Cory Spinks | |
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Spinks in 2007
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Statistics | |
Nickname(s) | The Next Generation |
Rated at | |
Height | 5 ft 9 1⁄2 in (177 cm) |
Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
Nationality | American |
Born | Cory Calvin February 20, 1978 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Stance | Southpaw |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 47 |
Wins | 39 |
Wins by KO | 11 |
Losses | 8 |
Cory Spinks (born Cory Calvin; February 20, 1978) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1997 to 2013. He is a three-time, two-weight world champion, having held the undisputed welterweight title from 2003 to 2005, and the IBF junior middleweight title twice between 2006 and 2010. Additionally, he challenged for the lineal middleweight title in 2007.
Spinks is the son of former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks and nephew of former world heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks. He has an amateur record of 78-3, and won the National Golden Gloves and National Police Athletic League welterweight titles in 1997.
Spinks went 29-2 in his first 31 contests, only losing to Antonio Díaz (regarded as a controversial decision by some boxing analysts and ringside observers) and Michele Piccirillo, whom he defeated by decision in a re-match.
However, Spinks rose to boxing stardom by unifying the WBC, WBA, IBF, and The Ring and lineal welterweight titles on December 13, 2003, when he defeated Ricardo Mayorga by majority decision. Spinks was a 5 to 1 underdog going into the fight with Mayorga. The judges scored the fight 114-112, 117-109, 114-114, favoring Spinks.
Spink' first Welterweight title defense came on April 10, 2004, against former world champion Zab Judah. Spinks controlled the action over the first four rounds. In the later rounds, however, Judah's quick left hands began to find their target. Both men hit the deck late, but all three scorecards favored Spinks, as the champion won with scores of 116-111, 114-112, 114-112.