Leon and Michael Spinks

[herbc]

Attended the White Plains show on Saturday. I was able to get Leon and Michael Spinks to sign my cards. Leon is in pretty bad shape, he was using a walker and still had trouble getting around. There was also a Service Dog with them. I'm not sure which of them needed the dog. Michael, although getting around better than Leon, seemed a little slow Interpersonally.

They both were great with me, and their handlers did not hassle me. I had a photo op with both that was encouraged by their people. A few pictures....

Leon
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Boxing/P8200147LEONSPINKSB_zpsl6nputvf.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Boxing/P8200148LEDONSPINKSA_zpsn448hpsu.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Boxing/LEON20SPINKS20AU20AampG001_zpsxyneg9ru.jpg

Michael
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Boxing/P8200150MICHAELSPINKSA_zpskdtboaq4.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Boxing/P8200151MICHAELSPINKSB_zpsbrujl2i3.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v354/hlc1949/Boxing/MICHAEL20SPINKS20AU20PANINI001_zps573zsvdz.jpg

[JustinD]

Cool.

Well Leon had to face Ali twice and Michael tried Tyson (for 92 seconds). Honestly, if I did that I would be worse for wear too.

[Bored5000]

Wow, I would not have even recognized Michael Spinks. I had known for a while that Leon was much worse for wear in recent years, but I had not seen any photos or read any stories about Michael Spinks in recent years.

Thanks for posting the pictures and relating your experience, HerbC. It is always nice to see posters share some photos from their interactions at shows. :)

[Jerry G]

This picture was taken in St. Louis before the Corey Spinks/Zab Judah fight by my photographer friend, Bob Barton. (Some very cool fight pictures can be seen here http://www.bobbartonphotography.com/BOX.html ) Leon came back to town for Corey's fight with Deandre Lattimore and they both signed the pic at that time. Don't know why Leon signed over Michael's head, but oh, well. Michael didn't make it back into town for the that match. So, still looking for him to sign.

I am a state boxing inspector and helped to conduct the weigh in. We had the official weigh in in private at the Chalet at Westport. Then everyone was shuttled to downtown St. Charles about ten miles away for the public weigh in staring Don King. A group of us were waiting in the lobby for the shuttle. Leon settled into a big easy chair wearing a similar hat to the one in Herb's OP pic, that reads, "Leon Spinks World Champion."

As we waited, I overheard two twenty-something guys talking, "I think that's Leon Spinks." "No way." said the second. "I'm pretty sure." "Well ask him."

He cautiously walked over and said, "Excuse me, sir. Are you Leon Spinks?"

Leon slowly looked up, pointed to his head and said, "Read the hat, bitch!"

[Duluth Eskimo]

I'm pretty sure even in their current condition you wouldn't want to talk smack

[D. Bergin]

Leon is a regular at the Boxing Hall of Fame inductions in Canastota. Michael shows up frequently also, but not quite as often as Leon, who never seems to miss it.

Both have been nothing but personable to the fans, especially Leon, who seems to go out of his way to sign autographs.

Leon's appearance and health has always been a bit sketchy. Shocked to see what Michael looks like though. Up until a couple years ago, he looked as if he could jump in the ring and go a couple of rounds, at least.

Impressed with Cory, who seemed to spend an entire weekend one year taking care of his dad during Induction week when Leon seemed to be not doing very well at all. Especially considering he did not have a great relationship with him growing up because of Leon's drug habits.

Hung out with Leon and his wife for awhile at a Bareknuckle Hall of Fame event a few years ago (also in upstate New York). His wife also doted on him and took care of him, similar to what I saw Cory do. Leon has an almost child-like persona to him, even as an older man, but it does seem he is surrounded by people who don't mind taking care of him, and keeping him away from the things that got him into trouble to begin with.