Leon Spinks is a likeable guy.
When you speak to him, he does not remind you of the ferocious boxer who won a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and later battered heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali for 15 rounds on Feb. 15, 1978 to shockingly win that title on a split decision. Regardless of the one judge’s tally, the fight was not close.
He still has the big smile the world saw that night as he held up the heavyweight belt. He also still has the big heart that made him a champion.
Both will be on display the night of Feb. 5 when his son, Cory Spinks, takes on Zab Judah at the Savvis Center in a rematch that puts the younger Spinks’ undisputed welterweight titles on the line.
“I think he is much improved,” Leon Spinks told the American this week. “He has become a more advanced fighter with the help of (trainer) Kevin Cunningham.”
In fact, Spinks said he thinks Cory will have an easier time in the rematch than in his first fight against Judah, in which he was knocked down and woozy when the 12th round bell ended the battle.
“He’ll do better this time than he did the first time,” Spinks said, acknowledging that the hometown crowd, which might reach the 20,000 capacity for the event, should help inspire the young champion.
“(Cory) will learn from the mistakes he made the first time.”
Make no mistake about it: Leon Spinks is one of the greatest stories in the history of boxing.
Raised in St. Louis, Leon and brother Michael began boxing at an early age and soon showed the skills that would make them amateur champions.
Spinks won three national AAU titles (1974-76) before taking on the world’s best amateurs at the Olympics.
He beat up Cuban Sixto Soria for three rounds to win the gold medal and match the gold that brother Michael had won earlier the same day.
After just seven professional fights, Spinks was granted a title shot by Muhammad Ali on Feb. 15, 1978 in Las Vegas.
Fifteen rounds later, a St. Louisan was the heavyweight champion of the world, and the sports world was stunned.
Because of many black Americans’ love for Ali, Spinks was not proclaimed a hero. He was the punch line of many jokes, until comedian Richard Pryor came to his defense on one of his albums.
Spinks could have ducked Ali, but granted the former champion a rematch on Sept. 15, 1978 in a jam-packed New Orleans Superdome.
Ali dodged, darted and punched his way to a unanimous-decision victory.
“The Olympics. That for me was the biggest thrill,” Spinks said.
Spinks said he knew how to defeat Ali that night in 1978.
“I had to be more focused, had to cut the ring off. I took the fight to him,” Spinks said.
Spinks said Ali talked throughout the fight.
“He tried to scare me. It didn’t bother me none.”
Spinks continued fighting through the mid 1990s, including bouts in Maryland Heights and St. Louis in 1995.
Spinks also ran into financial troubles and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1986.
Family friend and former promoter Sam Moore said, contrary to many stories, “Leon Spinks did not smoke, drink, inhale or party his money away.”
Moore said that Spinks entrusted his finances “to some people that lost it for him. It was business, not drugs or drinking.”
Spinks now frequents autograph-signing shows and attends boxing matches for personal appearance fees.
On Wednesday, there were 37 items related to Leon Spinks up for auction on eBay, including several signed photos of the first Ali fight.
As for the Feb. 5 bout, Spinks said, “Oh yeah, I’ll definitely be there. Michael and I gave Cory some tips when he was young, but we just watch him now.”
And, he added, “I love the good people of St. Louis.”