RIP Leon Spinks, former heavyweight boxing champion

[True Dough]

BoxingScene.com has been advised that former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks Jr. lost his five-year battle with prostate and other cancers, at the age of 67 on Friday, Feb. 5 at 8:15 PM. At the time of his passing his wife Brenda Glur Spinks was by his side.

Due to COVID restrictions, only a few close friends and other family were present. Leon fought his battle with numerous illnesses resiliently, never losing his trademark smile.

Moments before his passing, Spinks mustered up the energy to exchange final words of affection with his son, former world champion Cory Spinks.

https://www.boxingscene.com/leon-spinks-67-years-old-passes-away-long-battle-with-cancer--155246

[dhill926]

1. man...remember when he upset Ali...

it seemed unbelievable at the time...

[JDC]

2. RIP. A truly great boxer.

[Tommymac]

3. Godspeed Leon

I'll never forget that fight. I was traveling and happened to be staying at a Holiday Inn in Salem, VA. They had a lounge, and I sat there sipping a beer and watching the bout with some other travelers.

It was stunning to watch. The excitement was almost as great as what I felt on Nov7, 2020.

[Mopar151]

4. Leon. was a WILD MAN in the day!

Never doubted his heart.

[H2O Man]

5. RIP Champ

Leon was also an Olympic champion on the USA's greatest team. Outside the ring in later years, he was one of the nicest people you could ever meet.

[True Dough]

6. I expected to see you here H2O Man

Figured you would have met Leon. I've read many complimentary things about him.

Damn cancer.

[H2O Man]

8. Leon was a tough man.

People ask why he got a title shot? Well, the undefeated Italian contender who was next in line for a shot at Ali made the mistake of thinking Leon would serve as a tune-up. Leon beat the shit out of him, and thus got the title fight.

Among others, I have photographs my brother took of Leon sparring Tommy Hearns, when the Hit Man was preparing for a tough fight.

He fought against the cancer for an extended time. I'm glad that he knew how much the boxing community loved him.

[DinahMoeHum]

7. I remember him and his brother Michael from 1976. . .

. . .when they won their boxing gold medals at the Olympics. . .

https://vault.si.com/vault/1976/08/09/oh-brothersthey-put-punch-into-it

The Spinkses are more than brothers; they are close friends. One is seldom without the other.

"Just like when we were kids," said Leon. "Our mother used to keep us in the house because we were always getting beat up. Guys would push us around, take our money. They called us 'messovers' because we were easy to mess over."

"We got tired of it," Mike said. "So we'd go out on the porch of our house and hit each other in the ribs. We'd go to the recreation center and watch other fighters and try it out on each other. When the kids heard how good Leon was doing they started leaving us alone."

Still, they fought each other. Almost hourly.

"Fought like madmen," said Mike, grinning at Leon. "Almost to kill. We were always mad about something. I thought I was the toughest in the house. I fought with everybody—my four brothers, my sister. I thought I was real good, so one day I boxed my sister and she busted my nose. Made me mad as hell."

"He never fought with Mother," Leon said. "She could whip him good."

"Still can."