Leon Spinks

[JAB5239]

How far could Leon Spinks have gone if not for partying? Let's say he drops to 190 in 1979 when the Cruiserweight division is introduced and wins the inaugural title. How far can he go and how many defenses can he make before running into Qawi and Holyfield? Drugs an alcohol do a number on the body. If he had his brother's dedication and willpower I'm of the mind he would have been a force at Cruiserweight. That's a big what if though. Thought?

[billeau2]

One assumption people make, and I am guilty of this as well, is when a fighter comes from a bad area, it is beneficial to them... It toughens them up, it teaches them to deal with violence responsively, reflexively, etc. But if we really think about it... It also, does not necessarily encourage refinement.

I give to you example A... A man who had great instincts, who was almost as tough as his big sister (his words) and managed to knock a few heads together while fighting... The incomparable Iran Barkley. Barkley was a machine... And by sheer force of will he managed to beat guys who were a lot better fighters. Like Musashi, defeating much better swordsmen, by sheer force of will and purpose, Barkley could manage to fight the best of his era... But how much better would he have been as a boxer if, for example, he came out of a family of prize fighters? If he was a Fury, or even, if he grew up in a Puerto Rican household, where grandpa took the kids to the gym and taught them prize fighting... along with self defense? Or even if he had been a member of the Spinks household?

St Louis remains a tough spot. Most fighting revolved around survival, making it home with the same amount of fingers and toes one went to school with. Somehow this family rose above this and produced men who were excellent prize fighters. Leon was no exception to this. He had the skills, the savy, and knew how to win with it. Alas, our fate is like water, it will find a way into every hole of our being and lay our weakness' out for us to deal with. I like to think Leon won in that he made it known he had skills, won some big fights, and I do not care what the judges thought here... People KNOW who won any particular fight if they would watch it...

For every 10 guys who make a run, maybe 3 are exceptional, and out of those, maybe less than one (statistically speaking) manage a career that works for them... Dealing with the Don Kings/Arums, temptations, health, fate, etc...

Leone left us a clue... we can see that he was special, had real talent.

[Willow The Wisp]

The gap toothed grin, the Saturday Night Live sketches, the tireless party animal. Seems like for about a year or two there, Neon Leon was lampooned everywhere you looked.

I had a chance get get to know him a bit. He didn't mind being made sport of. He was very famous and for a while, quite wealthy too. He did something that nobody from the Pruitt-Egoe neighborhood ever did. He made it big time, for a while, at least.

In all the fun, one thing that people forget is that Leon Spinks was A GREAT amateur fighter at the very peak of that sport, when the vast majority of fighters who were active, were amateurs. He had an astounding record of 178-7-0 (133 KOs).

He beat Cuban world champion Sixto Soria and Anatoliy Klimanov, champion of the Soviet Union, and so many others whose names might not have an impact here, but trust and believe; Leon was seriously special.

If he had Michael's more stoic disposition, I'm sure he'd be remembered as more than a one hit wonder.
Oh, but what a one hit! As much a part of the 70s as smile buttons, Watergate and Disco dancing.

[billeau2]

The gap toothed grin, the Saturday Night Live sketches, the tireless party animal. Seems like for about a year or two there, Neon Leon was lampooned everywhere you looked.

I had a chance get get to know him a bit. He didn't mind being made sport of. He was very famous and for a while, quite wealthy too. He did something that nobody from the Pruitt-Egoe neighborhood ever did. He made it big time, for a while, at least.

In all the fun, one thing that people forget is that Leon Spinks was A GREAT amateur fighter at the very peak of that sport, when the vast majority of fighters who were active, were amateurs. He had an astounding record of 178-7-0 (133 KOs).

He beat Cuban world champion Sixto Soria and Anatoliy Klimanov, champion of the Soviet Union, and so many others whose names might not have an impact here, but trust and believe; Leon was seriously special.

If he had Michael's more stoic disposition, I'm sure he'd be remembered as more than a one hit wonder.
Oh, but what a one hit! As much a part of the 70s as smile buttons, Watergate and Disco dancing.

The Spinks Brothers always seemed to project a vibe of being good natured. Such a talented family... It bogles the mind.

[QueensburyRules]

The gap toothed grin, the Saturday Night Live sketches, the tireless party animal. Seems like for about a year or two there, Neon Leon was lampooned everywhere you looked.

I had a chance get get to know him a bit. He didn't mind being made sport of. He was very famous and for a while, quite wealthy too. He did something that nobody from the Pruitt-Egoe neighborhood ever did. He made it big time, for a while, at least.

In all the fun, one thing that people forget is that Leon Spinks was A GREAT amateur fighter at the very peak of that sport, when the vast majority of fighters who were active, were amateurs. He had an astounding record of 178-7-0 (133 KOs).

He beat Cuban world champion Sixto Soria and Anatoliy Klimanov, champion of the Soviet Union, and so many others whose names might not have an impact here, but trust and believe; Leon was seriously special.

If he had Michael's more stoic disposition, I'm sure he'd be remembered as more than a one hit wonder.
Oh, but what a one hit! As much a part of the 70s as smile buttons, Watergate and Disco dancing.

- - Whooping that Ali then was like whooping your sister.

Shame he was part of the DKing robbery scheme…

[Willie Pep 229]

- - Whooping that Ali then was like whooping your sister.

Shame he was part of the DKing robbery scheme…

No robbery. It was not staged, just serendipitous.

Ali got to be great one more time. Neon got a big payay he otherwise never gets. Fight fans enjoyed themselves (especially the first fight.)

It wasn't a robbery, nor is Don King that smart.

Sometimes it just works out right. Don't let those great moments get lost in the darkness which always hangs over the fight game.

[Biledriver]

How far could Leon Spinks have gone if not for partying? Let's say he drops to 190 in 1979 when the Cruiserweight division is introduced and wins the inaugural title. How far can he go and how many defenses can he make before running into Qawi and Holyfield? Drugs an alcohol do a number on the body. If he had his brother's dedication and willpower I'm of the mind he would have been a force at Cruiserweight. That's a big what if though. Thought?

He never impressed me as a fighter and from everything I heard at the time and read in later years is that he was dumb as a box of rocks: Not exactly a great trait for a standout career. It's hard to believe Michael and he were related: Michael Spinks was a legit great light-heavy.

[QueensburyRules]

No robbery. It was not staged, just serendipitous.

Ali got to be great one more time. Neon got a big payay he otherwise never gets. Fight fans enjoyed themselves (especially the first fight.)

It wasn't a robbery, nor is Don King that smart.

Sometimes it just works out right. Don't let those great moments get lost in the darkness which always hangs over the fight game.

- - I didn't like Ali hanging on well past his best then, and the results are in the results that were terrible to watch, that's the darkness.

[JAB5239]

- - I didn't like Ali hanging on well past his best then, and the results are in the results that were terrible to watch, that's the darkness.

Ali should have retired after beating Foreman in my opinion. His legacy was secure, he had his wealth and he in all liklihood had better health later in life. But that's boxing. He was the first to hang on to long, he won't be the last.