I'm reading a book on the Spinks brothers, and at one point Butch Lewis, while discussing them both, is quoted as saying something to the effect of "I could have made Leon 10 million dollars, a lot of people thought Leon had more natural talent." So, did Leon Spinks have more natural talent then Michael Spinks in your view? Why or why not?
Hard to say Michael had one of the best jabs and right hands in light-heavyweight history. Leon did not have one of the best right hands in heavyweight history. Leon was not naturally big enough to be a big puncher at heavyweight. The only way you could make the comparison is if Leon fought at light-heavy as a pro.
Leon did win the title after only a few fights granted Ali was way past his best but still, I feel Michael was more talented but there's an argument for Leon considering what he did so early in his career.
My old coach Kenny Loehr who worked with both of them as amauters always said that Leon had more talent. Before Leon fell hard on his vices he was a relentless swarmer with the heart of a lion and the type of guy that purely loved fighting unlike Michael who really was just following his brother until he realized he could make a buck. Kenny was a legendary coach in St Louis that literally worked with thousands of fighters. He knew more about boxing than anyone I have ever know. Prime, sober Leon was incredibly fast and had stamina and heart galore.
I remember Sugar Ray Leonard saying that Howard Davis and Leon were the best fighters on the famed 1976 USA Olympic team and showed this with their winning performances in those games. Though I think that Ray may have been modestly underplaying his own talent and performance during that interview.
Sometimes “natural talent “ means that you pick up on things quicker than other people...Michael may have had to practice twice as hard as Leon to be better
It’s kind of tough to say being on the outside. We know the basics as Leon was always a wild guy and liked to drink and get high and Michael was known as a hard worker, but hard to say exactly how much and how quick each guy picked up on the nuances of boxing.
Very true. Boxers like Rocky Marciano, Hasim Rahman, Dwight Qawi...none of them were blessed with that much speed of hand or foot. Qawi was fairly quick, but not blazing quick. They wouldn’t be thought upon as being especially talented by the standards of world class fighters. But look at when they all started formal boxing. They all reached the top pretty quickly. They obviously had a talent for boxing. Ray Mercer and Ken Norton started boxing in the military and Sonny Liston in prison. To start that late and get to the level they did, they all must have had a real feel for the sport.
I think Michael had more natural talent than Leon, but Leon had more heart. And Leon wouldn't have fell for Butch's "manipulations" as well.
