Leon spinks was born in 1953, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
He had a formidable career as an amateur fighter. During that time he was also a stable member of the US Marine Corps.
As an amateur boxer, he won the gold medal in the light heavyweights during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, just like his brother Michael Spinks who also won a gold in those games.
Two years later, at the 1974 inauguration of the World Amateur Boeing Championships in Havana, Cuba managed to get a bronze medal.
Next to Leo randolph Y Sugar king leonard, belonged to the team that critics considered the best national boxing team of all time.
He made his professional debut on June 15, 1977 in Las Vegas, defeating Bob smith by knockaut in the fifth round. His next fight, his true debut, was in England where he beat Peter freeman also by knockaut in the first round.
A few fights later, he also beat his opponent in the first round. Pedro August from Puerto Rico, then knocked out Scout LeDoux Going in pursuit of the title against the Italian champion Bishop Riguetti, whom he also defeated by unanimous decision.
In this way, Spinks He was ranked number one as the world’s heavyweight fighter. He made history in just eight fights. In February 1978 he fought a Muhammad Ali out of state, winning by decision of the judges.
Spinks He became the boxer who won the world heavyweight title faster, he was also known as a great dandy of the American night while he was champion, always partying with many women, he even hired Mr.T to be his bodyguard during that period.
The title of the WBC was taken from him for refusing to fight Ken Norton, instead of that, Spinks decided to go for the title of the WBA fighting again against Ali, so Norton was named champion of the WBC.
His second fight against Ali it was quite different from the first, Spinks lost the title in front of Ali on September 15, 1978 unanimously after 15 long rounds. This time, it was Spinks who did not train enough.
Earning that title, Ali became the first three-time heavyweight title winner. Spinks He continued to fight, but each time in a worse state and never as effective as that first fight in front of Muhammad.
In his next fight, his only one in 1979, he fought against Gerrie coetze, being knocked out in the first round.
In 1980, Spinks fought against Alfredo Evangelista, winning in the fifth round.
He finally managed to beat Bernardo Mercado the number one of the WBC, the fight took place the night that Ali fought against Larry holmes, trying to win the title for the fourth time.
Having beaten Market, Spinks he fought for the world heavyweight title once again. His only fight in 1981 was against Holmes in Detroit on June 12.
He lost by knockaut in the third round.
In 1982 Spinks decides to lose weight and go after middleweights. He thus defeated Ivy brown by decision of the judges in the tenth round, and also to Jesse burnett.
From 1981 to 1985, Spinks he fought both heavyweight and medium.
When his brother Michael beat Holmes On September 21, 1985, the Spinks they became the first brothers to be world champions.
In 1986 Spinks lost to Dwight Muhammad Qawi by knockout in the sixth round, thus losing the title of the WBA.
Spinks he fought for eight more years with adverse results. In 1994 he lost by knockout against John carlo, who was making his professional debut.
At that time, he decided to retire, after fighting against Fred houpe in 1995.