Leon Spinks was an ATG

In the first bout with Leon Spinks, Muhammad Ali was far past his peak and not in good condition in addition to giving away some early rounds while making the mistake by figuring that Spinks would fade late in the bout. Yet that bout was fairly close. In the second bout, a more prepared Ali regained the world heavyweight title.

Although possessing plenty of heart, Spinks simply didn't have the talent or maturity to be a top contender, let alone a champion, until normal circumstances. In other words, Spinks was far from being a great fighter.

Spinks was rushed into the first bout with Ali after having so few professional bouts. Yes, Spinks may have been somewhat ready to fight an Ali who was a shadow of his former self, but certainly not to be the world heavyweight champion. But Spinks may have never received a realistic chance to be a world heavyweight champion again even if he had more experience and maturity, especially with Larry Holmes, a far better fighter, coming into the picture.

- Chuck Johnston

 

No...his brother is though

 

Leon took the title from Ali in a way that Norton, Young, and Shavers didn't (though I still think they won). To dismiss the fight because of Ali's Parkinsons isn't fair....there was no conclusive report have him having the affliction at that time. It's only conjecture to say that Ali was ill in the fight. Spinks kicked his ass and it was no split-decision; he clearly won.

The reason that many fighters don't become ATGs often has nothing to do with boxing. Leon was an out of control addict. He didn't have the skills to be an idependent adult, let alone heavyweight champion. I liked Leon a lot, but he was an overgrown child.

And for the record, I have always heard that it was LeDoux who got robbed in the Spinks fight, not the other way around. I'll admit I haven't watched it. I also heard some people think Righetti deserved the decision too. I'd be interested in people's opinions on this.

 

Sick or not Ali was old and out of shape.

Spinks professional career aside from that one win vs Ali is very poor.

 

There is a clip of Ali on a talk show I found on youtube, around that time not sure exactly when, protesting that his hand was steady & holding it out.

I recall that dispite his protest & efforts, his hand did show some tremors.

 

whilst this is true, parkinsons type diseases themselves often don't manifest with visible symptoms until several years into the affliction, they simply keep developing, affecting you in such small ways that you don't notice because the body compensates in other ways to help hide it. If Ali had it in the early 80s, its a fair certainty that it was affecting him marginally in the late 70s.

 

61-0, I know.

 

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I would take Leon over Earnie, around the time he beat Ali, however. Just had bad habits and in the wrong division.