After discovering boxing both brothers became top amateurs, culminating in the 1976 Olympics where Leon won the light heavyweight gold and Michael won the middleweight gold. His gap-toothed grin became world famous. Copyright 2012 - 2020 St Louis Sports Hall of Fame | All Rights Reserved | Designed by. Today’s people, even boxing fans today don’t know the spinks brothers. What are the odds that a set of brothers could win not only Olymplic gold medals, but would both go on to claim the World Heavyweight championship as well? He continued fighting on and off into the mid-1990s, finishing with a record of 26-17-3. "He was a good soul," said Gene Kilroy, who was Ali's business manager when he fought Spinks and became friends with the fighter. Among the notable people in Spinks' entourage was Lawrence Tureaud, who would later be known as the actor Mr. T and served as bodyguard for the champion. Obviously he had been out drinking and I said, `Leon, are you crazy, you're fighting in just a few days.' CTV National News for Saturday, April 17, 2021, CTV National News: Drywallers caught partying, 'This wasn't what was asked for': Ont. CHAMPION BROTHERS. Spinks, who lived his later years in Las Vegas, died Friday night, according to a release from a public relations firm. He and Michael Spinks became the first brothers to win Gold medals in the same sport at the same Olympics. "We were all staying at the same hotel in New Orleans for the rematch and one morning I was coming down to breakfast and Leon got in the elevator and collapsed on the floor. Both gained further fame after turning pro. Spinks continued fighting, often for embarrassingly small purses, until retiring following a unanimous decision loss to Fred House on Dec. 4, 1995. His next fight was in Liverpool, England, where he beat Peter Freeman by a first-round knockout. Leon Spinks, boxing's former heavyweight champion, dead at 67. Leon Spinks represented the United States as a light heavyweight boxer in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and won the Gold medal. He never meant any harm to anyone. He and his brother were born in July. He was 67. Instead, he sought an easy mark for a fight that was to be nationally televised on ABC, even knowing he would be stripped of one of his titles for taking another fight. The two met seven months later at the Superdome in New Orleans, with Ali taking the decision this time before a record indoor boxing crowd of 72,000 and a national television audience estimated at 90 million people. In 1974, Leon Spinks won a bronze medal at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana as a light heavyweight. Spinks won the light heavyweight division at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, beating Sixto Soria of Cuba in an upset to become one of five U.S. fighters to win gold. Spinks won the light heavyweight division at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, beating Sixto Soria of Cuba in an upset to become one of five U.S. fighters to win gold. Brothers Michael and Leon Spinks were Olympic champions in Montreal in 1976 on the same United States team as Ray Leonard.Leon Spinks captured the light heavyweight gold and Michael Spinks was the middleweight winner. Spinks was hardly spectacular after turning pro, winning six of his first seven fights. 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