WBA Update: “Neon Leon” Spinks, Perez, Herrera, Vargas

Former world champion “Neon Leon” Spinks celebrates his 61 birthday today, and the World Boxing Association family joins the festivity.

Spinks was born in 1953 in San Louis, Missouri. He began boxing while very young, he was member of the National Team and stood out in the mid 70’s.

He crowned his amateur career when he won the light heavyweight Gold Medal in 1976 at the Montreal Olympics after defeating the Cuban Sixto Soria.

The following year, he made his professional debut, and after only 7 fights he fought and defeated the great Muhammad Ali in 15 rounds, on February 15, 1978 to win the WBA championship belt.

He ended his career in 1995 with 26-17-3, 14 KO´s.

Congratulations to this great boxing figure and loyal friend of WBA family.

Johan Perez, interim super lightweight 140-pound champion of the World Boxing Association, met his opponent for Saturday July 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mauricio Herrera.

Perez and Herrera met at the press conference held at the fight site where the referee will be Tony Weeks, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Perez said he was grateful for the opportunity to defend his title in Las Vegas. “The dream of every boxer. We are excited and well prepared to give you a good show on Saturday.”

Herrera spoke previously and also thanked for the opportunity and stated that the world champion “is a tough fighter and we will give you a good fight on Saturday.”

The super lightweight 140-pound regular champion of the WBA, Jessie Vargas, received his black and gold belt.
Vargas won the championship on April 12, 2014 when he defeated former Russian world champion Khabib Allakhverdiev by UD.

The Californian is undefeated after 24 fights, 9 of them won by KO.