Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks passes away aged 67

[pwaldo]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sp...y-aged-67.html

Former world heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks has passed away aged 67.

The American, who beat the legend Muhammad Ali, had been battling prostate cancer for the last five years.

Spinks's management, The Firm PR & Marketing, said in a statement Spinks died on Friday evening with his wife Brenda Glur Spinks by his side, and with 'only a few close friends and other family' allowed to be present due to Covid restrictions.

Spinks, nicknamed Neon Leon, competed professionally from 1977 to 1995 and shot himself into stardom after just his eighth bout against Ali.

He won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978 by split decision against 'The Greatest' in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

Before turning professional, Spinks served in the United States Marine Corps for three years from 1973 to 1976 before going on to win boxing gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

[camsue]

Rip

[bakemeister52]

RIP Neon! Watched that upset and was shocked like others that he beat Ali!

Bake