Terence "Terry" George SpinksMBE (28 February 1938 – 26 April 2012)[1] was an English boxer, who won the gold medal in the flyweight division (– 51 kg) at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. In the final he defeated Mircea Dobrescu of Romania on points. He was also British featherweight champion from 1960 to 1961.
Semifinal: Defeated René Libeer (France) on points
Final: Defeated Mircea Dobrescu (Romania) on points (won gold medal)[2]
Pro careeredit
Spinks had 49 professional bouts of which he won 41.[3]
He had his first professional bout in April 1957, against Jim Loughrey, at Harringay Arena, winning on a stoppage for a cut eye.[4]
In September 1960, Spinks fought for the British featherweight title, against the holder Bobby Neill. The fight was at the Royal Albert Hall, and Spinks won the title when the fight was stopped in the seventh due to cuts suffered by Neil.[5] In November 1960, the two men had a re-match at the Empire Pool, Wembley. Spinks retained his new title by knocking Neill down three times in the fourteenth, with him finally being counted out.[6] In May 1961, Spinks defended his title for the second time, against the Welshman, Howard Winstone. The fight was at the Empire Pool, and Winstone won by a technical knockout in the tenth round.[7]
After losing his title, Spinks continued fighting, but never challenged for a title again. He had his last fight in December 1962 against Johnny Mantle, winning by a technical knockout in the eighth.[8] After his boxing career ended Spinks became a trainer, coaching the South Korean team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He witnessed the Black September terrorists approaching the Israeli quarters before the Munich massacre and raised the alarm.[1]
After boxingedit
After his boxing career ended, Spinks life took a turn for the worse. He became seriously ill, became a heavy drinker and, in his own words, was living "like a tramp". He was taken in by his cousin in Chadwell Heath where he lived for 19 years until his death.[9]
Honoursedit
He was awarded the MBE in the 2002 New Years Honours List.[1]
Deathedit
Spinks died at his home in Essex on 26 April 2012, after a long illness.[1] More than 200 ex-boxers, including Bobby Neill and several more of Terry's former opponents, attended his funeral at East London Cemetery.[10] Author and sports historian Norman Giller, his long-time friend, said in the eulogy: "Terry hung up his gloves in 1962 but we have never hung up our memories of one of the most accomplished fighters to come out of the East End boxing factory."
Boxing record for Terry Spinks from BoxRec(registration required)
January 01, 1970
terry, spinks, terence, terry, george, spinks, february, 1938, april, 2012, english, boxer, gold, medal, flyweight, division, 1956, summer, olympics, melbourne, australia, final, defeated, mircea, dobrescu, romania, points, also, british, featherweight, champi. Terence Terry George Spinks MBE 28 February 1938 26 April 2012 1 was an English boxer who won the gold medal in the flyweight division 51 kg at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne Australia In the final he defeated Mircea Dobrescu of Romania on points He was also British featherweight champion from 1960 to 1961 Terry SpinksMBEBornTerence Spinks 1938 02 28 28 February 1938West Ham EnglandDied26 April 2012 2012 04 26 aged 74 Essex EnglandNationalityBritishOther namesThe Golden BoyStatisticsWeight s FeatherweightStanceorthodoxBoxing recordTotal fights56Wins45Wins by KO13Losses3Draws1No contests0 Olympic medal record Men s Boxing 1956 Melbourne Flyweight Contents 1 Amateur career 1 1 1956 Olympic results 2 Pro career 3 After boxing 4 Honours 5 Death 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksAmateur career editSpinks had 200 amateur fights and was the 1956 ABA flyweight champion 1956 Olympic results edit Round of 32 Defeated Samuel Harris Pakistan on points Round of 16 Defeated Abel Laudonio Argentina on points Quarterfinal Defeated Vladimir Stolnikov Soviet Union on points Semifinal Defeated Rene Libeer France on points Final Defeated Mircea Dobrescu Romania on points won gold medal 2 Pro career editSpinks had 49 professional bouts of which he won 41 3 He had his first professional bout in April 1957 against Jim Loughrey at Harringay Arena winning on a stoppage for a cut eye 4 In September 1960 Spinks fought for the British featherweight title against the holder Bobby Neill The fight was at the Royal Albert Hall and Spinks won the title when the fight was stopped in the seventh due to cuts suffered by Neil 5 In November 1960 the two men had a re match at the Empire Pool Wembley Spinks retained his new title by knocking Neill down three times in the fourteenth with him finally being counted out 6 In May 1961 Spinks defended his title for the second time against the Welshman Howard Winstone The fight was at the Empire Pool and Winstone won by a technical knockout in the tenth round 7 After losing his title Spinks continued fighting but never challenged for a title again He had his last fight in December 1962 against Johnny Mantle winning by a technical knockout in the eighth 8 After his boxing career ended Spinks became a trainer coaching the South Korean team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich He witnessed the Black September terrorists approaching the Israeli quarters before the Munich massacre and raised the alarm 1 After boxing editAfter his boxing career ended Spinks life took a turn for the worse He became seriously ill became a heavy drinker and in his own words was living like a tramp He was taken in by his cousin in Chadwell Heath where he lived for 19 years until his death 9 Honours editHe was awarded the MBE in the 2002 New Years Honours List 1 Death editSpinks died at his home in Essex on 26 April 2012 after a long illness 1 More than 200 ex boxers including Bobby Neill and several more of Terry s former opponents attended his funeral at East London Cemetery 10 Author and sports historian Norman Giller his long time friend said in the eulogy Terry hung up his gloves in 1962 but we have never hung up our memories of one of the most accomplished fighters to come out of the East End boxing factory See also editList of British featherweight boxing championsReferences edit a b c d Olympic boxing legend Terry Spinks dies BBC Sport 26 April 2012 Retrieved 26 April 2012 16 Olympic Games Melbourne 1956 amateur boxing strefa pl London Ex Boxers Association Londonexboxers org uk Retrieved 26 April 2012 Jeff Jones 15 February 2020 East End Born and Bled The Remarkable Story of London Boxing Amberley Publishing pp 118 ISBN 978 1 4456 9498 6 Ralph Oates 2 July 2019 A Round of Boxing A Trip Through Time Fonthill Media pp 51 GGKEY LHP02AK23KP Boxing s night of nostalgia has special memories for Bobby Neill Frank Warren 3 October 2015 Ralph Oates 2 July 2019 A Round of Boxing A Trip Through Time Fonthill Media pp 54 GGKEY LHP02AK23KP Terry Spinks 27 April 2012 via www telegraph co uk Whaley Len How Rosemary rescued Olympic Golden Boy Terry Spinks Newham Recorder Whaley Len West Ham boxing legend Spinks funeral details Romford Recorder External links editdatabaseOlympics Boxing record for Terry Spinks from BoxRec registration required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Terry Spinks amp oldid 1220164294, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
