Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is fighting for his life

What a shame to go through a lot of ups and downs then cancer takes him. It's a curse.

I was a long road for the champ and not one with clean living. I hope his final days are painless. Ironically I watched the first fight against Ali with a bunch of people that didn't know much about boxing. I found a fool to bet 20 dollars on the novice Spinks against Ali. Turned out to be a gigantic upset. I paid up right away. :grumpy:

No, I'm thinking health insurance. If you tell them you get punched in the head for a living, they'll be less inclined to cover you. Damn at least give them an HMO is what im saying.

No, I'm thinking health insurance. If you tell them you get punched in the head for a living, they'll be less inclined to cover you. If a Police Dept. Can insure their cops, a promoter can insure long term fighters.

Hope he pulls through, and wish the best for him and his family.

Im not talking about a life insurance policy, I am talking about health coverage. My assumption is you are thinking Canada while I am talking U.S. Anyways, Promoters should pay for Health Insurance for their fighters just like some U.S. Companies do for their employees or pay a good % of the monthly cost. For instance I have Kaiser, my employer (the Fed Govt) pays for like half and I pay the other, I pay something like $180 a paycheck for a fam of 6. So if a lower middle class guy like myself can pay that, I am sure a promoter can. No, I'm thinking health insurance. If you tell them you get punched in the head for a living, they'll be less inclined to cover you.

Other than some ****ed up Lloyds of London policy, how many insurance companies are going to insure a professional boxers brain? And to be honest, most of the guys lose their coin from their promoters. Promoter gets 30% I believe? Trainers get 10% also, but I think what really ****s fighters over is the tax man. Taxes are collected the next day, so imagine having your one big money fight at the end of your career, retiring with that big purse, then the next year when you're making $0 you have to pay tax on the previous years purse. A lot of guys don't think that far ahead. Edited my post because I saw this on the second page. You're entirely right about the managers/promoters and ****. Im not talking about a life insurance policy, I am talking about health coverage. My assumption is you are thinking Canada while I am talking U.S. Anyways, Promoters should pay for Health Insurance for their fighters just like some U.S. Companies do for their employees or pay a good % of the monthly cost. For instance I have Kaiser, my employer (the Fed Govt) pays for like half and I pay the other, I pay something like $180 a paycheck for a fam of 6. So if a lower middle class guy like myself can pay that, I am sure a promoter can.

Fight on, champ.

Some of these boxers need to start negotiating health insurance before signing a contract. My eyes would light up too if I seen a 3mil contract BUT that 3 can go quick if things turn bad with your health. Other than some ****ed up Lloyds of London policy, how many insurance companies are going to insure a professional boxers brain? And to be honest, most of the guys lose their coin from their promoters. Promoter gets 30% I believe? Trainers get 10% also, but I think what really ****s fighters over is the tax man. Taxes are collected the next day, so imagine having your one big money fight at the end of your career, retiring with that big purse, then the next year when you're making $0 you have to pay tax on the previous years purse. A lot of guys don't think that far ahead. Agreed, and for fact those boxers in those days get taken to the cleaners for their managers/promoters etc, because they are even less educated about the business side of things than the boxers of this era. And am sure that 3m would be like 1.5m once everything is said and done. This is why boxers need a good health care system for themselves, and they need to be allowed to take the biggest paydays of their careers, the guy in your AVI went to DAZN and fought his rival for a big payday, they didn’t hold him back for the other side of the street crap. We need boxers to have opportunities like those. Edited my post because I saw this on the second page. You're entirely right about the managers/promoters and ****.

Some of these boxers need to start negotiating health insurance before signing a contract. My eyes would light up too if I seen a 3mil contract BUT that 3 can go quick if things turn bad with your health. Agreed, and for fact those boxers in those days get taken to the cleaners for their managers/promoters etc, because they are even less educated about the business side of things than the boxers of this era. And am sure that 3m would be like 1.5m once everything is said and done. This is why boxers need a good health care system for themselves, and they need to be allowed to take the biggest paydays of their careers, the guy in your AVI went to DAZN and fought his rival for a big payday, they didn’t hold him back for the other side of the street crap. We need boxers to have opportunities like those.

Some of these boxers need to start negotiating health insurance before signing a contract. My eyes would light up too if I seen a 3mil contract BUT that 3 can go quick if things turn bad with your health. And with Don King in the mix during that time you know that '3 million' didn't go far.

Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is fighting for his life... Thanks for the article, man. Sorry to see Leon in such a state. I remember, as a kid, watching him and his brother Michael win Olympic gold. Leon’s moment in the sun may not have lasted very long, but it was intense. Although Ali was well past it when they fought, the upset was felt. I wish the champ the best.

it's spread? that sucks :sad:

That’s sad to read, this is why I want boxers to make as much money as possible and keep as much as possible, I mean he made 3m dollars in the Ali rematch, some don’t even make that nowadays 40 years later. These guys need to go with the biggest money fights on offer, a punch would always catch up with him, whether it’s now or late in your older age. And the fans would not be around, they would jump on another fighter, on another generation. Wish someone could have set up a fundraising thing for him. Some of these boxers need to start negotiating health insurance before signing a contract. My eyes would light up too if I seen a 3mil contract BUT that 3 can go quick if things turn bad with your health.

Get well soon Devil Dog.

Hope to pulls through. His career took a massive down turn very early. What happened?

That’s sad to read, this is why I want boxers to make as much money as possible and keep as much as possible, I mean he made 3m dollars in the Ali rematch, some don’t even make that nowadays 40 years later. These guys need to go with the biggest money fights on offer, a punch would always catch up with him, whether it’s now or late in your older age. And the fans would not be around, they would jump on another fighter, on another generation. Wish someone could have set up a fundraising thing for him.

Thanks man. Really sad article but figured it was only right to share while he's still alive. ... no need for thanks...

Green k sent... Thanks man. Really sad article but figured it was only right to share while he's still alive.

Oh man, hope he pulls through, 66 is too young. Can't believe they haven't found the cure for this illness yet that's been around so long.