Leon Spinks, a former Marine who became a gold-medal Olympic boxer and once defeated Muhammad Ali in a title fight, has died.
He was 67.Spinks had been battling multiple types of cancers, including prostate cancer, for years, according to a spokesperson."Rest in peace, Leon Spinks," World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman tweeted Saturday evening. "Olympic medalist, Pan American medalist, and of course, WBC heavyweight champion."Spinks defeated defending champ Ali in 1978 in just his eighth professional fight, shocking the boxing world and taking the world heavyweight championship after a split decision in Las Vegas, Nevada.