Cory Spinks

Biography

Cory "Next Generation" Spinks, born Cory Calvin on February 20, 1978, in St. Louis, Missouri, hails from a storied boxing lineage. He is the son of former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks and the nephew of former world heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks. This wealthy family heritage set the stage for his distinguished career in the ring.

Spinks began his professional journey on November 21, 1997, securing a unanimous decision victory over Hector Leguillow. His ascent in the welterweight division culminated on March 22, 2003, when he captured the IBF welterweight title by defeating Michele Piccirillo in a unanimous decision. Later that year, on December 13, he unified the welterweight division by outpointing Ricardo Mayorga, adding the WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles to his collection.

In a high-profile rematch on February 5, 2005, Spinks faced Zab Judah in his hometown of St. Louis. Despite a valiant effort, he lost his undisputed title via a ninth-round technical knockout. Undeterred, Spinks moved up to the junior middleweight division, where he claimed the IBF title twice: first on July 8, 2006, against Roman Karmazin, and again on April 24, 2009, against Deandre Latimore.

Spinks challenged for the lineal middleweight title on May 19, 2007, facing Jermain Taylor. The closely contested bout ended in a split-decision loss for Spinks. He continued to compete at a high level, engaging with top-tier opponents such as Cornelius Bundrage.

His final professional appearance occurred on February 1, 2013, against Carlos Molina. After a career spanning over 15 years, Spinks retired from boxing, leaving behind a legacy remembered for his technical prowess and a deep connection to the sport's history.