Leon Spinks
Leon Spinks (July 11, 1953 – February 5, 2021) was an American boxer famous for one of the sport’s biggest upsets. In his eighth professional fight, he defeated Muhammad Ali in 1978 to win the heavyweight title in Las Vegas. He was the first boxer to beat Ali in a title bout and the only one to take Ali’s title in a ring fight. Spinks was later stripped of the WBC belt for choosing to fight Ali again in an unapproved rematch, which he then lost by decision.
Spinks challenged for the heavyweight title again in 1981, losing to Larry Holmes by TKO in the third round. He later moved to cruiserweight and fought for the WBA cruiserweight title in 1986, losing to Dwight Muhammad Qawi by TKO in the sixth round. He also had a brief wrestling career in Japan in the 1990s, including winning the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship in 1992.
As an amateur, Spinks won medals in the light heavyweight division: bronze at the 1974 World Championships, silver at the 1975 Pan American Games, and gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics alongside his brother Michael Spinks, who won middleweight gold. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1973 to 1976.
Leon Spinks came from a boxing family. His brother Michael Spinks was a world champion, his son Cory Spinks became a world champion, and his other son, Leon Calvin, died in 1990. His grandson, Leon Spinks III, has pursued boxing.
In his later years, Spinks faced health issues. Doctors diagnosed brain shrinkage in 2012, likely from punches he took during his career, and he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2019. He died in Henderson, Nevada, on February 5, 2021, at age 67.
Spinks fought in 46 professional bouts, finishing with a record of 26 wins (14 by knockout), 17 losses, and 3 draws. He was known for his 6-foot-1 frame, 76-inch reach, orthodox stance, and his distinctive gap-toothed grin.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:53 (CET).