Spinks lost his five-year battle with prostate cancer and other cancers on Friday night.
“At the time of his death, his wife Brenda Glur Spinks was at his side. Due to Covid’s restrictions, only a few close friends and other families were present,” the statement said.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Spinks represented the United States during the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, as a light heavyweight and won the gold medal.
He faced Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 15, 1978, winning and becoming the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion. It was just Spinks’ eighth professional fight and one of the biggest surprises in boxing history.
Spinks and Ali met again seven months later at the New Orleans Superdome. Ali won and regained the heavyweight title.
He would fight for the heavyweight title only on another occasion, losing to Larry Holmes in 1981.
Spinks retired in 1995 with a record of 26-17-3 with 14 knockouts. In 2017, he was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019. He was hospitalized in December of that year after the cancer spread to his bladder.
The publicist’s statement continued with: “Leon fought his battle against numerous illnesses in a resilient manner, never losing his characteristic smile. Showing Spinks’ true determination, he never threw in the towel.”