Leon Spinks?

How did he get a shot at Ali after only 7 professional bouts against some questionable opposition? What went on there? There must have been more credible/deserving opponents for Ali at the time.

His career after the loss to Ali in the second fight was woeful to say the least.

I'm not sure how he ended up with a shot at Ali so soon, i'm sure someone will know.

Beggars belief doesn't it. MD ?

Olympic Gold Medal winner Pete Rademacher tops the lot, though. He challenged Patterson for the heavyweight title in his pro debut.

Gold medal probably helped, and Ali probably expected a win.

It was probably having the Olympic Gold medal that got Spinks the fight with Ali, and also that it was Bob Arum who promoted the fight. Arum was good at protecting his star fighters even back then.

I've heard a rumour (don't quote me on it, y'know how stories get told) that thanks to one of Ali's numerous marriages they were actually distantly related at one stage. SUPPOSEDLY Ali wanted to go out as three time champ by rematching a guy he knew he could get the rematch off who he could beat.

It's amazing in retrospect hearing Howard Cossel at the end of the rematch saying how it's a great performence from Ali, but that Leon Spinks is clearly gonna set the world on fire...

Leon Spink's second opponent after turning profesional was Peter Freeman who I worked alongside as a sheetmetal worker in Bolton. Five fights later he's fighting for the world title,which he won.Ken Norton was promised a fight with the winner of that fight, but as we know he was sidelined and lost his chance of becoming world champion.

rapidringsroad wrote:Leon Spink's second opponent after turning profesional was Peter Freeman who I worked alongside as a sheetmetal worker in Bolton. Five fights later he's fighting for the world title,which he won.Ken Norton was promised a fight with the winner of that fight, but as we know he was sidelined and lost his chance of becoming world champion.

Interesting stuff Rapid, my mate worked with Stephen Wilson on sites for a while, he challenged Calzaghe for his British title in 1995.

a talented fighter leon. Clearly he hadn't deserved the shot though and as others have said, i guess the gold medal provided the excuse for it.

The nickname neon leon was obviously meant to reflect his headlining ability but for those with a sense of irony it also gives a clue as to why his career didn't go anywhere after ali.

When i think of him, i almost forget he was world champion, my over-riding memory of him was a shockingly one sided bruising he got from dwight qawi. As sickening a fight as i've seen.

Isn't Spinks a bin-man or a bus driver nowadays?

Bus driver yeah.

....he didn't look too closely at the paperwork when he thought he'd been offered a job as a coach. Speaking of transport, taxi for milky.

Union Cane wrote:Isn't Spinks a bin-man or a bus driver nowadays?

According to this, he works at a YMCA and McDonalds.

http://boxing.about.com/od/history/a/leonspinks.htm

Atila wrote:

Union Cane wrote:Isn't Spinks a bin-man or a bus driver nowadays?

According to this, he works at a YMCA and McDonalds.

http://boxing.about.com/od/history/a/leonspinks.htm

Dunno when that was written but a few months ago BM wrote an article on him and he was driving buses.

Can't remember the exact quote but in his autobiography Larry Holmes describes Spinks along the lines of "one of those champions you always knew would end up driving an old corvette with about five bucks in his pocket and a cornflake for a brain" ouch!

rowley wrote:Can't remember the exact quote but in his autobiography Larry Holmes describes Spinks along the lines of "one of those champions you always knew would end up driving an old corvette with about five bucks in his pocket and a cornflake for a brain" ouch!

Ouch! Thats harsh. No wonder Larry doesnt have many fans!

Much as I like him as a fighter he is so bitter. His book is worth a read, his opinions on King justify the price alone but the bitterness comes through in virtually every chapter. Thing is with Larry is he got out of the game with more money than he could hope to spend, has a lovely family and is safely in most people's list of top ten heavyweights. Where the bitterness comes from is beyond me. Lighten up Larry.

