Former undisputed heavyweight champion who defeated Muhammad Ali dies at 67
- Boxing world mourns as Leon Spinks who defeated Muhammad Ali at 67
- Spinks battled prostate cancer for five years before giving up on February 5
- Brenda and Cory, his wife and son among those around him in his final moments on earth
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Former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks who became famous for beating the great Muhammad Ali in 1978 dies at the age of 67.
The boxer who won 26 out of his 46 professional fights was confirmed dead on Friday, February 5 in the presence of his family members including Brenda his wife, and Cory his son - also a former world champion.
Sources reveal that the late American boxer has been battling prostate cancer for the last five years before eventually passing away earlier this weekend.
Born in July 1952, Spinks won the Olympic gold in Montreal in 1976 - two years before his famous triumph over Ali and became the undisputed heavyweight world champion as a professional.
Source: Getty Images
According to The Mirror, he had only fought just seven times before upsetting Ali after 15 hard-fought rounds.
However, seven months later, he lost the rematch to Ali who won with a convincing unanimous decision.
He lost his next challenge for a world title three years later when he was stopped by Larry Holmes and he was also defeated by Dwight Muhammad Qawi when he dropped down a division later in his career.
Leon's brother Michael also rose to the world champion level, holding the undisputed light heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985, and the lineal heavyweight title from 1985 to 1988.
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Professional wrestling superstar John Huber, better known by his stage name Brodie Lee, has passed away.
The 41-year-old died on Saturday, December 26 of a lung issue, although it was not related to COVID-19.
His wife Amanda Huber confirmed that her hubby was surrounded by family and other loved ones in his final moment on earth.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
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