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Leon Spinks boxer

Leon Spinks image
Status inactive
Division heavyweight
Height 6′ 1″/185cm
Reach 76″/193cm
Debut 1977-01-15
Born 1953-07-11
Nationality USA
Residence Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
bouts
46
won
26
lost
17
draw
3
bouts
46
won
26
lost
17
draw
3
Status inactive
Division heavyweight
Height 6′ 1″/185cm
Reach 76″/193cm
Debut 1977-01-15
Born 1953-07-11
Nationality USA
Residence Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Besides being heavyweight champion and his characteristic gap-toothed grin (due to losing two and later all four of his front teeth), Spinks gained notoriety for the disaster which befell his career following the loss to Ali. However, he did challenge once more for the WBC heavyweight title in 1981 (losing to Larry Holmes by TKO in the third round), and the WBA cruiserweight title in 1986 (losing to Dwight Muhammad Qawi by TKO in the sixth round).As an amateur, Spinks won numerous medals in the light heavyweight division. The first was bronze at the inaugural 1974 World Championships, followed by silver at the 1975 Pan American Games, and gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics; the latter alongside his brother Michael Spinks, who won middleweight gold. Leon served in the United States Marine Corps from 1973 to 1976.

Besides being heavyweight champion and his characteristic gap-toothed grin (due to losing two and later all four of his front teeth), Spinks gained notoriety for the disaster which befell his career following the loss to Ali. However, he did challenge once more for the WBC heavyweight title in 1981 (losing to Larry Holmes by TKO in the third round), and the WBA cruiserweight title in 1986 (losing to Dwight Muhammad Qawi by TKO in the sixth round).As an amateur, Spinks won numerous medals in the light heavyweight division. The first was bronze at the inaugural 1974 World Championships, followed by silver at the 1975 Pan American Games, and gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics; the latter alongside his brother Michael Spinks, who won middleweight gold. Leon served in the United States Marine Corps from 1973 to 1976.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Titles Result
Dec. 4, 1995 Fred Houpe WWLLWL A Little Bit of Texas, Saint Louis LOSS
Unanimous decision
June 19, 1995 Ray Kipping WDLL A Little Bit of Texas, Saint Louis WIN
Unanimous decision
Oct. 22, 1994 John Carlo Convention Center, Washington LOSS
KO
Oct. 1, 1994 Shane Sutcliffe WWWLWW Civic Arena, Nanaimo LOSS
Unanimous decision
June 22, 1994 Eddie Curry LLLLLL Raleigh WIN
DQ
Feb. 27, 1993 James Wilder LLDLWL River Center, Davenport LOSS
Unanimous decision
Dec. 11, 1992 Kevin Poindexter LLLLLL Union Hall, Countryside WIN
KO
Sept. 26, 1992 Kevin P Porter LLLLDL Civic Center, Lansing LOSS
Unanimous decision
July 24, 1992 Jack Jackson LLLLWL Union Hall, Countryside WIN
KO
June 17, 1992 Ken Bentley LLLWWL International Trade Center, Atlanta WIN
Split-decision
March 20, 1992 Rick Myers LLLWWW Clarion Hotel Ballroom, Saint Louis WIN
Unanimous decision
Feb. 28, 1992 Andre Crowder LLLLLL Union Hall, Countryside WIN
Split-decision
Nov. 15, 1991 Lupe Guerra LLWLDL Genesis Center, Gary WIN
KO
May 30, 1988 Tony Morrison WWWLWL Marriott Hotel, Trumbull LOSS
Technical knockout
March 18, 1988 Randall Cobb WWWDWW Municipal Auditorium, Nashville LOSS
Majority decision
Dec. 20, 1987 Ladislao Mijangos WLWWLW San Antonio LOSS
Split-decision
Oct. 20, 1987 Terry Mims LWLLLL Swingo´s, Cleveland LOSS
Split-decision
Aug. 29, 1987 Jim Ashard WWLWWD Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene DRAW
Points
May 22, 1987 Angelo Musone WWWWWW Jesi LOSS
KO
April 28, 1987 Jeff Jordan LWLWLL Aichi Prefectural Gym, Nagoya World Boxing Council Continental Americas Heavyweight

WIN
Split-decision
Jan. 17, 1987 Jose Ribalta WWWWLW Exhibition Center, Coconut Grove LOSS
Technical knockout
Aug. 2, 1986 Rocky Sekorski WLLLLW Detroit Port Authority, Detroit Lakes LOSS
Technical knockout
March 22, 1986 Dwight Muhammad Qawi WWWWWW Lawlor Events Center, Reno World Boxing Association World Cruiserweight

LOSS
Technical knockout
Dec. 13, 1985 Kip Kane WWWWDW Felt Forum, New York World Boxing Council Continental Americas Heavyweight

WIN
Technical knockout
June 29, 1985 Tommy Franco Thomas WWLWLW Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Santa Rosa World Boxing Council Continental Americas Heavyweight

WIN
Unanimous decision
May 9, 1985 Tom Fischer LWWWLL Cobo Arena, Detroit WIN
Unanimous decision
April 9, 1985 Rick Kellar LLLLWL Blaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu WIN
Technical knockout
Feb. 21, 1985 Lupe Guerra WWLLLL Cobo Arena, Detroit WIN
Technical knockout
March 6, 1983 Carlos De Leon WWWWLW Harrah's Marina Hotel Casino, Atlantic City LOSS
Corner retirement
Oct. 31, 1982 Jesse Burnett WLWLLW Great Gorge Resort, McAfee vacant NABF Cruiserweight

WIN
Unanimous decision
Feb. 24, 1982 Ivy Brown LWWWLL Playboy Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City WIN
Unanimous decision
June 12, 1981 Larry Holmes WWWWWW Joe Louis Arena, Detroit World Boxing Council World Heavyweight

LOSS
Technical knockout
Oct. 2, 1980 Bernardo Mercado WWWWWW Caesars Palace, Las Vegas Eliminator for WBC Heavyweight

WIN
Technical knockout
May 3, 1980 Kevin Isaac WLWWWD Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos WIN
Technical knockout
March 8, 1980 Eddie Lopez DWWWWW The Aladdin, Las Vegas DRAW
Split-decision
Jan. 12, 1980 Alfredo Evangelista WWWWWW Resorts International, Atlantic City WIN
KO
June 24, 1979 Gerrie Coetzee WWWWWW Chapiteau de l'Espace Fontvieille, Fontvieille LOSS
Technical knockout
Sept. 15, 1978 Muhammad Ali WWWWWL Superdome, New Orleans World Boxing Association World Heavyweight

LOSS
Unanimous decision
Feb. 15, 1978 Muhammad Ali WWWWWW Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas World Boxing Association World Heavyweight

World Boxing Council World Heavyweight

WIN
Split-decision
Nov. 18, 1977 Alfio Righetti WWWWWW Caesars Palace, Las Vegas WIN
Unanimous decision
Oct. 22, 1977 Scott LeDoux LWLWWL Aladdin Theater, Las Vegas DRAW
Split-decision
June 1, 1977 Bruce Scott LLLLWL Forum, Montreal WIN
KO
May 7, 1977 Pedro Agosto WLLWDL Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis WIN
KO
March 20, 1977 Jerry McIntyre WLL Exposition Center, Louisville WIN
KO
March 5, 1977 Peter Freeman WWLLLW The Stadium, Liverpool WIN
KO
Jan. 15, 1977 Bob Smith LWLDWL The Aladdin, Las Vegas WIN
Technical knockout