Larry is on a DVD of the 10 greatest heavyweights that I have, and he sits there and quite seriously suggests to Bert Sugar that he should be number one on the list due to his win over Ali. The man is a clown.

Have seen that it is on ESPN classic a lot Union. I think number 10 sells him a bit short but again it is a subjective list put together by a clown is it really worth getting wound up about.

rowley wrote:Have seen that it is on ESPN classic a lot Union. I think number 10 sells him a bit short but again it is a subjective list put together by a clown is it really worth getting wound up about.

Bert Sugar compiled it?

Union Cane wrote:Larry is on a DVD of the 10 greatest heavyweights that I have, and he sits there and quite seriously suggests to Bert Sugar that he should be number one on the list due to his win over Ali. The man is a clown.

Great fighter: Yes, Great person: Big fat No.

Scottrf wrote:

rowley wrote:Have seen that it is on ESPN classic a lot Union. I think number 10 sells him a bit short but again it is a subjective list put together by a clown is it really worth getting wound up about.

Bert Sugar compiled it?

He did indeed

Whats the deal with Bert Sugar - not so popular with you Jeff?

Just think he talks some nonsense, have actually met him and he is a pretty nice guy but some of what he comes out with is drivel. Remember the list you talk of he had Charles at nine. Charles is a truly terrific fighter but was a far better light heavy than heavy. To have him above Lewis or the afroementioned Holmes at heavy is just nonsense, and I say that as a commited fan of the old timers.

Its the cigar that annoys me most.

Union Cane wrote:Larry is on a DVD of the 10 greatest heavyweights that I have, and he sits there and quite seriously suggests to Bert Sugar that he should be number one on the list due to his win over Ali. The man is a clown.

And we ALL know which peak PRIME fighter destroyed Larry, making Tyson the ATG #1 GOAT FACT. End of.

md_fan wrote:How did he get a shot at Ali after only 7 professional bouts against some questionable opposition? What went on there? There must have been more credible/deserving opponents for Ali at the time.

His career after the loss to Ali in the second fight was woeful to say the least.

~ Why sir, how DARE you!

Mr. Leon was clearly the best heavyweight in the world at the time. He whooped the holy jinn out of Mr. Ali and then partied hardy all the way to the first bell of the rematch.

!!!!!....LEGEND....!!!!!

He does actually light them, that is where I met him he was having a cigar in the smoking area outside the MGM

rowley wrote:He does actually light them, that is where I met him he was having a cigar in the smoking area outside the MGM

What brand are they?

BALTIMORA wrote:

rowley wrote:He does actually light them, that is where I met him he was having a cigar in the smoking area outside the MGM

What brand are they?

Didn't ask, if it helps you any to get a better picture I was smoking Marlboro.

rowley wrote:

BALTIMORA wrote:

rowley wrote:He does actually light them, that is where I met him he was having a cigar in the smoking area outside the MGM

What brand are they?

Didn't ask, if it helps you any to get a better picture I was smoking Marlboro.

Were you wearing a hat..?

No

Even when I smoked I couldn't stand the smell of Marlboro, awful pongy things they are.

Find the smell mixes well with the Old Spice Union.

Mrs Rowley is a lucky, lucky woman.

Shouldn't you be in the pub by now?

Union Cane wrote:Mrs Rowley is a lucky, lucky woman.

Shouldn't you be in the pub by now?

Soon mate, very very soon

rowley wrote:No

Hmm...I think I've figured this mystery out.

Scottrf wrote:

Atila wrote:

Union Cane wrote:Isn't Spinks a bin-man or a bus driver nowadays?

According to this, he works at a YMCA and McDonalds.

http://boxing.about.com/od/history/a/leonspinks.htm

Dunno when that was written but a few months ago BM wrote an article on him and he was driving buses.

I think that is an old artrile that I posted so you may be right. If Leon is reading this and does still work at McDonalds, I'll have a large coke with my burger please. Thanks.