Fox News Flash top headlines for February 6. Leon Spinks, right, fighting Muhammad Ali on Feb. 15, 1978. He was a very weak baby, weighing less than four pounds at birth. Market data provided by Factset. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! Leon Spinks, the heavyweight boxer who became undisputed world champion by upsetting Muhammad Ali in 1978 before losing a rematch only months later, has died. His wife, Brenda Glur Spinks, and a few close … Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. Spinks -- born in St. Louis in 1953 -- developed a passion for boxing while in the U.S. Marines. Spinks has battled several health issues over the last decade. Market data provided by Factset. Leon was also a former Marine. Leon's health had been in decline recently ... the former boxing champ courageously battled prostate cancer for 5 years. Feb. 7 (UPI) -- Leon Spinks, the heavyweight boxer who upset Muhammad Ali in 1978, has died, according to The Firm, a Las Vegas public relations firm. Leon is alive and kicking and is currently 67 years old. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Spinks, who lived his later years in Las Vegas, died Friday night, according to a release from a public relations firm. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Spinks beat Muhammad Ali to … Former undisputed heavyweight champion Leon Spinks died on Friday at 67 following a five-year battle with multiple cancers. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Spinks had been battling multiple types of cancers, including prostate cancer, for years, according to a spokesperson. Sat 6 Feb 2021 22.36 EST 579 Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title … Heavyweight boxing legend Leon Spinks, known for defeating Muhammad Ali, died at the age of 67 on Friday night in a Henderson, Nevada, hospital near his home after battling with prostate cancer for several years, according to family friend Joe Bernal. A spokeswoman said Spinks, who spent his last years in Las Vegas, died on Friday night. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Leon Spinks, a former Heavyweight Champion who famously beat Muhammad Ali in 1978, passed away at the age of 67 Friday night. Former heavyweight champion boxer Leon Spinks—who defeated Muhammad Ali in his eighth career fight— has passed away after a battle with … Leon Spinks, who beat Muhammad Ali in historic upset in 1978, dies at 67. The 24-year-old Spinks, who won the bout in a 15-round split decision, died Friday night after battling prostate and other cancers. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Spinks scored one of boxing's greatest upsets when he captured the world heavyweight championship with a 15-round split decision over Ali. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Boxing legend Leon Spinks -- who defeated Muhammad Ali in 1978 -- has died at the age of 67 "Olympic medalist, Pan American medalist, and of course, WBC heavyweight champion. Former world heavyweight champion and Las Vegas resident Leon Spinks Jr. died on Friday, according to his press representation. At … In defeating Ali, Spinks -- the new heavyweight champ -- became the only fighter to ever take a belt from The Greatest. He had been battling prostate and other cancers. ©2021 FOX News Network, LLC. The 66-year-old retired heavyweight boxing champion was recently reported to be in increasingly failing health following a cancer diagnosis. Leon Spinks finished his career with a 26-17-3 record, including 14 wins by knockout. TMZ Sports has confirmed Spinks passed away Friday evening at the age of 67 ... surrounded by his wife Brenda and several other close friends and family. "I knew I could beat him after watching his fights.". He was 67. Former professional boxer Leon Spinks Jr., who won an Olympic gold medal and defeated Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title in a year-and-a-half span, died Friday at the age of 67. Legal Statement. He was 67. He took Olympic gold in Montreal in 1976. The American achieved a … Leon Spinks was born on July 11, 1953, at St. Louis, Missouri, United States. He was 67. He was 67. He was 67. Leon Spinks, a former Marine who became a gold-medal Olympic boxer and once defeated Muhammad Ali in a title fight, has died. Leon Spinks stunned Muhammad Ali in 1978 before losing a rematch Former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks has died aged 67. Leon Spinks has died, aged 67. Spinks, at the pinnacle of an amateur career at the highest level, won a gold medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 in the light heavyweight category. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. Leon was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017. Former boxing champion Leon Spinks, famous for snatching the heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali in 1978, died in Las Vegas at the age of 67, battling cancer for some time. or redistributed. Michael Ruiz is a U.S. and World Reporter for Fox News. He died Feb. 5, 2021, at age 67. Leon Spinks reached the top too soon Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. Spinks, who lived his later years in Las Vegas, died Friday night, according to a release from a public relations firm. