When the ribbon was cut in 1954, Pruitt-Igoe was hailed as the answer to the nation’s urban development woes. But for the Spinkses and thousands of other poor families, it was an abject failure. AP IMAGES
The western half of 2207 O’Fallon St. came down in 1972. Demolition of the remaining 32 buildings was completed by 1976. The site where Pruitt-Igoe once stood is now an empty lot. FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE ST. LOUIS MERCANTILE LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI–ST. LOUIS.
A 23-year-old Leon connects against Sixto Soria on his way to the gold in the 1976 Olympics. The morning of the fight, Leon “had enough alcohol coming out of his pores to knock me out,” recalls trainer Kenny Loehr. AP IMAGES
Leon (center) and Michael (right) were the first brothers to win gold medals in the same sport in the same Olympics. Here, they are awarded the key to the city from St. Louis Mayor James Mason. AP IMAGES
Michael gets a kiss from his mother, Kay, upon their return from the Olympics in Montreal. Kay’s strong religious beliefs rubbed off on Michael, who referred to her as “my mom and best friend.” FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE ST. LOUIS MERCANTILE LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI–ST. LOUIS.
Leon often told reporters that he was beaten by his father, Leon Spinks Sr. (pictured here). Leon Sr. denied the accusations. FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE ST. LOUIS MERCANTILE LIBRARY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI– ST. LOUIS.
On April 16, 1977, in his pro debut, Michael knocked out Eddie Benson. Benson went down from an overhand right—a punch that would later be known as the “Spinks Jinx.” AP IMAGES
Leon watches Michael defeat Tom “The Bomb” Bethea, hours before taking on Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight crown. It would be Leon’s eighth pro fight. AP IMAGES
Leon is lifted on the shoulders of his handlers after taking the title from Ali on February 15, 1978. The celebration never stopped. AP IMAGES
After winning the title, Leon bought a white six-door Lincoln Continental limo, a Cadillac Seville, and a house in Detroit’s Rosedale Park. Here, the champ and his first wife, Nova, visit New York in matching mink coats. AP IMAGES
The champ chats with the press the day before his first title defense—a rematch against Ali. Leon’s personal bodyguard, Mr. T, keeps a close watch. AP IMAGES
Leon and Ali ignore each other as they wait to be interviewed on network TV. Their rematch, a week away, would draw more than 90 million viewers. AP IMAGES
Leon drank, partied, and whored away his championship days, right up until the hours before the Ali rematch. Here, an ill-prepared Leon exchanges punches with “The Greatest” at the Superdome in New Orleans. AP IMAGES
Sam Solomon (lower left) tends to Leon in the champ’s only title defense. Milt Bailey (center) was Leon’s cutman for both Ali fights. He supplied the mysterious brown bottle the night Leon took the belt. AP IMAGES
Leon, now an ex-champion, lifts Michael’s arm in victory after Michael wins his eighth pro fight—a fourth-round KO over Eddie Phillips. AP IMAGES