Go on, admit it, whenever you hear Michael Spinks’ name, you instantly think of one fight. It’s unavoidable – you think of the demolition job an intimidated Spinks was the victim of against a peak Mike Tyson. This of course proved to be Spinks’ last fight. There was some talk of a possible comeback, but the former light heavyweight and heavyweight king never did lace ’em up again.
And it really is so unfair that Spinks, a very, very special fighter, indeed a true great, is best remembered for, even defined by, his fight with Tyson. Prior to that glitzy night in June of 1988, Spinks, with his “Jinx,” had seen off some excellent fighters, with the man who was born in St. Louis on this day in 1956 capturing just about all there was to capture as a boxer, both amateur and pro.
A superb Olympian, Spinks, along with little bro Leon, won gold in 1976. Going pro in April of 1977, Spinks was soon bamboozling good fighters with his unpredictable, herky-jerky, hard to nail style. Fast, possessing a high ring IQ, and with Spinks showing real power in his “Jinx” of a right hand, the 20-something was soon seeing off men like Tom Bethea, Murray Sutherland, Yaqui Lopez, and Marvin Johnson.
This was superb work for a fast-moving contender. Then, in July of 1981, in what was just his 17th fight, Spinks unseated Eddie Mustafa Muhammad to take the WBA 175 pound title, Spinks dropping Muhammad late and winning a unanimous decision. Title retentions, an impressive 10 in total, would come against the likes of: Vonzell Johnson, Sutherland in a rematch, Johnny Davis, and, in a big unification clash, Dwight Muhammad Qawi.
Spinks was brilliant against the dangerous “Camden Buzzsaw,” and he was now perhaps the best pound-for-pound boxer out there. But Spinks wanted ultimate glory, and that would come, he knew, up at heavyweight. After four defences of his two belts, with Spinks also picking up the inaugural IBF strap along the way, the 29 year old set about building up his body ahead of his invasion of the heavyweight division. Spinks bulked up to around 200 pounds and, in September of 1985, having declined to take a heavyweight test beforehand, Spinks upset the great Larry Holmes to make history.
Spinks won a controversial split decision over Holmes (one that sent Holmes into crazy mode, his infamous post-fight speech proving both hilarious and shocking), with him becoming the first man in history to have moved up from 175 to claim the world heavyweight crown. In terms of belts, Spinks had won the IBF title, this the sole title Holmes had had at the time (Larry having decided to fight exclusively for the new organisation). But Spinks had beaten THE man and he was now THE man at heavyweight.
Spinks repeated the win over a still irate Holmes the following April, the rematch also closely decided on the three cards. But Spinks had proves his earlier win was no fluke. Later, an easy defence logged against Steffen Tangstad, Spinks was stripped of his IBF belt for not next facing Tony Tucker. Spinks, with the savvy Butch Lewis guiding him, preferred a bigger payday/easier fight against a rusty Gerry Cooney. Spinks destroyed Cooney over the course of five one-sided rounds in June of 1987.
But there was now a new star of the heavyweight division, his name being Mike Tyson. Tyson had scooped up the WBC, WBA and IBF belts in double-quick fashion, and there was just one man left to fight. Spinks, the linear champ, had no choice. The payday proved staggering, for both Tyson and Spinks, but the fight itself was no fight.
Where was the fearless Spinks who had swapped punches with terrors like Muhammad and Qawi? Nobody knows. Spinks, rattled and unnerved like never before, wore a bemused, some said flat-out terrified facial expression as he awaited the ring entrance of Tyson. It was as we know, all over in 91-seconds.
Spinks would forever be 31-1, and also a fixture on Tyson’s highlight reel. It was a sad way for such a great fighter to go out, but Spinks went out with his health, his money, and with him knowing that he made a big slice of boxing history during his career.
Today, in fine shape, Spinks celebrates his 68th birthday. Those of us who cannot help but to think of that Tyson fight/destruction when we hear Spinks’ name also know how fine Spinks was on his best nights. And Spinks had many.
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