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks, best known for defeating Muhammad Ali in 1978, has died at the age 67, according to a statement from his publicist. Heavyweight boxer Leon Spinks has died. In a rematch later that year, Ali took back the belt in New Orleans. "Rest in peace, Leon Spinks," World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman tweeted Saturday evening. Profile shot of the two boxers facing off. Leon Spinks Death Fact Check. He was fighting the prostate and other cancers. Spinks, who died of prostate cancer on Feb. 5, was the only boxer to take a title from Muhammad Ali in the ring He was inducted into the National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016. Boxer Leon Spinks, a former Marine, was a 1976 Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion. He was … Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. He was 67. Spinks, who had been suffering from prostate and other cancers for five years, died with his wife, Brenda Glur Spinks, by his side, the firm said. Leon Spinks, who famously upset Muhammad Ali in 1978 to win the heavyweight championship, died Friday night at age 67. 2/14/1978-Las Vegas, NV: Muhammad Ali (left) and Leon Spinks during ring action at the Las Vegas Hilton Pavilion. Spinks defeated defending champ Ali in 1978 in just his eighth professional fight, shocking the boxing world and taking the world heavyweight championship after a split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 67. All rights reserved. (AP Photo) Beat Muhammad Ali, Won Olympic Gold Medal, Cage Fighting Is 'Most Terrifying Thing In The World', Violent Clashes in Chicago, NYC, Minneapolis, ©2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks has died, aged 67. Feb 06, 2021 at 9:07 PM LAS VEGAS — Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in … Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Leon Spinks, who surprised the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title in 1978, died Friday night at age 67, according to … The Firm PR, which represents Spinks, released a statement , per Kristen DeSilva of KVVU-TV. ", LEON SPINKS HOSPITALIZED AS WIFE ASKS FOR PRAYERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA. Leon Spinks -- former undisputed heavyweight boxing champ -- who defeated Muhammad Ali in 1978 ... has died after a 5 year battle with cancer. Spinks (26-17-3, 14 KOs), who won Olympic gold in … His death, in a hospital, was announced by his wife, Brenda Glur Spinks, in a statement released by the family’s public relations representatives. His younger brother Michael won a gold medal in a separate weight class the same year. Source:Getty Images Former world heavyweight boxing champion Leon Spinks, who took the crown from Muhammad Ali in 1978 before losing a rematch, has died … In 1976, Spinks won a gold medal as a light heavyweight fighter in the Summer Olympics in Montreal. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Leon Spinks, a former Marine who became a gold-medal Olympic boxer and once defeated Muhammad Ali in a title fight, has died. Spinks was the victor in one of the biggest upsets in sports history ... when he shocked the world by defeating Ali in a 15-round, split decision win in Las Vegas in February 1978. He was 67 years old and had been suffering from prostate and other cancers for five years. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He … Legal Statement. It remains one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Spinks lost … He was 67. The Ali fight was the most memorable moment of Leon's career ... but definitely not the only highlight. The American, who in just his eighth professional fight claimed a famous upset win over Muhammad Ali in February 1978, was plagued by health issues in his later years and was diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer in … He became severely ill with jaundice at two weeks but miraculously survived. Fame came too soon for Leon Spinks in his boxing career and now it appears his death will be premature, too. ©2021 FOX News Network, LLC. Michael Spinks later claimed the belt from Holmes in 1985, losing it to Mike Tyson three years later in his final fight. Please ignore rumors and hoaxes. Boxing legend Leon Spinks died at the age of 67 on Friday night in a Henderson, Nevada, hospital near his home after battling with prostate cancer … By TIM DAHLBERG February 6, 2021 LAS VEGAS (AP) — Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. He was diagnosed with brain shrinkage in 2012, a condition doctors said stemmed from the beatings he took in the ring, and in 2014 he was hospitalized for abdominal problems. He was 67 years old. An Appreciation Leon Spinks was a fighter until the end. Leon became famous after beating Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight title in 1978. Leon Spinks, who shocked the boxing world with his 1978 defeat of Muhammad Ali to claim the heavyweight championship, died Friday in Henderson, Nev. LAS VEGAS (AP) — Leon Spinks, who won Olympic gold and then shocked the boxing world by beating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight, has died. (AP) ... died Feb. 5 in Henderson, Nev. He was 67. Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and Morgan Phillips and the Associated Press contributed to this report. He was 67. Pugilism ran deep in the Spinks family ... Leon was the older brother of boxer Michael Spinks -- a former 2-weight class world champion, and Olympic gold medalist (both brothers won gold in '76). If you have any unfortunate news that this page should be update with, please let us know using this form. Las Vegas — After winning the Olympic gold medal, Leon Spinks, who shocked the boxing world, died after defeating Muhammad Ali to win the heavyweight title in his eighth professional match. He was 67. © 2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. All rights reserved. "Ali thought I was a wimp, and I had to prove to him I wasn’t," Spinks said in 2014. 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