Editing Leon Spinks (section)

{{Short description|American boxer (1953–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox boxer
| name = Leon Spinks
| image = Leon Spinks 1.jpg
| caption = Spinks vs. Ray Kipping, 1995
| realname = 
| nickname = Neon
| weight = {{plainlist|
*[[Cruiserweight (boxing)|Cruiserweight]]
*[[Heavyweight]]
}}
| height = 6 ft 1 in
| reach = 76 in
| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|7|11}}
| birth_place = [[St. Louis]], Missouri, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|02|05|1953|7|11}}
| death_place = [[Henderson, Nevada]], U.S.
| style = [[Orthodox stance|Orthodox]]
| boxrec = 000262
| total = 46
| wins = 26
| losses = 17
| KO = 14
| draws = 3
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[amateur boxing]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalOlympics}}
{{MedalGold | [[1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Montreal]] | [[Boxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Light heavyweight|Light heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[1975 Pan American Games|1975 Mexico City]] | [[Boxing at the 1975 Pan American Games|Light heavyweight]]}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[World Amateur Boxing Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1974 Havana]] | Light heavyweight}}
}}
'''Leon Spinks''' (July 11, 1953 – February 5, 2021) was an American [[professional boxer]] who competed from 1977 to 1995. In only his eighth professional fight, he won the [[Undisputed championship (boxing)|undisputed]] [[heavyweight]] championship in 1978 after defeating [[Muhammad Ali]] in a [[split decision]], in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Spinks was later stripped of the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] title for facing Ali in an unapproved rematch seven months later, which he lost by a [[unanimous decision]].

Besides being heavyweight champion and his characteristic gap-toothed grin (due to losing two and later all four of his front teeth), Spinks gained notoriety for the disaster which befell his career following his loss to Ali.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/boxing/articles/2005/12/21/riches_to_rags/ "Riches to rags"] ''The Boston Globe'', December 21, 2005</ref> However, he did challenge once more for the WBC heavyweight title in 1981 (losing to [[Larry Holmes]] by TKO in the third round), and the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] [[cruiserweight (boxing)|cruiserweight]] title in 1986 (losing to [[Dwight Muhammad Qawi]] by TKO in the sixth round).

As an [[amateur boxing|amateur]], Spinks won numerous medals in the [[light heavyweight]] division. The first was bronze at the inaugural [[1974 World Amateur Boxing Championships|1974 World Championships]], followed by silver at the [[Boxing at the 1975 Pan American Games|1975 Pan American Games]], and gold at the [[Boxing at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Summer Olympics]]; the latter alongside his brother [[Michael Spinks]], who won [[middleweight]] gold. Leon served in the [[United States Marine Corps]] from 1973 to 1976, rising to the rank of corporal. He was stationed at [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune]] in North Carolina and was on the Marine Corps Boxing Team.<ref name=barber>Barber, James. [https://www.military.com/off-duty/2021/02/08/how-marine-corps-gave-leon-spinks-his-shot-greatness.html "How the Marine Corps Gave Leon Spinks His Shot at Greatness"], ''Military.com website'', February 8, 2021. Accessed February 14, 2021.</ref>

Spinks also had a brief career as a [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] from 1986, 1990 to 1993. He mainly worked for [[Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling]] (FMW) and holding the [[FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship]] in 1992.<ref name="auto">''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'', March 1993 issue, p. 27.</ref>