The Pneumatic Rolling-Sphere Carrier Delusion: Leon Spinks

Showing posts with label Leon Spinks. Show all posts

Monday, February 8, 2021

Leon Spinks, RIP -- February 8, 2021

Leon Spinks, Marine, Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion, has died way too young. A lot of people regarded him as a joke, but he beat Muhammad Ali to take the title. Ali later took it back.

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Ken Norton 75 -- August 9, 2018

www.listal.com

Heavyweight champ Ken Norton was born 75 years ago today, on 09-August-2018. I remember the wide-spread shock when he beat Muhammad Ali and broke his jaw. When Norton was given the title in 1978 because of a complicated series of events with Ali and Leon Spinks, I thought he would hold it for a long time. I was surprised when Norton lost the title in his first defense, against Larry Holmes.

I should have written something here when Ken Norton died in 2013.

"When I talk to youngsters today, especially those involved in athletics, I tell them to get their education first." -- Ken Norton

Friday, August 8, 2014

Firehouse #77 -- August 8, 2014

On our recent trip to New Orleans, we took the New Orleans Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour. We went around twice because it rained a lot the first time. The guide on our first trip said that this retired firehouse at 1043 Magazine Street in the Warehouse District is where Muhammad Ali trained for his second fight with Leon Spinks. The guide on the second circuit did not mention it.

Ali had lost his title to Spinks on 15-February-1978. Ali had not taken Spinks seriously. Ali trained well for the rematch at the Superdome in New Orleans on 15-September-1978, scoring a unanimous decision and winning the heavyweight championship for the third and last time. We didn't know it then, but it was Ali's last victory.