Leon Spinks

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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.

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.

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.

1 Professional career
2 After boxing
3 Amateur career
4 See also
5 Reference
6 External links

[edit] Professional career

Leon Spinks Professional career

[edit] 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.

As of 2005 Spinks lived in Columbus, Nebraska, worked at a local YMCA and McDonalds, and volunteered at an after-school program for youth. He told a reporter his life is "comfortable", and that he keeps a low profile.<ref>Steve Sipple, "Ex-champ Leon Spinks cleans up in Columbus," Lincoln Journal Star, April 4, 2005.</ref>

His son, Cory Spinks, held the undisputed welterweight title and is currently the International Boxing Federation Junior Middleweight champion.