Michael Spinks in 2002, Spinks ranked 41st. East Side Boxing said in its tribute to Spinks, "Michael Spinks went undefeated fighting during the deepest era in Light Heavyweight history. And he beat the real heavyweight champion to win the title, who was also undefeated. Michael Spinks is the most accomplished light heavyweight champion in history." Spinks is the rare top fighter who left the sport with both money and his health and never returned to the ring. Aside from a rare event honoring him and occasionally attending fights, Spinks has largely remained off the boxing scene and out of the public eye.
Michael Ponce de Leon workshops in Yugoslavia. Pakistan, India, and Spain under sponsorship of the U.S. State Department, Mr. Ponce de Leon works are in the Library of Congress; The National Gallery (Washington D.C.); The White House; The Museum of Modern Art; Metropolitan Museum of Art; The New York Public Library;Smithsonian American Art Museum The Brooklyn Museum The Musee de l’Arte Moderne in Paris; The Victoria and Albert Museum in London; The Stockholm Art Museum; Museo de Arte Moderno en Mexico; as well U.S. Embassies around the world. He was represented in the Venice Biennale, 1970. Michael Ponce de Leon Michael Ponce de Leon