Leon Spinks: Toothless but not humorless

As a boxer, Leon Spinks had his share of highlights in a career where he had a 26-17-3 record that lasted from 1977-1995.

He won a gold medal in the 1976 Olympics, and in his seventh professional fight, he defeated Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship on Feb. 15, 1978.

Spinks lost the rematch seven months later and lost another title fight against Larry Holmes in 1981 when the fight was stopped in the third round.

Now, Spinks is in a Las Vegas hospital after undergoing a second operation for abdominal problems earlier this week.

It’s been decades since Spinks was a viable sports figure, but the stories from Spinks’ heyday remain vivid to Associated Press columnist Tim Dahlberg.

“Mr. T was his bodyguard, which right away tells you something about Leon Spinks and his brief yet wildly entertaining stint as the heavyweight champion of the world,” Dahlberg wrote. “Someone had to keep watch over Leon and his full length fur coat. Someone had to know where his false front teeth were, and Mr. T and his gold chains had yet to make it big in television.

“Ah, yes, the teeth. His ex- wife once had custody over one set of them during their divorce proceeding, and Leon lost another in a mugging in Detroit that also cost him the $45,000 fur coat.”

Years later, Spinks explained exactly how he lost his teeth in the mugging.

“I was trying to bite the guy and they came out and he stole them. It’s so damn weird, people taking my teeth.”

Associated Press file photo Leon Spinks enjoyed his share of success in the boxing ring, which included an Olympic gold medal and winning the world heavyweight championships, but he may be remembered just as much for his gap-tooth smile.