The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post Reply
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

You did'nt hear to much about Leon Spinks's sparring partners over the years.
Who were they ?
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

bwu
Middleweight
Posts: 429
Joined: 10 Oct 2013, 20:08

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by bwu »

Roy Williams before the first Ali fight.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

LeRoy Diggs had been Leon Spinks chief sparring partner in 1978, when Spinks was preparing to fight Ali.

Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

British HWT Paul Sykes had trained with Leon Spinks for 3 weeks in 1979, when Spinks was prepapring to fight
Gerrie Coetzee.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

Leon Spinks use to work out to this song back in 1979.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

Joseph Gholston had also been a sparring partner for Leon Spinks in 1978.
(Gholston had also been a sparring partner to Joe Frazier, Jimmy Ellis and Bob Foster)

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/227
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

-1975-

-1976-

Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

-1977-
January.15.1977
( pro debut)

2nd pro fight


March.18.1977
( 3rd orofessional fight )

May-7-1977
(4th professional fight )


5th professional bout
June.1.1977

here is a link to some additional footage
( from another angle)
https://britishpathe.com/asset/235950/
Last edited by Caractacus on 14 Nov 2023, 17:18, edited 4 times in total.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

October.22.1977
6th professional fight

November.18.1977 ( 7th professional fight)
check out who is in the crowd at apprx 9:24 of this clip !
JMac
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 2307
Joined: 06 Sep 2007, 14:41

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by JMac »

When I trained at Joe Fraziers gym in '77, both Michael and Leon were training there. I sort of remember seeing Leon spar either Dwight Quai (Braxton) or Jerry the Bull Martin since both of them were also training there.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

In April 1978,, Leon Spinks some exhibitions in Miami with Levi Forte and Bobby Floyd
( 2 rounds each),
then he went to Santa Domingo and did an exhibition there too.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

speaking of "Neon" Leon, anymore sparring partners you may know of ?
Expug
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 4433
Joined: 27 Dec 2005, 18:40

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Expug »

You gotta find the spinks/George Mostardini exhibition fight that happened in the old Chicago amphitheater back in like 79 or so.
Mr T was Spinks bodyguard and a riot broke out.
Total shit show.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

On this day in 1978 the WBC stripped Leon Spinks of his belt for
refusing to meet Ken Norton in his title defense
(couldn't they even give him time to rest and enjoy the moment
of being the "undisputed" one belt HW champion ?
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

I first remember seeing Mr T on this sports variety show back in 1980.
I think it was "The Worlds Toughest bouncer" contest.
Expug
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 4433
Joined: 27 Dec 2005, 18:40

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Expug »

Ya he worked at at least one of the popular discos here in Chicago. BBT it was called. Rush street. You’d see him standing out front. Mohawk, chains etc. basically the same guy as in the Rocky flick.
Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

Caractacus
Super Welterweight
Posts: 18479
Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: The Sparring partners/exhibitions of Leon Spinks

Post by Caractacus »

Post Reply