Neon Leon will burn bright in my mind BARRY MCGUIGAN

WANTING to be Carlos Palomino as a kid got me into this game, but it was the imperious American boxing team in 1976 that made me the fighter I would become.

And Leon Spinks was at the heart of that, one of five to win Olympic gold at Montreal in a haul of seven boxing medals. I was 15 years old, a couple of years into boxing, and watching those games like a hawk.

Ray Leonard was the standout, but ‘Neon Leon’ at light heavyweight was relentless. He wore everybody down.

I was spellbound wondering how the American fighters were all so fast and attacking. Leon’s brother Michael was also on that team, winning middleweight gold and going on to win a world title.

However, it was Leon who was first to make his mark as a pro. And in only his eighth professional bout, pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, dethroning Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas. It was smart matchmaking.

Ali was coming to the end of his career and Spinks was a clever combination puncher who went after the target.

It would not last. It could not last. First of all, Spinks did not have the frame to carry the necessary weight. He went from 12st 7lbs in the amateurs to facing opponents who walked about at 16st-plus. That was some leap, and ultimately too big.

Spinks lost the rematch with Ali (above), then fell to Gerrie Coetzee. Had cruiserweight existed when he turned over, he might have had a distinguished career as champion. I first met him in 2005 during my induction at the Boxing Hall of Fame. He was amazingly popular, and rightly so.

One of two brothers to win Olympic gold and a world title, beating ‘The Greatest’ to boot. That’s not a bad career.