What if Leon had never fought at HW, but just fought as a big LHW until the cruiserweight division?

Very likely. As a heavyweight, Leon was a perfect example of too much too soon. He won the title from a jaded Ali in only his 8th pro fight and it was no surprise that he lost it in his first defense. In the Ali rematch his corner was mass confusion. Still, he won the first four rounds of the Ali rematch and really had no trouble lasting the 15 round limit. He showed that he had the potential for greater things. Then after the Coetzee and Holmes disasters, they tried to make him the superstar of the cruiserweight division. That did not work as well as expected and his career continued to decline. Had he stayed a light heavy longer, he likely could have learned his craft more completely and developed the seasoning needed to be a better fighter. Even so, I don't believe he ever would have had the dedication and self-discipline of his brother Michael and would not have achieved what Michael did.

 

Hard to say. His addictions/lifestyle affected his career at heavyweight and I believe would cause him the same issues at 175. With what I know about his drinking, I don't think he had a prayer at ever making 175 after the Olympics.

 

There is no way in the world that Leon was going to make 175. He started his career fighting in the mid 190s. No way is he cutting 20-25 pounds and then fighting, especially with same day weigh ins.

 

This. Leon’s problem wasn’t weight, since he could compete just fine as a heavyweight when healthy and in shape. Leon’s problem was drugs, women, and being repeatedly arrested.

Here is a piece on the rollercoaster ride the Spinks let life turn into after winning the title.

“A month after he had won the title, Spinks was arrested in St. Louis for driving the wrong way on a one-way street without a license. In June of `78, he was arrested in North Carolina for driving without a license and 26 hours later for speeding. In October, he was involved in an accident in his 2-day-old Corvette in Ohio, and a week later he ran it through a fence. In November, he was arrested for driving without his license after an accident in Detroit, and in December his car was found smashed into a tree.

Also that year, he was arrested in St. Louis for marijuana and cocaine possession. Again, instead of feeling sorry for him, people laughed. The street value of the stuff was estimated at $1.50.

Although he now had fame and fortune ($3.75 million for his second fight with Ali), Spinks was still a child, still uncomfortable with people who spoke the English language clearly and dressed neatly. His taste in women and bars was on the tacky side, which led to his being mugged outside a Detroit bar in 1981. He woke up later naked in a nearby motel room, missing $45,000 worth of clothing, jewelry and his solid-gold dental plate. His wife had now ballooned to 275 pounds, and he wanted a divorce.”
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-03-31-8501180451-story,amp.html

 

Don't think it would have worked.

 

Imagine a light heavyweight Leon Spinks going toe to toe with Matthew Saad Muhammad, that would be brutal.

 

LHW would be a little too light for Leon's body. CW would have been ideal. Michael's brain in Leon's body would have been the perfect CW.

 

Saad Muhammad would've stopped him

 

There is no way that Spinks could've made 175lbs and still be strong at that weight, after the Ali rematch, he should've not gone on the crack mainly, also he should worked on his defense and worked on picking his attacks, of course he was an aggressive fighter, but you have to draw a line at some point, he was too hyperactive in the ring like Khan, also he should've fought more low level opposition after the Ali rematch, and of course he didn't know there was gonna be a crusierweight division, but as soon as it came about he should've moved down, also he shouldn't've sparred hard in the gym, the reason I assume he did is because he is severely punch drunk now
Anyway, that is my thoughts on the matter, there was a lot that should've been done, but ultimately his career is how things played out