Celebrating the Life of a Wonderful Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother and Friend Leon Spinks, Junior

1976 Olympic Gold Medalist and former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World Leon Spinks, Jr. was born on July 11, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Leon Spinks, Sr. and late Kay Spinks.

He departed this life on February 5, 2021, in Henderson, Nevada, after a five-year bout with prostate and bladder cancer. He was a member of Remnant Ministries Church International, where Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback legend Randall Cunningham is the pastor.

Leon was raised in the Pruitt-Igoe Housing Projects in St. Louis, where he attended Vashon High School.  Following high school, in 1973, Leon enlisted in the United States Marines Corps. Based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Leon served three years in the Marines, and trained in its boxing program.

Leon started boxing at age 13 at St. Louis’s 12th and Park Center, as part of a program to take kids off the streets.  Leon used to get beaten up by the neighborhood bully.  It was like a love hate thing because the same ones that fought him, also took him to the gym.

Leon retired from boxing in 1995, finishing with a career mark of 26-17-3. His rise in boxing was meteoric- he got a shot at Muhammad Ali and the Heavyweight title on February 15, 1978, after just seven professional fights, using his energy and slick style to frustrate the great Ali and win a 15-round split decision at the Las Vegas Hilton.

To this day, still the biggest upset in boxing history, Leon said of the fight, “Ali thought I was a wimp and I had to prove to him I wasn’t. I knew I could beat him after watching his fights.”  

Leon has been inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame, St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, Marine Corps Boxing Hall of Fame and the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.Leon’s sister Karen Shanklin shares these memories of her brother: ” I guess it didn’t make sense to beat him up if they could not get a real push back out of him. Leon and Michael became very good at the sport of boxing, along with some of their other peers in the neighborhood.  Lee had to learn to duck, move and weave.

“Lee would always be the last guy to fight the night of a boxing event, and everybody would leave before his fight ended, so, Lee started knocking his opponents out, so that he could go home, too. Leon and Michael’s gymnasium started competing against other boxing teams, going to the Golden Gloves tournaments, winning trophies for every victory. Those were the good old days.”

While in the Marines, still following his dream, Leon continued to fight while serving his country.  He won the Amateur Athletic Union’s amateur light heavyweight boxing championship for three consecutive  years.

He also won numerous medals in the light heavyweight division from 1974 to 1976.  His accumulation of medals began with a Bronze in the 1974 World Championships, Silver in the 1975 Pan American Games and culminated with the Gold in 1976 for the United States, alongside his younger brother Michael Spinks, who won a Gold medal in the middleweight division. It was the Marine Corps Boxing Team that honed Spinks’ skills and gave him the discipline to succeed on the biggest stage possible.”

 “A lot of people knew Leon for his amazing toothy smile and career,  but I knew him for his great disposition and because he was my brother,” continues Karen. “I would not trade him for all the money in the world. 

“Leon never talked about boxing when he was around and I noticed he was always going to church. As a matter of fact, he was a man of few words, although he did not talk much. Lee liked to gossip and  was very nosey.  His response to whatever you told him was ‘no s….t.’ His other favorite phrase was ‘Oh God!’ I never knew why he always called on God, but apparently he loved him.

“So, I would always look for some hot gossip for my brother.  Leon really enjoyed eating. Once, I watched him cook a hamburger the size of a skillet. Leon had quite a few nicknames growing up. The first one came from our mom, and it only came out when she was angry.  Leon is going to get me when I see him in heaven for telling you all that she would call him ‘Boot Mouth.’ I could never figure out why.

“Our grandmother called him ‘Plukey’ which was also odd. Then some of the neighborhood guys would call him ‘Polluted Air’ and they looked worse than he did, and were older.  I even had to beat up one of my classmates for dissing him and I won. 

“Another nickname was “Neon Leon,’ which I hated. Leon had this swag about himself and could wear some hats, which St. Louis was noted for.  Many have written stories and books about my brother,  but at the end of the day, Leon took the real story to his grave. Leon Spinks, Jr, dude, you are going to be greatly missed from your sissy.  I love you my friend and I’m going to miss you. You are still the greatest guy I know.”

Leon is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Glur Spinks, whom he married in 2011, and was by his side when he went on to glory. Leon is the father of former Undisputed Welterweight Champion Cory Spinks(wife Christy Spinks). He was preceded in death by his sons Leon Calvin Spinks III and Darrell Spinks.

He is also survived by five step-children, Charles, Michael Glur Zoucha, Tommy Wilson and Deshawn Wilson. Stevie Calvin preceded him in death. Leon also leaves two sisters, Karen A. Shanklin and Patricia Spinks, eight brothers, Michael L. Spinks, Leland A. Spinks, Evan G. McDonald, Eddie Brooks, Jr, Lanell Spinks and Charles Spinks. Kenneth E. Spinks,  and Robert Spinks also preceded him in death. His survivors also include a host of nephews, nieces, grandchildren, great grandchildren and cousins.

Psalm 139

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David

O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

2.Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

3.Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

4.For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

5.Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

6.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

7.Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

9.If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou are there.

10.If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

11.If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

12.Yea,the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works: and that my soul knoweth right well.

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.