Terry Spinks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Terry SpinksMBE |
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Terence Spinks |
| Nickname(s) | The Golden Boy |
| Rated at | Featherweight |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 28 February 1938 West Ham, England |
| Died | 26 April 2012 (aged 74) Essex, England |
| Stance | orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 56 |
| Wins | 45 |
| Wins by KO | 13 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Boxing | ||
| Gold | 1956 Melbourne | Flyweight |
Terence "Terry" George Spinks MBE (born February 28, 1938 – died April 26, 2012) was a famous English boxer. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. He competed in the flyweight division, which is for lighter boxers. Terry also became the British featherweight boxing champion from 1960 to 1961.
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Terry Spinks: Olympic Boxing Champion
Terry Spinks was a talented boxer from England. He made history by winning an Olympic gold medal. He was also a British champion in professional boxing. His nickname was "The Golden Boy."
Early Boxing Days
Terry Spinks had a very active amateur boxing career. He took part in 200 amateur fights. In 1956, he became the ABA flyweight champion. This win helped him qualify for the Olympics.
Winning Olympic Gold
At the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Terry competed in the flyweight division. This division is for boxers weighing up to 51 kilograms. He won all his fights to reach the final.
- Round of 32: He beat Samuel Harris from Pakistan.
- Round of 16: He won against Abel Laudonio from Argentina.
- Quarterfinal: He defeated Vladimir Stolnikov from the Soviet Union.
- Semifinal: He beat René Libeer from France.
- Final: Terry won the gold medal by defeating Mircea Dobrescu from Romania.
Professional Boxing Career
After his Olympic success, Terry Spinks became a professional boxer. He had 49 professional fights in total. He won 41 of these matches.
His first professional fight was in April 1957. He fought Jim Loughrey at Harringay Arena and won.
British Featherweight Champion
In September 1960, Terry fought for the British featherweight title. He challenged the champion, Bobby Neill, at the Royal Albert Hall. Terry won the title when the fight was stopped in the seventh round. Bobby Neill had cuts that prevented him from continuing.
Two months later, in November 1960, Terry and Bobby had a rematch. This fight was at the Empire Pool in Wembley. Terry kept his title by knocking Neill down three times. Neill was counted out in the fourteenth round.
In May 1961, Terry defended his title against Howard Winstone from Wales. The fight was also at the Empire Pool. Winstone won by a technical knockout in the tenth round. This meant Terry lost his British title.
After losing his title, Terry continued to box. He had his last fight in December 1962. He won against Johnny Mantle by a technical knockout.
Life After the Ring
After his boxing career, Terry Spinks became a boxing trainer. He coached the South Korean team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. During these Olympics, he saw the Black September terrorists. He raised the alarm before the tragic Munich massacre happened.
Special Recognition
Terry Spinks was honored for his achievements. He was awarded the MBE in the 2002 New Year Honours List. This award recognizes his contributions.
Remembering Terry Spinks
Terry Spinks passed away at his home in Essex on April 26, 2012. He had been ill for a long time. More than 200 former boxers attended his funeral. This included Bobby Neill, one of his former opponents. His friend, sports historian Norman Giller, spoke at the funeral. He said that people would always remember Terry as a great fighter from East London.
See also
- List of British featherweight boxing champions
