Page 33 - Leon Spinks News Today

Boksburg Bomber’ recalls how he got first shot at world title © Provided by Independent Online (IOL) The recent passing of Leon Spinks, a former WBC and WBA world heavyweight champion, has brought back vivid memories of Gerrie Coetzees lightning-fast first-round victory over the then world No 3-ranked American in June 1979 in Monte Carlo. Spinks, 67, died in a Las Vegas hospital after a protracted battle with cancer. The Spinks vs Coetzee bout was an eliminator for the vacant WBA heavyweigh...

Their first fight at Madison Square Garden was so epic it was billed as the Fight of the Century, and 50 years later it reigns undefeated.

Leon Spinks’ recent death at 67 recalls the good ol’ days of a sport that is more in the hucksters’ hands than ever nowadays.

AP First off, Spinks, in only his eighth pro fight, pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in boxing history by beating reigning world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali by split decision in 1978. ‘‘It was considered a mere joke,’’ retired boxer George Foreman, of grillin’ infomercial fame, recalled of Spinks being in the ring with Ali. Spinks wouldn’t hold the title for long, losing a rematch to Ali seven months later. But he got his smiling, front-toothless face on the cover...

By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart Davey Lee Armstrong, 24-3, 14 KO’s. From where is sit, it sounds like a cavalier cowboy who has gone west to tame the outlaws, but it is really a Washington native, who ahs lost his final battle but is well remembered as a man of great modesty. Armstrong was a gifted boxer, who was able to change from orthodox to southpaw with ease. Often this would outfox his opponents, but this was not the only reason he won so many titles in the amateurs. He just also hap...

Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images In the ring, Ali was a tremendous boxer. He finished his career with 56 wins, 37 by KO, with only five losses. Two of those losses came at the end of his career when he arguably should have retired. He won three heavyweight titles and arguably fought in two or three of the all-time iconic boxing matches. They called him “The Greatest,” and you don’t earn that nickname flippantly. Outside of the ring, he was just as influential. He was an...

Former NFL player Vincent Jackson is reportedly dead at 38 after his body was discovered on Monday inside a Florida hotel room.

Just A Minute: Weve Already Lost so Much in 2021, Including Lorenzo Washington Taking a moment to reflect on some of the icons and legends of the sports world who have left us over the past few weeks Author: Feb 16, 2021 Normally, we take a moment to remember whom we lost at the end of the year, or with awards shows.  But theres been nothing normal over the last year, as we close in on the anniversary of sports shutting down during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.  Were only abou...

In 1969, Sly & The Family Stone’s “Everyday People” hit #1 on the pop chart. In 1978, Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali for the World Heavyweight Championship. In 1979, “Saturday Night Fever” won a Grammy for Album of the Year, and The Bee Gees took home awards for Best Pop Group and Best Arrangement for Voices for “Staying Alive”. In 1985, “The Breakfast Club” was released . . . starring Anthony Michael Hall, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.

Champ Kamaru Usman (170 lbs.) vs. #1 Gilbert Burns (170 lbs.) – for welterweight title #10 Maycee Barber (126 lbs.) vs. #15 Alexa Grasso (125.5 lbs.) #9 Kelvin Gastelum (186 lbs.) vs. #15 Ian Heinisch (185.5 lbs.) Brian Kelleher (145.5 lbs.) vs. Ricky Simon (145.5 lbs.) Julian Marquez (185 lbs.) vs. Maki Pitolo (185 lbs.) PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN, ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET) Anthony Hernandez (186 lbs.) vs. Rodolfo Vieira (186 lbs.) Dhiego Lima (171 lbs.) vs. #13 Belal Muhammad (169.5 lbs.) Mallory Marti...