By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – Boxing's defending welterweight champion got a hometown welcome Wednesday at Beaumont High School in north St. Louis.
Cory Spinks is fighting Zab Judah on Saturday at the Savvis Center.
Appearing with promoter Don King, Spinks urged students at a pep rally to reach for his kind of success.
"Keep pushing, just keep pushing, because this man right here has been through a lot," Spinks said. "To become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world is just a blessing."
Principal Travis Brown says Spinks attended Beaumont in the late 90s and later received his GED.
Both Judah and Spinks are from prominent boxing families. Spinks' father Leon and uncle Michael both were heavyweight champions.
The fight is close to selling out. If it does, it will be the highest grossing event in the history of the Savvis Center.