Advertise / Partner With Us
boxen247@gmail.com
Europe's No.1 Boxing Website
  • Home (News & Results)
  • Articles
    • 5 Boxing Betting Strategies That You Should Know
    • Five quickest knock outs in boxing history
    • How to bet on boxing matches – A simple guide
    • How to choose an athlete when placing a bet: Boxing edition
    • NFL players who boxed
    • Who are the top five heavyweight boxers of all time?
  • Fight Articles
    • Bert Cooper vs. Joe Savage
    • Donovan Ruddock vs Dillon Carmen
    • Danny Williams vs Sergei Kharitonov
    • Emanuel Steward
    • Evander Holyfield vs. Bert Cooper
    • Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe 1
    • Joe Louis vs Tony Galento
    • Herol Graham vs Julian Jackson
    • Kronk Gym
    • Lennox Lewis vs Vitali Klitschko
    • Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton
    • Mike Tyson vs. James Tillis
    • Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes
    • Roy Jones Jr. vs Enzo Maccarinelli
  • Advertise / Partner With Us
  • Support Boxen247.com
7 February 2021

The WBC Mourns the Passing of Leon Spinks

Boxen247.com Uncategorized Leon Spinks 0

The WBC Mourns the Passing of Leon Spinks | Boxen247.com

Tremendous sadness and so many tears, with the news that Leon Spinks has died in Las Vegas aged 67, after a long, incredibly brave and uncomplaining five years battle against cancer, with Wife Brenda and his Son Cory, by his bedside.

Leon shocked the World by defeating the Greatest Muhammad Ali on February 15th 1978 in only his eighth professional fight. No other heavyweight in history achieved Sport`s greatest prize in fewer bouts. A unique feat! During that terrific battle, Leon was inspired, energized, unrelenting and utterly brilliant. It won him a deserved split decision. His gap toothed smile in victory prompted headlines and captured hearts. On September 15th of the same year, Ali won the rematch in the New Orleans Superdome by UD.

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman said: “Leon Spinks will always be remembered for defeating the GOAT in only his eighth pro fight, after winning Olympic Gold. But more so, for that magical smile, which he always shared with the World.

“Our hearts go out to Brenda, who dedicated her life to give Leon the very best care during so many difficult times. She is a heroine and such an admirable human being. May Leon rest in peace.”

When Leon`s beloved brother Michael won the heavyweight championship in 1985, from Larry Holmes, they became the first brothers to each win the heavyweight championship.

Even before their successful professional careers Leon and Michael were brilliant amateur boxers. In the 1976 Montreal Olympics Leon won the Gold Medal in the light heavyweight division and Michael won gold in the middleweight division. The Golden dynamic duo!

Leon`s professional career spanned 1977-1995. He fought forty six times, with twenty six victories including fourteen KO`s, seventeen losses and three draws. On the thirty ninth anniversary of his victory over Muhammad Ali, Leon was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. In August 2017 he and Michael were inducted together. So were Tommy Hearns and Ken Norton.

Leon was a tremendously popular guest at World Boxing Council Conventions where the dazzle of his smile and the warmth as well as kindness of his personality melted the hearts of fellow pro boxers and the fans alike, winning him hosts of friends.

His great pride was to see his son Cory win world titles at welter and super welter. His terrible sadness was the murder of his son Calvin in 1990. But the legacy continues. Calvin`s son and Leon`s grandson also named Leon, is a promising southpaw light heavyweight.

Leon`s extraordinary willpower and self belief in winning the Heavyweight Crown, shone through and was an ally to him and with him, in his tremendous, so brave five year fight against prostrate cancer. The WBC and the Jose Sulaiman Fund was with him and Brenda, in support. We NEVER forget our champions, as they are champions for life. Yet, some battles by their nature cannot be won. It`s the extraordinary valiantly way in which they are courageously fought, which makes them so humbling and tremendously admirable.

Leon will forever be remembered for that extraordinary and magical night when he turned the world upside down. Like so many others in the years to come, he became a great friend of The Greatest.

This is a grievous loss. The entire World Boxing Council Family and its President Mauricio Sulaiman send their deepest Condolences to the Spinks Family and their many friends. Leon`s life showed us all, that dreams can be fulfilled, and gloriously, if you truly believe in yourself and work, as you`ve never worked before.

Rest in Peace Dear Leon. We will never forget you…

Subscribe to our new YouTube Channel starting soon with the latest boxing news and results, gossip and information from around the world. Just click the image link below:

Boxen247.com Boxing News YouTube Channel

For the list of boxing events we will cover live with and with unofficial scorecard (main event), click the following link > Live Boxing Results & Events Events <

Support NobleBoxing.com

boxen247.com Facebook

Share This Boxing News:

  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • Reddit

Related

The WBA Mourns the Passing of Leon Spinks Britain Hart Upsets Paige VanZant & Bareknuckle Results From Florida

Related Posts

Uncategorized

Spectacular & Unforgettable Presentation of the Magnificent Mestizo Belt

Uncategorized

Liam Williams Had a Homecoming to Remember in Wales

Boxing News, Uncategorized

Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin 2 The Rematch This Saturday

You must log in to post a comment.

Recent Posts

  • Liam Smith stuns Chris Eubank Jr. – Full results from Manchester
  • Action packed undercard confirmed for undercard of Wood vs. Lara
  • Willy Hutchinson in the frame for title glory
  • Tito Mercado defends NABA Silver title against Hank Lundy Feb. 4
  • Don King adds Six fights to undercard of Guidry-Stiverne on Jan 21

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • August 2009
    • December 2008

    Categories

    • Amateur Boxing
    • Boxing News
    • Boxing Results
    • Boxing Stories
    • Femaie Boxing
    • Fight Weights
    • Historic Boxing
    • MMA
    • Stories
    • Uncategorized
    • Women's Boxing

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    Europe's No.1 Boxing Website
    © 2022 Boxen247 Media | Boxen247.com | boxen247@gmail.com | All Rights Reserved