We all know he won the Title by beating a washed up Ali. How good of an amateur was Leon? Seems whenever his name is brought up people talk as if he was a joke. I dont think what he accomplished was laughable at all.. .. Anyways any thoughs on him?
Leon made it to the Olympic Finals. A proud Marine....he looked over at the top Cuban Lightheavy and said: "And now I am going to knock your ass out". He did and took home the Gold....can't really ask for more in a time when the US needed a lift.
You're 100% correct. Leon gave every indication that he was going to be a good fighter, both as an amateur and in his early pro career. His performance against Ali was superb, regardless of Ali's age. But he lacked the discipline/dedication to stay at the top long and he was probably rushed into big fights too soon. IMO he would've made a very good cruiserweight if that division had existed while he was at his peak.
Gee his management messed him up with trainer changes on a number of occasions. Kept to a disciplined regimine he could work and improve with at his best he was one of the better small heavy's of his day. Still, when early on you saw Scott Ledoux's overhand rights easily finding the mark on Leon's jaw you had to wonder.
I never saw Leon Spinks fight as an amateur... BUT! I think he was excellent..... Leon Spinks never really became a true pro fighter, aside from accepting a check / money.... So, all in all, I gotta say he was a good amateur.....:rofl MR.BILL
He won the National AAU light heavyweight title three years straight from 1974-1976 prior to the Olympics, after getting knocked out in the final in 1973.He beat an underage Michael Dokes for his first title.Out of almost 200 fights only lost seven or eight.
I liked Leon he was awesome in thte 76 games could punch and already could have beat alot of pros at LH. Hes the best LH amatuer ive seen next to Evander, although Cassius Clay might have been the best LH amatuer ever. For spinks to win the HW title being undersized and only 8 fights was great I dont care how Out of it Ali was. Spinks fought a spirited fight and fought like a tazmanian Devil that night. Would have beat most of the HW today on that night. But as we all know he seemed to be Shot not to long after. Even in his fight with Holmes when he was still young he didnt seem that good anymore, or when getting beat up by Carlos Deleon only a couple years later. He should have still been good enough to dominate the Cruisers
The stories of Leon sneaking away on coke and drinking bingers were pretty legendary. I remember reading that all he would do was hit the heavybag, and his trainers used to have to stand and watch him do it becasue he would sneak away and turn up spun a couple of days later. That **** ages you. Also, Leon had problems with his trainers. I remember readiing for the second Ali fight that there was no clear idea about who was his chief second, and they took turns for rounds in advising him. I want to say that George Benton was supossed to be his chief second, if I remember right, but Michael kept forcing his way in the mix.