Corey Spinks
(born Corey Calvin, February 20, 1978 in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.) is a professional boxer. He's the son of former heavyweight champion of the world Leon Spinks. Cory was born five days after his dad defeated Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight world title in 1978. Cory is the nephew of former light heavyweight and heavyweight world champion Michael Spinks. He is one of three boxing brothers: older brother Leon Calvin was a top St. Louis amateur and 2-0 as a pro when he was murdered in 1990, older brother Darrell Spinks is a retired pro. He's a southpaw with good skills, handspeed, and mobility. He's known for keeping a busy pace, keeping his opponents off-balance, and outworking them. Spinks also has a strong amateur background. He won in first major title in March 2003, when he defeated Michele Piccirillo by unanimous decision. Cory was hospitalized when he was 17 years old suffering from gun shot wounds to the upper torso.
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CORY SPINKS TICKETS
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Early Years & Amateur Career
Cory started boxing at the age of 7 for the North Side Bombers boxing team in St.Louis, MO. Charles Hamm (the owner and coach for the team) introduced him and his two older brothers to the sport. Hamm trained Cory well into his professional career. His current trainer and former St. Louis policeman Kevin Cunningham, opened a boxing gym in the basement of an old police building, where Hamm took them to train until his retirement. Cunningham was also a former boxer in the
Army.
Spinks was the 1997 National
Golden Gloves champion at 147 pounds, and the 1997 National PAL champion at 147 pounds. In the National PAL finals, Cory won a 4-1 decision against
Dante Craig, who went on to make the 2000 US Olympic team.
Cory reportedly had 81 amateur bouts (78-3). he also won the National PAL Jr. championships in 1993.
Undisputed Welterweight Champion
Spinks rose to
boxing stardom by unifying the
WBC,
WBA,
IBF, and
Ring Magazine 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, 117-110, 114-114, favoring Spinks.
Spinks vs. Judah I & II
- In his first title defense on April 10, 2004, Spinks controlled the action against former world champion Zab Judah 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 116-111 and 114-112 (twice).
- He later lost his titles when he was TKO'd in the 9th round by Judah in their February 2005 rematch in front of a record crowd of over 22,000+ at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Spinks got the star treatment during introductions, with rapper Nelly accompanying him into the ring and leading the crowd in a singalong.
- The second fight was the first major bout in St. Louis in more than 40 years, and it was a sellout, helped by Spinks' large following. Midway through round 9, Judah landed a huge left that hurt Spinks, with a follow-up putting him on the canvas. Spinks rose, but Judah rushed in for the kill. A series of hard punches left Spinks defenseless on the ropes, and Judah tried to get the official to step in, but the bout continued until another right left sent Spinks sprawling into the ropes, where the official finally halted the bout with 11 seconds left.
Life After
Spinks moved up to Super-Welterweight (at 154 pounds) to fight
Roman Karmazin on
July 8,
2006 at the Savvis Center. Despite having some rough moments in the bout, Spinks beat Karmazin by majority decision with final scorecards of 114-114, 115-113, and 115-113.
Spinks moved up one more weight class to
Middleweight and challenged World Middleweight Champion
Jermain Taylor, losing in a somewhat controversial split decision.
On March 3, 2008, in a fight with
Verno Phillips at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Spinks lost in a split decision.
On April 24, 2009, Spinks earned his fifth world title and a close split-decision victory over fellow St. Louis native DeAndre "The Bull" Latimore. Spinks fought back after a suffering a 1st round knockdown to win the vacant IBF Jr. middleweight world championship by the scores of 115-112 Spinks, 115-112 Latimore and 114-113 Spinks. The fight was held at Scottrade Center in St. Louis
Family
Current wife is Christy Spinks (maiden name Cross).
Cory and Christy Spinks have a daughter together named Chloe Leona Spinks."Leona" named after Father Former Heavyweight Champion Leon Spinks.
Ex-wife Kimberly Calvin (maiden name King). Kim Calvin was charged with domestic assault in the first degree and armed criminal action (2005) for stabbing her then husband in the shoulder and abdomen during a domestic dispute. Spinks was taken to Christian North East hospital (St Louis, MO) and later released with what his trainer described as "minor" wounds.
Daughter Briana Calvin (with ex Kim).
Leon Jr., Cory's slain eldest brother, whom also was a fighter.
Darrel another one of Cory's older fighting brothers.
Vicky Cory's sister.