Leon Spinks

Leon Spinks was an American heavyweight boxer, born in 1953 and active as a professional from 1977 to 1995. He won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the same Games at which his brother Michael won the middleweight title, after serving in the United States Marine Corps and its boxing team. In 1978, in only his eighth professional fight, he beat Muhammad Ali by split decision to take the undisputed heavyweight championship, one of the largest upsets in the history of the division. A rematch later that year went to Ali, and Spinks lost later challenges for the WBC heavyweight and WBA cruiserweight titles. He also wrestled briefly in Japan.