Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks

Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
Date February 15, 1978
Venue Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Title(s) on the line WBA/WBC/The Ring/Lineal Heavyweight Championships
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Muhammad Ali United States Leon Spinks
Nickname The Greatest Neon
Hometown Louisville, Kentucky St. Louis, Missouri
Purse $3,500,000 $320,000
Pre-fight record 55–2 (37 KO) 6–0–1 (5 KO)
Height 6' 3" 6′ 1″
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBA/WBC/The Ring/Lineal Heavyweight Champion
Result
Spinks defeated Ali by 15th round Split Decision.

Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks was the World Boxing Council professional boxing match contested on February 15, 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship.

Background

After his unanimous decision victory against Earnie Shavers, Muhammad Ali decided to face 1976 Olympic Gold medalist Leon Spinks, knowing that he'd have to face Ken Norton for the fourth time or lose his WBC belt, after the No 1 ranked Norton beat No 2 ranked Jimmy Young in a title eliminator in November 1977.[1]

The fight

The 10–1 underdog Spinks ended up winning two of the scorecards 145–140 and 144–141, while the third was 142–143 giving him a split decision win. Spinks became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after only eight professional bouts, and the only man ever to defeat Ali in a title match. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Aftermath

This bout was named the Ring Magazine upset of the year.

Sports Illustrated covered the bout, and with that historic upset put Leon Spinks on the magazome cover. Spinks was later stripped of his WBC heavyweight title for refusing to fight no. 1 contender Norton. Instead, Spinks signed for a rematch with Ali at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. The rematch took place on September 15, 1978, for the World Boxing Association and Lineal Heavyweight Champion titles. Ali regained the title with a Unanimous Decision over Spinks.

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Ali-Spinks Winner Must Face Norton". Observer–Reporter. 2 December 1977. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks (1st meeting)". BoxRec.com.
  3. ↑ "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Muhammad Ali meets his match as young Leon Spinks stuns the champ to take heavyweight title". New York Daily News. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  5. ↑ Felix Dennis and Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. pp. 254–258.
  6. ↑ Hugh McIlvanney (1982). McIlvanney on Boxing. Beaufort books. pp. 163–71.
  7. ↑ Ferdie Pacheco (1992). Muhammad Ali: A View from the Corner. Birch Lane Press. pp. 153–58.
  8. ↑ Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali:His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 350–60.
  9. ↑ "One more time to the top". Sports Illustrated. 25 September 1978. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "BoxRec - event". BoxRec.com.
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