Leon Spinks biography
Leon Spinks, (born July 11, 1953, St. Louis, Mo., U.S.), American boxer who gained an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and was the world heavyweight champion in 1978. He and Michael Spinks turned the primary brothers to win gold medals in the identical sport on the identical Olympics and, as skilled champions, the primary brothers in boxing historical past to win world titles.
Spinks, a lightweight heavyweight, had a profitable novice boxing profession. Although he misplaced within the finals of the 1976 Pan American Games, he beat Sixto Soria of Cuba for the sunshine heavyweight title on the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. In 1977 Spinks (6 toes 1 inch [1.85 metres] tall) started to struggle professionally, shifting as much as the heavyweight division. After seven bouts he challenged Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title in February 1978 in Las Vegas and upset the champion in a break up determination. In New Orleans seven months later, nevertheless, Ali gained a rematch. In 1981 Spinks challenged Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title and misplaced in three rounds. He fought only one extra title struggle in his profession; after dropping 10 kilos to field on the newly fashioned cruiserweight degree, he misplaced in six rounds to Dwight Qawi in 1986. Spinks retired from skilled boxing in 1995, having gained 26 of his 46 bouts, 14 of which have been by knockouts.