Legendary heavyweight boxer Leon Spinks, aged 66, is reportedly fighting for his life in hospital, with his wife calling for prayers from fans to help get him through.
TMZ report that former world champion Spinks is 'fighting for his life' though his exact condition is yet to be confirmed and there are very little details.
In a post on social media his wife Brenda said, "Reaching out to ask you to kindly send some prayers out for my Beautiful Husband Leon so that he may overcome the obstacles that have crossed his path."
Spinks won the world heavyweight title when he shocked the world to beat Muhammad Ali on a split decision over 15 rounds to become the WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight champion in 1978.
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It was just his eighth fight as a professional and he lost the titles back in his next fight in a rematch with Ali, before later fighting Larry Holmes in 1981 for the WBC world title.
He later fought for the cruiserweight world title in 1986 and his career lasted until 1995 when he lost to Fred Houpe to take his record to 26-17-3 but despite a less than glorious record was inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in August 2017.
Spinks, who served in the U.S. Marines from 1973 to 1976, was hospitalised in 2014 with a serious problem with his intestines after a freak incident in which damage was caused by a piece of bone from a chicken wing.
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The former boxer required surgery and rehab to get over the issue.
He also suffered from shrinkage to the brain in 2012, most likely as a result of his boxing career and the punches he would have taken during his career.
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