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Thread: Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

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    Default Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

    Leon Spinks

    "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

    No sooner than Leon Spinks' exciting rampage thru the Light-Heavyweight Division {81 Kg}
    at the Summer Olympics {July 1976} where he won a Gold Medal, the road was being set
    for the Missouri fighter.

    Leon, still a Corporal with the United States Marines in July 1976 {Age; 23 years, 0 months}
    agreed to sign a Fight Contract with St. Louis businessman > Mitt Barnes.

    In August 1976, Leon signed a deal that gave Mitt Barnes 30% of his Gross Earnings in
    the Ring, and with a 'rider' for 12 {one-year} options.

    Mitt Barnes had been an advisor for Leon since 1969, when Leon was a 'wild' 16-Year-Old.

    As of August 26, 1976 >

    Leon still had 11-Months to go on his hitch for the United States Marines, where he was stationed
    at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

    Leon had wanted to fulfill his goal of making Sargeant, before being discharged, and then turning
    Professional as a Heavyweight boxer.

    Leon Spinks >
    "I'm still a Marine. I didn't let the Gold Medal go to my head. I'm still up early in the Moring going thru
    Marine training. When I get a furlough I head to Des Moines, Iowa to visit my Wife and her Mother -
    Ms. Carrie Bush."

    Last edited by Bill Paxtom; 02-10-2015 at 01:53 AM.

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    Leon Spinks gave me many many exciting and entertaining memories from the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Leon Spinks was on the American boxing team with Sugar Ray Leonard Howard Smith and many many other fighters including Michael spinks.

    Leon Spinks did only five men on planet earth able to do. Joe Frazier, can Norton, Larry Holmes, and Trevor BB.

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    Default Re: Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

    Leon Spinks

    As soon as Leon won the 'Gold Medal' at the 1976 Olympics {July 1976}, many
    Fight Promoters were lining up to lock Leon up in a Fight Contract.

    But, Leon wanted to continue in the U.S. Marines and serve until July 1977 to
    earn the rank of Sargeant.

    Butch Lewis, who was a Vice President with Top Rank {Bob Arum} tried to secure
    a Fight Contract with Leon.

    The Plan >

    To line up a 10-Round bout between Cuban Heavyweight - Teofilio Stevenson and Leon,
    and to be set-up at a 'Neutral-Site' with the bout to be broadcast by CBS-TV.

    The bout was to be held in Kingston, Jamaica.

    Top Rank said that they would pay the Cuban Government $1,000,000 as a 'special fee',
    so that Teofilio Stevenson could maintain his Amateur status, as no money would go to him
    directly.

    The deal, was to ask the U.S. Military for a 'special provision' to allow for Leon to fight
    while still serving as a U.S. Marine at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

    Leon was to be paid 'handsomely' for his Professional Debut in a 10-Round Bout, and would
    receive a Fight Purse of $125,000.

    The U.S. Military did approve the request. But Premier Fidel Castro of Cuba said he was
    not interested in the match.
    Last edited by Bill Paxtom; 02-10-2015 at 08:39 PM.

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    Default Re: Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

    It's amazing that he was such a military man and then his life went splat.
    Bigger man George, bigger punch!

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    Default Re: Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

    Quote Originally Posted by ykdadamaja View Post
    It's amazing that he was such a military man and then his life went splat.
    So True

    In the United States Marines, Leon was a Corporal in 1976, and was working his way up to Sargeant.

    Those who knew him at Camp Lejeune, said Leon was a good guy who didn't have a mean bone
    in his body.

    But, once he got his Honorable Discharge on December 23, 1976 > he became irresponsible.

    Some say that Leon never really left the 'rough' Projects of Pruitt-Igoe in East St. Louis and
    returned to bad behavior once he left the U.S. Marines.
    Last edited by Bill Paxtom; 02-11-2015 at 07:19 PM.

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    Default Re: Leon Spinks ~ "The Road To Muhammad Ali"

    Slim: "Leon I looked good in my Dress Blues"
    Leon: "Shit, I looked better in my Dress Blues"
    Slim: Say man...I looked dynamite in my Dress Blues"
    Leon: Sheeeeiittt.. I was the Greatest in my Dress Blues"
    Slim: " Say Leon, let's have another drink."


    Darnit, boxers are the greatest to hang out with.

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