By TMZ

Boxing legend Leon Spinks is finally walking, talking and smiling again ... after a medical scare stemming from a chicken bone accident ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Spinks was hospitalized -- and was in pretty bad shape -- after swallowing a chicken bone ... which got lodged in his intestine.

We spoke with Leon's attorney Steve Pacitti who tells us the former champ is still in the hospital -- but he's making tremendous progress.

"He's healing. He's on the road to recovery," Pacitti tells TMZ Sports ... "I went to see him the other night and when I walked in he flashed a huge smile. He's in great spirits."

Pacitti says he's unsure when "Neon Leon" will be discharged from the hospital -- but says things are looking good. "He's up and walking ... he's talking."