BRITAIN?S OLYMPIC BOXING LEGEND TERRY SPINKS PASSES AWAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Apr 2012
As Britain prepares to host the 2012 London Olympic Games in less than 100 it mourns the passing of one of its boxing legends, 1956 gold medal winner Terry Spinks at the age of 74.
The youngest Briton to win an Olympic boxing gold medal at the age of 18 Spinks died at his home after a long illness.
The baby faced Spinks was a multi-faceted sportsman who was an apprentice jockey before he concentrated on boxing and became a sensation when he won the flyweight gold medal Melbourne after been a late replacement.
Spinks, who won the British featherweight title as a pro won 41 of his 49 professional fights and was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2002.
BBC boxing commentator Mike Costello said ?With less than 100 days to go before the Games it's very sad that one of the East End's favorite sons won't be around to see celebrations in his own neighborhood.
BBC Sports recalls that Spinks remains the only boxer to be schoolboy, ABA, British and Olympic champion. He started boxing at the age of nine with the West Ham Amateur Boxing Club, which later produced two-weight world champion Nigel Benn and British super-featherweight champion Kevin Mitchell.
BBC Sports said Spinks was called up to join Great Britain's Olympic team and only had a week to prepare before leaving for Australia after being originally overlooked by the selectors because of his age and youthful looks.
In the gold medal bout Spinks beat Romania's Mircea Dobrescu.
Spinks turned pro the following year and had a short - in terms of years - career in the paid ranks, retiring at the age of 24.
He became a trainer, coaching the South Korean team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich and is credited with having raised the alert when he witnessed the Black September terrorists approaching the Israeli quarters.
Despite his failing health, Spinks, an East End legend, remained a fixture at meetings of the London ex-Boxers' Association until shortly before his death.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Carlos De Leon Castro Stays Perfect with Explosive TKO Win in Orlando on DAZN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Donaire in historic bid
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 06 Nov 2025BROADCAST DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR CMH2: BADOU JACK VS. NOEL MIKAELIAN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Top prospect Marco Romero A victim of dramatic changes in Today’s professional boxing world
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Closing of registration on Nov. 15 for SDSPPO TWG-PAGPTD Run in Tandag
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai & Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue Blockbuster Cards to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
Thu, 06 Nov 2025JUSTIN LACEY-PIERCE OUTLASTS COURTNEY PENNINGTON IN DETROIT
Wed, 05 Nov 2025The José Sulaimán Boxers’ Fund continues supporting fighters worldwide
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Sans Injured Young, Hawks Still Dominate Magic 127-112
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Kamatyas FIDE Rapid chess on Nov 8
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 05 Nov 2025WBC lifts the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Siargao pug bags silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025