https://www.boxingnews24.com/2021/02/le ... way-at-67/

By Mark Eisner: Former WBA heavyweight champion Leon Spinks passed away on Friday at age 67. The 1976 Olympic gold medalist Spinks died from cancer. Spinks was one of the stars for the United States Olympic team in 1975, and he turned pro with big expectations in 1977.

Spinks (26-17-3, 14 KOs) had been dealing with cancer for five years before succumbing to it. His wife reportedly was with him when he passed.

An all-action fighter with an exciting fighting style, Spinks defeated an out of shape boxing great Muhammad Ali by a 15 round split decision on February 15, 1978, at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I remember the Ali fight. One of the all time upsets I would think. Brother Michael was quite an athlete also.

The 1976 Olympics were amazing. I had never been a fan of boxing until then but I watched Leon and Michael Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard all three that summer and followed them during their careers. Leon Spinks was an underdog going into the gold medal round against the Cuban. I still remember the interview before the fight where they asked about strategy and he answered "I don't know much about him. I'm just going to go out there and hit him."

I hate to see that he has been fighting cancer. He wasn't the greatest fighter ever but he was entertaining!

Sixto Soria .

Stonewall wrote: ↑

Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:09 pm

Sixto Soria .

Yep. That is the Cuban from the gold medal fight.

The name is one of those that I remember.I also remember meeting Teofilo Stevenson at the 96 Olympics.He and Alberto Juantorena.Stevenson was perhaps the greatest Olympic boxer of all time.Juantorena won a few gold medals himself on the track.