Leon Spinks: Former heavyweight world champion battling prostate cancer

Spinks won Olympic gold in 1976 and then stunned Muhammad Ali to win the world heavyweight titles

Former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is battling cancer (Getty)

Former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks is battling prostate cancer, his wife Brenda has announced.

Spinks, 66, who won Olympic gold in 1976, was hospitalised last month and is in a serious condition.

Spinks is best known for his memorable upset win over Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas in 1978, capturing the WBC and WBA world heavyweight titles. Ali would exact revenge in the rematch later that year.

“It’s going to be a long road and a lot of work,” Brenda said in a statement to USA Today. “But we are bound and determined for the champ to make a comeback.

"We are very thankful for the outpouring of loving thoughts and prayers worldwide. This amazing positive power has helped set Leon headed in the right direction.”

The report added that the cancer has spread to Spinks’ bladder. Brenda said that he has returned home and will undergo cancer treatment on an outpatient basis.