£750.00
Authentic Muhammad Ali Leon Spinks signed photo boxing autographs. Photograph measuring 8×10″ signed by both in blue marker.
Description
AAMuhammad Ali Leon Spinks signed photo boxing autographs
Authentic Muhammad Ali Leon Spinks signed photo boxing autographs. Photograph measuring 8×10″ signed by both in blue marker.
Genuine Muhammad Ali Autograph
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet and philanthropist. Nicknamed The Greatest, widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century. Frequently ranked as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time.
Ali was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics and turned professional later that year. He became a Muslim after 1961. He won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset on February 25, 1964, at age 22. On March 6, 1964, he announced that he no longer would be known as Cassius Clay but as Muhammad Ali autographs.
In 1966, Ali refused to drafted into the military; citing his religious beliefs and ethical opposition to the Vietnam War. He was found guilty of draft evasion so he faced 5 years in prison and was stripped of his boxing titles. He stayed out of prison as he appealed the decision to the Supreme Court. Which overturned his conviction in 1971, but he had not fought for nearly four years. And lost a period of peak performance as an athlete.
Signed Photograph Muhammad Ali
Ali’s actions as a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation, and a very high-profile figure of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement and throughout his career. As a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam (NOI). He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam, and supported racial integration like his former mentor Malcolm X.
He fought in several historic boxing matches and feuds, most notably his fights with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, including the Fight of the Century (the biggest boxing event up until then), the Thrilla in Manila, and his fight with George Foreman in The Rumble in the Jungle. Ali thrived in the spotlight at a time when many boxers let their managers do the talking, and he was often provocative and outlandish. He was known for trash-talking, and often free-styled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, anticipating elements of hip hop, and often predicted in which round he would knockout his opponent.
He has been ranked the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, and as the greatest sportsman of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated and the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC.
Leon Spinks Autograph
Leon Spinks (July 11, 1953 – February 5, 2021) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 1995. In only his eighth professional fight, won the undisputed heavyweight championship in 1978. After defeating Muhammad Ali in a split decision.Considered one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Spinks, later stripped of the WBC title for facing Ali. In an unapproved rematch seven months later, which he lost by a unanimous decision.
Besides being heavyweight champion and his characteristic gap-toothed grin (due to losing two and later all four of his front teeth). Spinks gained notoriety for the disaster which befell his career following the loss to Ali. However, he did challenge once more for the WBC heavyweight title in 1981 (losing to Larry Holmes by TKO in the third round); and the WBA cruiserweight title in 1986 (losing to Dwight Muhammad Qawi by TKO in the sixth round).
As an amateur, Spinks won numerous medals in the light heavyweight division. The first bronze at the inaugural 1974 World Championships; followed by silver at the 1975 Pan American Games. And gold at the 1976 Summer Olympics. The latter alongside his brother Michael Spinks, who won middleweight gold. Leon served in the United States Marine Corps from 1973 to 1976, rising to the rank of corporal. Stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and was on the Marine Corps Boxing Team.
Spinks also had a brief career as a professional wrestler in the 1990s. Working for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) and holding the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship in 1992.