Former heavyweight boxing world champion Leon Spinks dead at 67 after cancer battle
Former heavyweight boxing world champion Leon Spinks has died at age 67 after a cancer battle.
Spinks, who won Olympic gold at Montreal 1976 and beat Muhammad Ali for the world title in just his eighth pro fight, had battled prostate cancer and other forms of the illness.
Family and close friends were reportedly by his side as he passed, including his wife Brenda and his son Cory Spinks, himself a former world champion.
Leon Spinks in 1978. Walt Disney Television via Getty
'Neon' Leon shocked the world in February 1978 when he beat Ali by split decision to claim the WBC and WBA world heavyweight titles. Though Ali was in decline, it was an astonishing triumph for the rising star, who was outweighed by 25lbs (11.3kg) and still triumphed over 15 rounds.
It was a shock that he was even given the chance to fight Ali, legendary promoter Bob Arum said.
"In that fight everything clicked," Arum said, per AP. "He came in with a game plan and he beat Ali. It wasn't that Ali wasn't at his best, but Leon shocked everybody with how good Leon was."
Yet that was to be the high point. He lost a rematch with Ali seven months later by unanimous decision and never regained the title.
Leon Spinks trades blows with Muhammad Ali during his shock world title win in 1978. Walt Disney Television via Getty
He earned another crack at the belt in 1981, against Larry Holmes, but lost by TKO in round three. He also fought for the world cruiserweight title in 1986 but suffered a sixth round TKO defeat against Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
Spinks' career suffered prolonged downturns and he retired with a record of 26-17-3 (14 KOs). He dabbled in wrestling after his boxing career.
Spinks was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017, earning the honour alongside his brother, Michael, a two-division world champion.
Earlier in life, the St. Louis, Missouri product served in the US Marine Corps.
