Leon Spinks, R.I.P.

Leon Spinks, the man who shocked the world when he defeated Muhammad Ali to win the world heavyweight title in only his 8th professional fight, died yesterday after a half decade battle with prostate cancer. He was 67.

The St. Louis born Spinks had a distinguished amateur boxing career winning bronze at the 1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana, silver at the 1975 Pan Am Games in Mexico City and then gold at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Spinks would turn pro on January 15, 1977 defeating Bob Smith by TKO. 

Exactly one year and one month later on February 15, 1978, Spinks stood in the ring with Ali. Despite his amateur credentials and an undefeated professional record, few gave Spinks a chance against the aging Ali. Yet Spinks outfought Ali and would win the the title on a split decision. 

Unfortunately, Spinks' time at the top was short-lived. Exactly seven months later, Ali would regain the title back from Spinks whose career would never be the same. Spinks did have another chance at the world title in 1981 against Larry Holmes but would be on the wrong end of a third round TKO. By the middle of the decade, Spinks had reinvented himself as a cruiserweight and would get a shot at Dwight Muhammad Qawi's WBA Cruiserweight title in March 1986. However, Spinks would lose on a TKO in the sixth round.

Spinks would fight professionally until 1995 but was generally the subject of derision as was the case when he got knocked out in a 1994 match in the first round by a fighter making his professional debut. His professional career stood at 26-17-3. 

Spinks' younger brother Michael would avenge his loss to Holmes by beating him the World Heavyweight Title in 1985. His son Cory would enjoy a solid career in the ring as a welterweight and junior middleweight winning titles in both divisions. 

While Spinks might have seen more failure than success this can be said of most of us. Then again most of us cannot say they beat Muhammad Ali in the middle of the ring. Nobody can take that away from Leon Spinks. Not now, not ever. R.I.P.