Leon Spinks

Leon Spinks has been married thrice. His first marriage was to Nova Spinks which did not last long. He tied the knot for the second time with Betty in 1988 but this marriage too was not a happy one.

He met Brenda while still married to Betty. The two became friends which later culminated in a romantic relationship. He divorced his second wife in 2004 and married Brenda after a few years in 2011.

He had three sons, including one who was shot to death in 1990. Another son, Cory, held the undisputed welterweight title and was the International Boxing Federation Junior Middleweight champion in 2006–2008.

Leon Spinks was born on July 11, 1953, at St. Louis, Missouri, United States. He was a very weak baby, weighing less than four pounds at birth. He became severely ill with jaundice at two weeks but miraculously survived.

His childhood was a very difficult one. His father abandoned the family leaving his wife and their seven children to fend for themselves. The family lived in poverty in a crime infested area while his mother struggled to raise the children. Leon suffered from low blood pressure and periodic fainting spells as a young boy which made him an easy target of bullying by the tougher boys.

He was not academically inclined and studied only up to the 10th grade before dropping out of school. He then joined the Marine Corps but faced considerable problems in adjusting to the disciplined life according to military code. He often fought with his drill sergeants.

Even though his initial weeks in the Marine Corps were full of struggles, he eventually settled into the disciplined life and joined the All-Marine boxing team. Boxing suited the lanky young man well, and he blossomed into a very capable amateur boxer.

In 1974, Leon Spinks won a bronze medal at the inaugural World Amateur Boxing Championships in Havana as a light heavyweight. Two years later in 1976 he clinched the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, alongside his brother Michael Spinks, who won the gold in middleweight.

During this period he also served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1973 to 1976. By 1976, he had gained the reputation of being one of the best amateur boxers in the world by registering 133 knockouts over a three-year period.

He turned professional in 1977, making his debut on January 15 in Las Vegas where he knocked out Bob Smith after five rounds. Following this victory he beat Peter Freeman in a first round knockout in England.

He met Pedro Agosto of Puerto Rico in his next match who he knocked out in the first round. He proceeded to defeat Italian champion Alfio Righetti after drawing a match with Scott LeDoux.

He won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

Leon Spinks won the world heavyweight title on February 15, 1978, by beating Muhammad Ali, the reigning world champion in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.