Leon Spinks: How Good Could He Have Been?

[Tony1244]

I expect I got a lot of when you guys read this, but let me explain:

Boxers aren't saints, and I assume Lewis, Holmes, Holyfield, Frazier etc had a few drinks or a few tokes after a hard fight. Key word is after. Hell, even the Klitschkos may have had a few vodkas.

But according to sources, one of which is ex-wife's Nova's book, The Spinks Jinx, Leon did alcohol, pot, coke basically nonstop during training and the day of the fight. Even if she's lying half the time, Spink's party escapades are well known.

Was Leon a crude amateur who was never that good? Or could he have been a great fighter? Also, he fought Ali, not to mention LeDoux and Righetti way too early.

If he had even a modicum of disciple, how different would his career have been?

[Ambling Alp II]

He could certainly have had a better career. Obviously if he didn't have the vices and trained harder for all of his fights he could have been a very good fighter. You can see flashes of what have been in some of his fights. He fought a very good fight against Ali the first time. (Obviously Ali looked terrible, that isn't the question though).
Someone posted the Holmes fight recently on another thread. Watch the first couple of rounds. There is something there.
At times he was able to be aggressive and not get hit much.

He needed better management. Actually taking on decent fighters like Righetti and Ledoux early in your career used to be normal. Obviously that is seldom done nowadays.
However, his management team should have regrouped after the Coetzee fiasco. They should have had him get a few wins against low-level opponents and learn and get his confidence back. Then gradually had him go up against better and better opponents.

He really didn't have a lot of firepower or a first class chin. He was never going to be the top dog with Holmes around. But yes, he could have been much better and had a better career.

[APerno]

I guess the question here asks to separate Spinks psyche from his physical attributes.

In the big three of physical attributives, size, power, and boxing skill, Leon is middling, good but not great; likely to beat most but not the best.

His odd psyche ('Neon Leon') on the other hand may have been a valued attribute, not a limitation. He fought with such an unbridled courage . . .

. . . urban legend has it that they had to pry Michael Spinks out of the dressing room for the Tyson fight; someone on scene suggested that brother Leon would have been chopping at the bit, a real 'free spirit' excited to get in the ring with Tyson.

I think Spinks' free spirit attitude may have resulted in him getting more out of the game than less; take away 'Neon Leon' and you may get a better boxer, but you may end up with less of a fighter.

[Esquire]

He was a small heavyweight with tons of heart and determination but not world class skills. That he won an olympic gold medal and the heavyweight championship of the world is remarkable. I'm not sure anyone with his limited skills ever accomplished that much.

His guts and will to win were impressive, and that should never be taken away from him.

[Esquire]

He was a small heavyweight with tons of heart and determination but not world class skills. That he won an olympic gold medal and the heavyweight championship of the world is remarkable. I'm not sure anyone with his limited skills ever accomplished that much.

His guts and will to win were impressive, and that should never be taken away from him.

[Kalan]

It's the old story of champion boxers and their lack of discipline as soon as big dollars and global recognition are realized... They're living the dream.

Joe Louis was very disciplined for the 1st year -- up through the Carnera and Baer fights... All Louis did was eat, sleep, and train... So much money was coming in that he relaxed a bit. He took up golf, started dating up a storm, going night clubbing, and it caught up with him against Max Schmeling.

Ali, Frazier, and Foreman chased women, but they were very disciplined about a schedule and making sure they put the work in -- to a degree.

Mike Tyson was very disciplined for his first 18 months and 28 fights until he won the title at 20 years of age... Then he started taking more idle time between fights, going out, hitting night spots, picking up women left and right, and it caught up with him against Buster Douglas.

Evander Holyfield screwed around like a 6-dicked chinchilla, but he was smart enough to shut it off in training camp.. Like Lewis he was very disciplined.

The Klitschko's stayed away from vices and focused on business and achievement. Their dad was a military guy and the discipline rubbed off.

Anthony Joshua is extremely disciplined about his career and being the best boxer. He won't let anything interfere with his workout schedule.

Leon Spinks was a wild card from day one... Physically very talented, he worked out with great enthusiasm in the gym, but he was never an autonomous individual. He needed a mom at all times to guide him through life. He won the Heavyweight Title from the right guy at the right time. Then he imploded. He may have done better if he were given 20 fights to develop his skills and craft before going for a title – but he would have run into a prime Larry Holmes anyway.. Maybe pushing him into a Title Fight so early worked for him.

[Tony1244]

In the 2nd Ali fight, and against Holmes, he looked good for a few seconds at a time, but couldn't keep it going. If, he wasn't a substance abuser to the extent that he was, I think he could have had a great career, IF, right....

[Nile4000]

He probably would have been a very good fighter if he stayed on course. Possibly the first undisputed cruiserweight champion. And possibly have beaten Holmes if he caught him at the right time.