Leon Spinks (July 11, 1953 – February 5, 2021) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1995. In only his eighth professional fight, he won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978 after defeating Muhammad Ali in a split decision, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing history. Spinks was later stripped of the WBC title for facing Ali in an unapproved rematch seven months later, which he lost by a unanimous decision.
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 his 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, rising to the rank of corporal. He was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and was on the Marine Corps Boxing Team.
Spinks also had a brief career as a professional wrestler from 1986, 1990 to 1993. He mainly worked for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and holding the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship in 1992.
Citește mai mult...11 iulie 1953 era un sâmbătă sub semnul stelut al lui ♋. Era ziua 191 din an. Președintele Statelor Unite a fost Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Dacă te-ai născut în această zi, ai 72 ani. Ultima ta zi de naștere a avut loc acum vineri, 11 iulie 2025, 363 zile. Următoarea ta zi de naștere este pe sâmbătă, 11 iulie 2026, peste 1 zile. Ați trăit 26.661 zile sau aproximativ 639.868 ore sau aproximativ 38.392.121 minute sau aproximativ 2.303.527.260 secunde.
Date: 12 July 1953
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES
bomb blasts, Moline area strike; Govt may intervene; control of typesetting machines is main issue
Date: 12 July 1953
J. S
J.
Council safety campaign
Date: 12 July 1953
A Worthington (NY) pitches shutouts in 1st 2 starts, modern Natl League mark; snaps Dodgers homer streak at 24 games
Date: 11 July 1953
Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES
W K Hutchinson (INS) awarded Array ctf for news presentation
Date: 12 July 1953
By DIANA RICE
Diana RICE
2-yr visa available to Cubans for $2.50
Date: 11 July 1953
Repr Barden charges 'pampered' Washington newsmen make over-use of slanted Govt press releases
Date: 11 July 1953
By STACY V. JONESSpecial to THE NEW YORK TIMES
Stacy JONESSpecial
Instrument for massaging patented
Date: 12 July 1953
By SIDNEY LOHMAN
Sidney LOHMAN